The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-01-16

W W " - 1900
delivered the following inaugural ad-
dress:
NV Friends and FclIoW citizens:
Called upon by the sovereign sui.
fragists 10 assume the duties and per
form the functions Of chief executive
Of this absolute IN lls
constituted authOrity-an indeslructi'
Die integral element Of the general gov
eminent embrace the opportunity al
furdsd b. this occasion to make my
grateful acknowledgment TO the good
people OF my beloved state for the gen
erous favorF which they have been
pleased To- show me. to confess a SIN
cerc consciousness Of my inability TO
meet the demands Of the great trusts
committed to my Keeping and to assure
them that 20 profoundly am / impressed
with the magnitude Of tho task thai
! approach 1t with thos" anxious ana
awful prosentimentS which the great
negs Of the charge and III" weakness
Of my power 50 justly Inspires
Mississippi Ia n great state. Her
history Is rich with the spoIIs Of
timc"-of heroic deeds, profound
atatesmanship-tAo home OF the nigh
ost type Of AnRlO.Saxon manhood,
whose genius for law. devotion 10 prin
CIple and strict adherence 10 cOnsti-
tutional government, have made her
the pr0tapunist-the guiding Siar-io
her sister commonwealth in some IL
the most vital matters Of legislation
and constitutional reforms.
OF her material greatness, the half
has not been told Her lands are fer
Tie and fruitful responding IhyishIy
to the sturdy stroke Of the honest bus
bandman-supprh forests, whose
woods are coveted by the worId-un-
developed mineral resources water.
wAyE-railruads a gateway on the
Gulf Of Mexico, through which the
SHIPS Of every nation may pass 10
bear her treasures away and empty
them In the lap of the commercial
world, and a climate As genial ana
hcaIth.givinR as ever produced a ntur
dy and heroic race
When contemplate all ut ihcs"
great intcrcsts-the hopes and abpira-
lliilH VI llth Wv "Nbl''' $3.50 w.
fare Of my llUw-COuutrymen-thc
possibilities which sleep In the womb
of TIME the difficulties. complex
problems and pregnant Issues which
confront this people. the solutions OF
which win test the ~pGrmsnency OF
their cIvilizntiOl-all committed aud
related to the auspices Of this Occs-
siou, am overwhelmed with painful
misgIvings at the thought. and hum
bic myseli before the magnitude OF
the undertaking.
should despair absolutely, were !
not reminded by the presence of so
many patriotic men, inCorruptiblo and
sagaciOus statesmen, fresh from the
people. representing every profession
ald class of her citizenship, imbued
with common hopes, interests and as"
pirations. forming In their official ca
pacity the lcglslatiVe-a coordinate
branch of the govcrnmcnt-that in
every emergency. ! may confidently
turn to them and find iloxhaustiblc
resources Of wisdom, Of virtue, OF pa
triOttsm and Of zeal ON which to rely,
under all circumstances,
To you. then, my oountrymen. who
have been selected by your fellow cit
liens. mtrusted and charged with the
serious functions of legislation. | shall
over look for that encouragement, for
that wise and prudent counsel; | shall
draw inspiration from your fearless
performance Of every duty, your patri-
otto devotion to the right at any cost.
and shall expect that harmonious Co
operation which is an indispensable
prerequisite to the accomplishment OF
the great work to which the people OF
Mississippi have called us,
The campaign through which we
have Just passed marks an epoch n
the political history OF Mississippi. Al
though II was III intestine conhlCt--a
contest within the Democratic party
(the general election held in NOvem.
her being in effect but a ratification
Of the result Of the prtmafiesl-a par.
u composed as II should he, exclusive
Nv Of white men, there was Il great
deRl OF bitterness and unnecessary
partisan ranCor engendered. The free
dom of speech, while ii may have been
somewhat abused, was in no way
abridged. A full and ample discussion
Of all questions. both through the
press and on the hastings. was per
mitted, out ior'Hh''e'E as IL AWAY
The case " Il free country "h'r''e'
falsehood, Vituperatloh u m'S'opIe
sentation were resofted 10 10 WIN S''h'
eEtc advantage wreaN personal lo
venge, or Tor any other purpose SUN,
honest and fearless man was ever
present, armed win the 'ru'u' 10 u'iN'
back the hosts OF e'Tor, u" put ~
shame the calnmnla'or ana
the enemies OF right
The primary election law enacted
by the last Legislature Afforded an OPP.
p~ortunity which was readily embraced
by all white qualified electors TO par