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

way Of Time, leave no doubt about Il.
road for Mississ;ppiSns to follow. M
distilled wisdom bequeathed to US VI
our sages and our heroes of the M
should inspire us with confdeneE
and courage, and provide the pillar II
FIRE to light the pathway of duty.
A1d now, my fellow citizens, | 20 sS
the work to which you have called mi
My experience in public mattersI
three terms as a member of the iegilN
lative department of the State goyer,K
ment, and many years of patient stuaIN
of our system Of laws and economs
problems-giyes me some knowledge
Of the difficulties and grave RESPONSE
bilities of the Office of chief execp
tive. K
am deeply conscious of the facz
that it is rarely the good fortune Oh
fallible man to raire from this exalted
station with the reputation and fayois
which bring him to 1t. The hea. m
the contest, the fervency of friend
ship and the devotion of the p~artisa.
inf1ame the imagination and the canfl
date is sometimes invested with idea!
qualities, which he may not in fact
possess; roseate predictions regarding
his administration are extravaganza
INDUCED, and when. in the discharges
Of the duties of the Office, he falls bel
low that ideal-toO high for Imperfect
men to neutrality-suspicious. fol-
lows, and the eye that once could see
only order and good in him, distorted
by disappointment, now sees only er.
ror ald ir~regularity. Such, | fear. iss
too often the history of a Mine
may lot be an exception. Without pref
tension to anything above that which
fair intelligence, devotion to principle
and honesty Of purpose may attain, II
ask of my fellow citizens olly so much
confidence and support as may be nee
essary to give firmness and efficiency
to the legal administration of their
affairs.
| shall make mistakes, through del
feet of judgment, for which | shall
suffer uncomplainilgly the penalty
But how often, when right, shall | bel
thought wrong by those whose point
of view prevents a survey of the whole
ground, or a complete understanding
of the situation? | ask your indul'
gence for my own mistakes, which
assure yOu shall never be intentional
and | invoke your support against the
mistakes of others who may criticise'
and condemn in me what they would
not, if they understood the matter in
all of its bearings.
| know it is not possible to please.
everybody. | shall not try to please
anybody save myself, and | shall please
myself in the proportion that | am
able TO do that which is best for all
of the people of Mississippi.
| have no ambition, no desire be
yond making for you a governor
worthy of you. All the heart and mind
and strength with which a loving
Father has endowed me, |, this day,
~consecrate to the service of my State.
You. my cOuntrymel, have it within
your power, if you will, to promote the
success of this administration; you
have it within your power to MAI it.
With your ballots you have expressed
your appreciation of me. Now, with
your deeds and moral support, | ask
your cooperation and encouragement.
Relying then upon the patronage of
your good WILL | undertake the work
to which you have called me. May
that infinite Power which rules the
destIlies of the universe sustain me
and lead our councils to what is best
and give them favorable issue for
your peace and prosperity"
I an now ready to take the oath OF
Office.