Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-05-22
The DepOpuIatlOn Of the Country BY
White People.

This question is Of vital Importance
to every property owner, business man
and in fact. every white man who
lives among us. This move from the
country to the town has been going on
for decade, yet see no one protest
ing, no one offering encouragement to
stop it.
i Let us see where this is leading to
LIE. Chickasaw and Monroe counties,
for instance; what do we find
About two-thirds Of our land occupied
BY the negro; Then ask ourselves the
question, why have the white people
evacuated these lands?
About one-half Of these people have
moved to town because they were able
to do something else and let their
children grow up among people who
had pride enough to look and act
genteel. Now, whose fault is it that
| these people could not be Genteel in
the country? But, they say. we want
our children to have the benefit Of good
society. Could not they with the prop
er effort have had real good society in
the country? But, one says, came to
town because could make more
money than could in the country.
Well. when pass through towns and
see four or FIVE merchants do the bust
ness one should do | fail to see the
fortune in the job unless you can make
hundred per cent profit. | do not
wish to be hard on anyone, just stating
facts, and if | pinch anyone's toes,
don't squeal, for would like to see my
country prosper and my fellow man do
well.
Now, let's see what has become Of
the balance. About one half Of the
other half followed the example Of his
more prosperous neighbors and moved
to town for the opportunity Of society
also.
Most Of these men had small farms,
which brought them a small wad to live
on in town, and by the time the good
wife got the dining room, sitting room
and parlor to tally with those Of her
rich neighbor, the little purse had al
most breathed its last. Then he is no
longer free man; his time belongs to
someone else. He used to think when
he was on the farm and rested six
months in the year, and did not work |
very hard the other six, it was mighty
tough because he did not get rich.
Now he works from January to Jan
uary and in most cases he is poorer
than when he left his farm. Still, he
is willing to work on from day to day,
and year to year, until he drops out Of
his weary harness, just for the sake Of
living in town.
Now come to the last fourth, which
haven't yet mentioned. We find these
fellows still in the sticks" and in the
sticks" they will stay unless they get
relief from some source. We are too
few in number, for one thing, and there
seems to be a prevailing idea among
those who till the soil that it is unnec-
essary to read, think. or improve them
selves in any way. My idea is that
they should be the best informed bust
ness men in the world for they not only
have to handle merchandise, but have
to produce it also. which to do right
requires both intelligence and judg-
ment.
Pardon me for personal allusion,
but must say that | am among the
men last mentioned, and am like the
who was sick Of politics and
said he was going home and was 60
ing to stay there. | live on my farm
2 IL miles from the pretty little town
Of Van Vleet, and am going to stay
here, that is, if can get any white
people to stay with me.
Now, | don't want to get the reader
into the frame Of mind the old preacher
got his hearers into He took for his
subject The Prophets. He began with
the minor prophets, and after a very
lengthy discourse he says: That
winds up the minor prophets, and the
gave a sigh Of relief.
Then he took up the major prophets,
and after a much longer discourse, he
says: THAT winds up the major
prophets" And his hearers gave still
longer sigh Of relief. Then he said
What about Jeremiah? Where is
Jeremiah's place. At this point a
tall man arose in the back Of the
church and said Jeremiah can have
my place; I'm going home"
Now, the question that confronts the
few remaining people in the country
today is whether they will remain on
their farms almost without schools,
churches or Sunday schools. or get up
and move to them: and as these things,
like the gins, have gone to town, they
would have to 60 to town to get the
benefit Of them. That would mean an
entire abandonment Of the country to