The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1923-03-08
Senator Williams
SLove Letter" To
Mississippiians
John Sharp Williams Re
tires After Thirty
Years Service.


Washington, D. c., March b.
With the passing of the present con-
gress fine of the greatest men Of that
body and of the nation voluntarily
returns to private life-Senator
John Sharp Williams of Mississippi
one Of the most highly esteemed
men among the great men here. Sen.
ator Williams has issued the follow
ing which will be of great interest
to his fellow Mississippians, and to
the country at large:
TO the People of Mississippi.
Ny Dear Friends:
thus address you because next
to God and my own immediate fam
lily you have been my best and dear
est friends. It is now 80 years since
first took an oath of office as one
Of your representatives in the con-
gress Of the United States. During
all that time nearly half Of the
Scripturally- designated life Of man
I have served. or sought to serve,
you. That service has been at least
honest, faithful and vigilant. The
ability Of it was, of course. limited
by the measure Of my own ability;
but the good intent and sincerity Of
it has been measured only by a
higher thing-m love for you ana
for Mississippi.
Mississippi has been for me not
only "The Land We Live In," but
"The Land We Love-"
It is sweet to. live in and is worthy
Of our love. love its rivers and
lakes, and bayous, it's valleys and It's
inhibitants, its history and traditions
and ideals, its crurches and home and
home-life, its men and women-the
very poorest and most illiterate OF
whom constitute the finest raw ma
terial out Of which to build up a
magnificent cultured manhood and
womanhood. As / once said on the
floor Of the house when member
Of that body, its men can "neither
be bought nor scared" and its women
are more than worthy Of its mer
This is true with rare exceptions
Nor am l afraid that its children will
fail In courage, honesty or servict
below the high standard set by theil
forebears. They are the pledges w
give to her future, the hope on which
We base our belief in her destiny.
love not only this generation Of my
people and the next generation grow
ing up to take its place, but its pas
Reneration-its great nen--from IT.
sturdy and brave pioneers, who, arait
hardships and poverty and danger
laid out the program IT our progress
to those who grew convincing or clio
quent, or both, in MississipYi's nam'
in Legislative halls, or who c"urte'
for her sake on many a battlefield tht
sublime nobility Of = worthy death
All in her service and in her name
and she worthy OF it all and more
You know l have never indulged i
the arts of the .;emogoguc. | have
loved you too mach ard trusted yol
zoo .sincerely 20 believe chat SORT Q
...lng-snere nlnr 'la-t,ey--tc he nee
essary to you: >ers;ce or welcome Z
o,,r best hearts or neas;s.
But now that / am retiring an
no one can suspect me Of ary mo
tive Of self-advancement, delight i
the opportunity TO tell y'u my low
for you and my willing devotion t
the advancement of your homer an
vour best and highest interests. Tha
e1er has been the actuating motlv
behind my attempted service-.th
star BY whose light have attempte
70 see my way clearly, and to poin
out that way to you. That / hav
fallen below the highest and hes
many times know better than yol
because you have been to my de
merits "wondrous kind" and to m
: follies and faults even more than "
little blind" !.
Whenever / have fallen below tn
standard that l fain would have Sc
for my endeavor. it has been m
fault, not yours. You have done you
nart You have given me encourage