Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-11-21
Mississippi's Unchallenged Public Opinion

few days ago large number of widely known and
prominent white people of the state signed and paid for its
publication as full page advertisement, in the Daily
Clarion Ledger along with few prominent and widely
known Negroes of the state letter commencing Governor
johnson for his stand against the crime of ynching
denng those responsible for the recent yncngs in the
state urging their punishment for the crimes, and uphold
ing the principals of Christian Democracy the ideal and
hope of the State of Mississippi.
Almost at the same time the Chamber of Commerce
of Hazelhurst following the recent regretabe incidents
happening there passed and published on October 2h
in the Hazehurst Courier widely read white weekly of
that city, resolution assuring the Negro of that the
protection of the law and of the worthwhile white citizens
of the community.
The affect of the above action cannot fail to go far
towards changing the opinion largely held outside the state
that the existence of much nterraca bitterness,
evde recent within the state due to the
widespread endorsement of such policy by the leaders
of the state studied apathy the part of those opposed
to such conditions developed out of fear of being brand
ed as niger lovers should they raise against
those who would suppress oppress and prosecute its Ne
gro citizens.
Appearing the full page advertisement published
the Daily Clarion Ledger in large majority the
of white citizens of the state whose have
before been publicly attached to such docu
ment and who by MEANS be classed among the
called professional nterracal liberals of the SOUTH AS
part of the advertisement there appeared blank form
requesting those who held the views expressed in the letter
to fill in the form and mail to the Governor and there
to doubt that larger number of the lead
ing citizens of the state have responded to that request
By far the greatest significance in the publication of
he letter bearing the signature of many prominent and
widely known white people, the publication of the
luton by the Hazehurst Chamber of Commerce. is the
evident widespread breakdown of the old fear above
ferred respecting the Negro citizens of the state; fear
in the threequarter century of its history that has
mted the development of heretofore unchaenged pu bic
opinion within and without the state that is largely
sponsbe for the fact that today the state and its people,
both white and black the poorest the most ignorant
and backward in the entire nation; public opinion
than any other single factor responsible for the acts and
conditions pointed out in the two publications referred to
here.
Of the greaest importance aso at this time is the af
feet of the two publications the spirit and morale Of
the Negro citizens of the state Living under what appear
ed to be evergrowng Illustration and bewdermen it is
impossible to judge the depth reached in Negro spirit and
morale under the impact of happenings in the state
and seemingly unchaenged public opinion existing and be-
ing fostered against him.
In the knowledge of and viewing these two publications.
the Negro citizens of the state well find
of faith and of spirit and morale in the recent remarks
of Governor Johnson respecting the recent events who
said that although they had cast dark blot the state
they bound to lead to better understanding and
ations between the groups, to far better and
hopeful future for the State of Mississippi.