The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1948-09-23
The Top Roots Of Freedom
by Oliver Emmerich

James Street, author of TAP Roots" when asked WnaC nc
thought of the States Rights movement replied, tninK II
stinks" Then Mr.. Street said that the States, Rights can dnoabIs
would not carry Mississippi and sohloqulzed that the .TouOss
with Mississippi is that politics never reaches the 9
people" ~,
We know of no better political education than that which
prompts people to respect the American constitution and constl-
tutional government. That is what the States Rights movemen'
tuition. In this fight Mississippi has led the nation. 1t was Field
ing Wright, governor of Mississippi, who first spearh meade this TINS
fight in the present presidential election campaign. inns Woufo
indicate that the people of Mississippi are politically the best edu,
Gated Gated people epaD IN the natio on 1 : rasuIta sn e pe Navem NJ 3 will prove
But suppose that MIR. Street holds that the contrary to
this point of view is right; that not respect for, but disrespect
for the constitution is in order. This couldn't be SO for this would
place Mr.. Street in agreement with Nazi Germany, Facist Italy
and the Communist Soviet. This we know Mr.. Street does not
endorse. AT least we hope he doesn't.
But if politics doesn't reach the educated in Mississippi,
tics reach the educated. Is tt in New York, where Harlem holds
clans look to the South Side for leadership? Is it in New Jersey
where the lei people ol t take orders ,has,d from ape a political alo boss osef 1t strikes bn sse sns
SO loosely. 4ona
ard for the political education of a people. After all, Karl Marx
wrote a book. And so did Adolf Hitler. No, writing a book does
nor political prognosticaton
The Golden Rule and the Lords Prayer are basic in re-
ligious education and the American constitution and the spirit
of the Declaration of independence are basic in political education.
The people Of Mississippi recognize that the tap root rotor OF
education is the recognition of this fact. We are indebted to Mr..
Street for this metaphor which comes from the title of his book,
Tap Roots The American Constitution; Tap Roots
The Declaration of Independence Tap Roots The
Battle nttle.o Of Bunker I'll Hill. Tap Roots Washington g 9nt Crossing the
the political education of the people of Mississippi means simply
the clinging to these tap roots of American freedom.
If Mr.. Street were in search of political iliteracy he could
have found it in Philadelphia. Not in Independence Hall where
American freedom was born, but in the Philadelphia party con-
vention hall where American liberties were challenged in this
presidential campaign.
Wen be fair to Mr. Street. He is a Mississippi author. He
wrote the book, Tap Roots So we say, "Hurrah for Tap Roots"
But we are thinking primarily of the tap roots of American liber-
ties, the American constitution and the Declaration of Indepen-
dence.
Mr.. Street thinks that our people are politically iliterate.
But there are several hundred thousand of Mississippians who
by their stand prove that they are capable of being teachers in
q college OF constitutional Governmental conceptions. Already this
school has been created in the form of the States Rights cam
palgn lnaugurated in Mississippi. The slogan of this school is
Eternal vigilance is the pride of liberty" Our school colors are
the red white and blue. Our college song is "The National An
them The only requirement of admittance is to repeat the
Fledge OF allegiance The tuition fee is simply the pay
ment o. your poll tax communists are barred from the
campus OF this college and all students respectfully salute
the flag. This is the kind of political education that Mississippians
have manifested. 9
This is Mississippis idea of a sound political education
we challenge Mr.. Street to suggest a better curriculum.
-McCOmb Enterprise J~0urnal-McComb Miss.