The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1963-07-18
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Owen Cooper Issues .

work with thousands of fell
low Mississippians in taking
advantage of some opportun-
tiles for developing our states
industrial and business re-
sources, and to provide gain
ful employment for many
citizens.
Mississippi has been so
good to me that a lifetime of
service to the state and its
people could never repay the
debt of gratitude and appre-
citation I owe.
According to democratic
processes we, periodically e.
lect our officials. We are now
engaged in a prediction
campaign for all state and
county officers. Such a cam
paign is Enthusiastically moi
sy. heated, tumultous and en-
gaging. In judging the parti-
cipants in the campaign, we
must not let the din of the
noise, the glare of the heat
the action of tumult or the
dust of the engagement OBJ
Scure our vision to the extent
that we fail to recognize some
Of the problems before us and
how these problems relate t.
our present and future well
being.
1t is not my purpose to tell
you how to vote, but it is my
earnest desire to challenge
you to do some thinking be-
fore you vote; to analyZe
some of Mississippi's problems
before you cast your ballot:
and to use your God-given
intellect as you exercise your
franchise.
Will you permit me then
to discuss a few matters a.
bout which MisSissippians
need to give serious and re-
Elected thought things a
bout which we need to cast
aside our emotions and use
our brains?
First, may I suggest that
it is important what other
people think about MISSISSIPPI
pi. Too often l hear the state
ment made: 81 don't care
what the other fellow thinks
about Mississippi - it is good
enough for me-" This is the
human reaction to those who
belittle our state, mis-repre-
sent us on the printed page.
abuse us on the TV, distort
the truth, and in every con-
ceivable way cast reflection
on Mississippi. Under these
circumstances it is natural to
react with Indignation, dis
dain and, scorn. We must not,
however, LET our Indignation
disdain and scorn cause us
to either commit acts or make
decisions of the same nature
or character as those who at
tack us. We must not prove
bv our reactions that the ac-
cuSer IS correct.
Rudyard Kipling once
wrote:
If you can keep your head
when all about YOU are losing
theirs and blaming it on
you.
If you can trust yourself
when all men doubt you, But
m a k e allowance for their
doubling too;
IF YOU can wait and not be
tired by waiting, Or being
lied about, don't deal in lies
Or being hated don't give
wav to hating. And yet don't
look too good. nor talk
too wise:
IF you can bear to hear the
truth you've spoken, Twist
cd by knaves to make a trap
for fools Or watch the things
YOU gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build en- up
with Worn-out tools:
49,. you'll be a Man, my SON!
It is not a happy situation
when a state finds itself writ
ten-off politically and thus
r"n be used by designing Of
flee holders, through left
wing organizations and news
media, as a political whip
o;ne-boy. Mississippi now ac-
MS that position and we
are thus challenged to rise
;oov@ the level of our OPP
position. always remembering
that truth crushed to earth
shall rise again: the eternal
years If God are here"
'HeSa are difficult, testing
and trying times. We live
L.. W conditions as described
by a great American patriot
who once proclaimed, "These
are times hat try mems souls.
i we should be thankful
for the crisis for it gives US
a pportunity to show that
VIZ re men"
Through this all, however,
VIZ must recognize the fact
we cannot live alone.
The day of Robinson Crusoe