The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1903-02-28

wrongs and outrages on the negro
population by violent and lawless
men. This is, as you have 90 often
urged, the serious side Of the race
problem that constantly confronts the
conservative and thinking element in
the state, namely how to retsrain and
check the thoughtless and vicious who
would take advantage Of the helpless
ness OF the negro to plunder. oppress
and, possibly drive him from the
state. 1t between the rough white
element and the negro that the racial
hostlty attains its most obnoxious de-
velopment. And it is here that l ap.
prehend the influence Of Major Varda.
mans campaign, and makes me draw
back from him as governor notwith-
standing strong personal liking and
confidence in his integrity of charac-
tire and political courage. In conclu.
sion ask why do you think, as Judge
from your editorial you DO, that Mr..
Fox would be subservient to the in.
1uences to which it referred?
Subscriber.
The Herald based its incidental re-
ference to the Fox candidacy and the
forces behind it" on the signs-the
particular text being the claim Of a
paper supporting him, which Was
quoted But we did not go so far,
Intentionally, as to imply that he
would be subservient" to the in
tiuences referred to. Mr.. Fox is not
that sort of mamie possesses too
much moral courage and self-respect
to be subservient. Hence he was not
the first choice-it is only after back
ing several others, and witnessing the
su ccession of failures to head off Var
daman, that the forces aforesaid
have turned to the popularity and
standing of Congressman Fox as
dernier resort He is not their pre-
ference but they know he is not an in
CRATE, and as they can do no more
they are necessitsted to trust the
chance of pulls and plums to the
recognition commonly given to friends
by the candidate who wins. Such ap-
pears to be the common idea, as it is
the one The Herald has imbibed, of
the relationship between Mr.. Fox and
the forces that have brought about
his "boom.
AS for Major Vardaman's canvass,
it is needless to say that it is not on
the line The Herald would have sug-
gested to him. But this 10 probably
our fault, as it has been our misfor-
tune for some years to cross the main
currents of policies Of our state and
party. But we totally dissent from
the idea that his candidacy possesses
any real attractions for the rough
white element that class is delud-
ed, we are certain, if supporting Ma
jor Vardaman believing that he would
not, as governor, exert the full power
Of the state for the protection OF the
negro from mob violence. We look on
all whose propensities lead them to
maltreat and abuse helpless and infer
ior persons, white or black, as base
or cowardly. And we believe Major
Vardaman too brave and true man.
not to hold them in the same detesta-
tion. He is no nergo hater-no South
ern born man who is not ba,. man
is. Nor is his discharge Of the duties
Of hihg Office to be judged by an
exuberant and sometimes prefervid ed
itorial style. With the premise that
he possesses praiseworthy ambition
and patriotic purpose, we believe that
the state may safely trust Major Var
daman's administration to the infu'
ence of public opinion, the weight OF
responsibility and his sense OF right
.Vicksburg Herald.