The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-01-20
GOV. VARDAMAN
INAUGURATED.

lSoIppi uCW OOfcIHOTs WAS lOTIu-
ally inaugurated in the hall of the
House of Representatives in the
new capitol on yesterday, in the
presence of both branches of the
Legislature, and a large and bril-
liant assemblage of other officials
and citizens. The Governor elect
was introduced to his audience by
| Speaker f. N. Thomas in high
| " complimentary speech, and at
the close of his inaugural address,
the delivery of which occupied
about an hours time, was formally
Esworn into Office by Chief Justice
/ Whitfield, his hand resting mean
while on volume of Holy Writ.
i As might have been expected,
the Governors address was frank
bold and vigorous, not mincing
matters on anything it touched.
/ He makes neat and graceful ac-
acknowledgement to the people for
the honor conferred upon him,
extolls Mississippi, her proud re-
cord and patriotic citizenship, and
lglories in her greatness, progress
and prosperity. He compliments
the Legislature, and will look to
it for encouragement, wise and
prudent counsel" He briefly re-
fers to the late campaign, which
he dominates as ian intestine con-
flict, contest within the Demo-
cratic party" and concludes his
reference thereto with the follow
ing broad and patriotic statement,
which will be appreciated and en-
dorsed by every citizen of Missis-
sippi:
Whatever bitterness or acri-
mony the recent campaign may
have engendered, the wounds in
flicted in the contest for place,
the disarpointments and heart
burnings that resulted from the
conflict, let us try to molhfy, con
ciliate and mutually forgive, Join
hands, united in heart and mind,
and present a solid front, as we
march forward to meet the grave
responsibilities of the future.
/ Life is too short to be taken up in
remembering or brooding over
disagreeable things. Experience
is of no good, unless it makes man
wiser and better. He who hates
hurts himself, for hatred poisons
the heart, beclouds the judgment,
and paralyzes the Imagination. y
He expresses himself in favor
lof liberal education of the white
children, but opposed to the pres
ent system of negro education,
land recommends the submission
of an amendment to the constitu-
tion giving the Legislature the
powei to deal with the public
school question; the idea being to
prepare the way for a division of
the school fund, as advocated in
all his campaign speeches.
He discusses the judiciary and
condemns political judges" in
strong and pointed language, and
thinks that judges should abstain
from politics altogether, and give
their time wholly to matters per-
tanning to their Office.
| He favors an issuance of bonds
sufficient to supply the def
cheney in the treasury" and is
opposed to paying for the "capi
tol building with money worth to
the tax payers ten per cent when
the State could borrow for three
per cent. +"
| Heyrecommends the abolishment
of the board of control and sub
stituting therefor a department
of the State government, to be un-
der the direction of a competent
man, to be selected as prescribed
by the Legislature, whose duty it
shall be to supervise the workings
of the convicts. He also favors
the working of convicts on the
public roads, a State depository
law to prevent the accumulation
of money in the State treasury,
the selling of the Governors man
sion, and favors a liberal system
of pensions for helpless Confed-
Ierate soldiers and an old soldiers
| home.
/ While The Leader opposed Ma
ljor Vardaman during last sum-
mer's campaign on account of
Isome of the radical policies he ad-
vocated and is still unable to agree
with him fully as to these, we be-
| lieve he will make an honest, con-
Iscientious, able chief executive,
and we bespeak for his admins
tration as a whole the loyal and
Sympathetic support of all Missis-
lsipian.
The most touching and impres-
Isive incident of the whole occa-
sion, to the writer, was when the
venerable and gentle mother of
1.-THE new Governor was led to the
| Speakers stand and given the seat
of honor by the side Of her dis
ltinguished son, he was deeply
affected and tears unbidden we'll
ed into his eyes and stole their
way down his cheeks. In that
brief moment, half obliVions to
Jail the pomp and circumstance
about him, be doubtless recalled
with the siyidness Of light a
wealth OF mother love and the years
of lonely widowhood through
which she had struggled with q
Spartan mothers courage and
devotion to rear her orphan child
Iren to lives Of honor and useful
NxTz..11z