Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-12-05
vARDAMAN's REPLY.

The State administration reply to the
structures of the press and people in re-
gard to the telegram sent by Governor
Vardaman 10 President Francis was
made public Saturday. The reply is in
the shape of a communication which is
addressed to the editor of the Jackson
Evening News, and which appeared in
that paper Saturday. 1t is signed by
Gerard Harris, a warm personal TREND
of the governor, and around the State
House it is generally understood that
the communication is the administra-
tion's answer to the criticisms of the
governor. The following is the COM
munication.
editor News. 1t seems to NE you
are unduly severe in your condemnation
of the message sent by Governor Varda-
man to President Francis, of the expo
sition, relative to Theodore Rooseyelrs
gracious appreciation OF the Mississippi
exhibit and building.
"There was no discourtesy 10 President
Francis. A calm perusal of the message
shows that, but when Governor Varda-
man thought of the desecrating spectacle
of Theodore Roosevelt entering the rep
lica Of the home Jefferson Davis, that
gentle old man whom he DETAINED, about
whom he told deliberate uutruths in
his published works, to whom, when
the poor old Mississipian, ex-President
of the Confederacy, after being called by
this same Roosevelt the arch traitor,
chief repudiationist, one of brutal
race ventured 10 call Roosevelts at
tention in courteous terms to the glaring
misstatement as to his being 'repudi-
ationist, received a typerwritten COM
munication, not even signed, not even
addressed as an ordinary letter, as fol-
lows
Theodore Roosevelt desires no COM
municatiOn with Jefferson Davis.
'I say, when Governor Vardaman re-
called all this and thought of the blatant
Roosevelt stamping through the rooms
hallowed by the memories of the heart
of the Confederacy, who, when feeble,
weak, old and broken in heart and
spirits, be had gratuitously insulted and
wantonly DETAINED, it was natural and
human, as a Mississipian who resented
the desecratiou, to have given expression
to something not exactly complimentary
to the Rough Rider.
"True, the Governor could have re.
msined silent, but after Roosevelt has
insulted the South 5y saying that the
'Southerners have strong strain of bru-
tality in their nature; after dining with
niger as wanton defiance to our
traditions; after forcing another 'nigger'
down the lhroats of the Charleston peo-
pie as collector and representative of the
port; after Furnishing whole commu-
nifty in this State for the lawless acts OF
a few men; after offering every malicious
wrong be could to our most illustrious
citizen-the President of the Conled-
acy-Roosevelt graciously consents to
approve of our exhibit made at the ex-
position, through our Executive, are we
to crawl to the feet of this arrant charla'
tan, and there lick the foot which has
time and again spurned us
''Not if the southern nature IS un-
changed. The Governor might have
caroled joyfully over this distinguishing
mark of immortality conferred upon us,
and those who are ever ready to crook
the pregnant hinges of the knee that
thrift may follow fawing' would have
cooed sweetly about his broad states
mauship. and the material prosperity
which Teddy's dentiferous smile would
confer upon us.
"a man who would defame an old
man like Jefferson Davis is unworthy Of
respect If he is shown his wrong, and
refuses to right it, he merits contempt;
If he piles Ossa on Pelion in the shape
of further wong, he is infamous. These
things Theodore Roosevelt has done.
He has repeatedly shown that he has no
further use for us than he had for Jeffer-
son Davis, and under the circumstances
do not believe it calls for turning OF
the other cheek nor for the tossing OF
the ready cap in the air, nor hanging
loyerlike upon his grin, and taking our
moods therefrom, like Sweet Alice, who
"'Wept with delight when he gave her
smile, -.
And trembled with fear at his frown."
Governor Vardaman simply showed
the resentment of an outraged people,
who asking nothing, expecting nothing,
deserving nothing, caring nothing now
one way or the other, for Mr.. .Rooseyelrs 8
opinion, and want only 10 be let alone
by him.