The leader., 1905-02-15
VARDAMAN WON'T GO.
NnY THE GOVERNOR WILL NOT AT.
TEND THE INAUGURAL.

TEND THE INAUGURAL
Coy. Vardaman has given out
Ian interview explaining why he
Edeolined to attend the Presidential
! Inauguration, and refusing to
name ten school children to rep
resent Mississippi at the national
capital on that occasion,
When asked about the report
that he had been requested to ap-
| point d number of high school boys
T to attend the inauguration oi
President Roosevelt, the Cover
nor said:
do not expect to attend the
presidential inauguration, nor
shall appoint anybody to repre-
sent the State.
Governor, do you object to
IgiVing your reasons Why you will
notg
Well, no, / do not. do not
lobject to giving my reason fol
anything / say or do. TO be can
ibid with you, / shall not attend
the Inauguration, because | dc
not want TO. / do not see any
thing to exult over, in the fact
that we are to have Mr.. Roosevelt
for the President of these United
Estates for the next four years,
and | do not propose to play like
| / do. / wish the President well
/ in the performance of the duties
| OF bis great Office, but am not al
lall hilarious over the prospects.
And the second reason is, that /
ldo not believe in such kingly cere-
monies regal farces incident to
the induction Of our recent presi-
dents into Office. 1t is not iD ac-
lcord with the spirit of our gov
lernment. / think every act ofthe
office holder and everything per
tanning to the Office, under a Dem
oclatic form of government,
should body forth Democratic
| principles, characterized by that
genuine simplicity which is the
genius and basic truth of our
policy. Presidential inaugura-
ltions in recent years have become
more expensive to the taxpayers,
spectacular in effect, and regal in
pOmp and show. than the famous
ceremonies attending the return
of conquering heroes in ancient
Rome, or the coronation of a Cae-
sar. / think they should be pro.
lhibited by law; and that we ought
to 90 back to the sublime and Dig
nifed simplicity Of Thomas Jeffer-
son, who was great enough to
write the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and designed the great
est governmental plan of all the
ages, and who was content to ride
horse back, unattended, to the
capitol, dismount, and then 90
land take the oath Of Office, like an
honest Democrats great states.
man and proceed with the duties
thereof. But Jefferson's great
ness did not depend upon the
adultatiOn of the Office bribed,
pension corrupted and serVile
multitude. He realized that hon
ors come from the way the func-
ltions of the Office are performed,
rather than the mere fact Of hold
ling the office. He also placed the
dignity, power and importance d
the private citizen above the Office
holder maintaining that all Of
1.-The just powers of government
are derived from the consent Of
1.-THE governed and therefore that
1.-THE real ruler is the independent,
self respecting sudragist. "a more
useful lesson could not be taught
1.-THE youth Of our land than the
contemplation Of the contrast pre-
sented BY the ceremonies attend.
| ing the inauguration of Thomas
Jefferson the grandest Demo-
cratic statesman Of all time, in
l1S00, and Theodore Roosevelt,
President of the United States,
Emperor Of the Philippines and
Guardian Angel Of Hayti in 1905.
It shows the trend of things the
breaking away from our ancient
moorings, and the old Democratic
ship Of state floating into new
channels and upon uncertain wat
lers. Il may be all right; possibly
| it may be leading to grander and
better things, but of that, am
| profoundly skeptical.