The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1906-12-01
A WHITE MANS PARTY.
GOVERNOR VARDANAN ON PROPOSED
DEMOCRATIC PLANK.
FavOrS Senator MOrean'S Position and
Discusses Repeal Of Fifteenth
Amendment.

Jackson, Miss, Nov. When
shown the interview published a
few days ago in the New York
Post from Senator Morgan, of
Alabama, in which the Senator is
reported as saying that he will
favor the adoption of the follow
ing plank In the next national
Democratic platform, to- wit: Re-
solved, That the Democratic party
in the United States is and has al
ways been white mans party,
and insist upon that being the
paramount issue in the next cam
paign," Gov. Vardaman said:
'1t is gratifying to me to see
men of Senator Morgan's promi-
nence and great learning taking
hole, of this question, compared in
Importance with which all others
pale into nothingness. 1t matters
not what / may think or others
say, this problem must be solved,
and at once. The Southern peo-
pie must take the initiative. They
must press it firmly, intelligentIy
and consistently, that the North
ern people, who in the very ma
ture of things only view it from
afar and are therefore not expect
ed to understand it as we of the
South do, may have their atten-
tion attracted and be forced to
consider it in the concrete form.
''It is not local question any
more than the Philippine, Chinese
and Indian questions are local
questions. The laws suited to the
government of the white man can
not possibly be adjusted and suit
ed to the government of the negro.
The most iIliterate and thought
less individual in this republic has
sense enough to know that. If |
should be permitted to dictate the
policy of the Democratic party, so
far as the South is concerned, |
would concede to the North almost
anything and everything if they
would only come to the rescue of
the South and help us to repeal
the fifteenth amendment and mod
ify the fourteenth amendment.
when the Northern man shall
become informed of the real con-
dltion of things down here be will
join with his white brother in cor
recting the great wrong that was
done us by the adoption of the
fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments. / have no patience with
the cowardlyand stupid policy pur-
sued by some of our people of
waiting for the North to take the
initiative. You might as well ex-
pect the people of the oo-Mis-
sissippi Delta to remain inactive
and Indifferent to their own inter
ests until the people living in the
bill section should provide them
with levees for their own protec-
ton.
"The issue is with US. The
difficulties press hard upon us.
We alone understand the real ma
ture of the negro and the difficult
ties involved, and it is therefore
Fincumbent upon US to take tine
lead, tell the truth about it and
thereby inform the North. Some
of our prominent politicians
seem to think that we will have
trouble in convincing the North
of the righteousness of our de.
mands III this matter. The thing
! am interested in just now is con
vincing the people of Mississippi
Of the necessity for doing some
thing. | am not asking the peo'
pie of Mississippi and the South.
ern States to think for the North,
but think for themselves, and il
these war amendments should be
repealed, let them act and talk anC
vote that way. and if the facts
shaIl Justify them in demanding
their repeal it is reasonable te
Isuppose chat their white brothers
of the North, when informed al
they are informed, will act as they
act. To indulge in other pre-
sumption is both stupid anG
egotisticaI.
Personally | shall continue to
discuss this question and | shall
stand ready to make any conces
sion to the North within reasor
that may be demanded by tht
North which will bring the Nortl
to the assistance of the South b.
the repeal of the fourteenth ano
fifteenth amendments. 1t is {
subject that ought to be taught il
the schools of the South, writer
about in the newspapers, discusses
in the forum and preached from
the pulpit. In it is involved th
mental. moral and material pros
. perity of the white man and th
life of the negro. We canno
maintain our present form Of gov
ernment, we cannot preserve gu
! civilization with the law recogniz
I ing the moral, intellectual, soeia
and political equality Of the races
Every white man in Mississip
pi knows that. Then why will b
not employ his ballot to expires
bis honest thoqghts2 This ques
( ltion is above partisan politics
I high as the sun is above the cart