Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-08-15
The Indications In the South.
(Philadelphia Press.)

philadelphia Press.)
The Senatorial contest in Mississippi
derives its chief Importance from the
hight 1t throws on the general temper
and spirit of the South. 1t was essen
TALLY a struggle between progress
and reaction. Mr.. Sharp Williams reD-
resents the more enlightened and liber-
al thought while Governor Vardaman
stands for the old sectional and prospec-
tive impulse. If Mr.. Williams has sue
ceeded even by narrow margin it is so
far gratifying, but he ought to have
won by a decisive and unmistakable
majority.
The thoughtful and observing people
of the North have looked with hope and
sympathy and genuine interest to an adj
vancing South. In no patronizing spirit.
but with cordial good will and fellow
ship we have seen the evidences of a
new awakening in that section. We
have been deeply gratified at her splen-
did industrial development and at her
rapidly increasing share in the general
prosperity Of the country. We have de-
sired that with greater business inter
ests IN common and closer commercial
union the old bitterness would altogeth-
er disappear on both sides, and that
each section would better understand
and approach the other.
We have not been unmindful of the
difficult and perplexing problems. pecu-
liar to itself, which the South con-
fronts, and we have been more and
more disposed to recognize that she
must work out those problems in her
own way. But we have felt and have
not hesitated to say so, that she should
work them out in the way of Mr.. Sharp
Williams and not in that of Governor
Vardaman. On the line of Mr.. Williams
and his kind we have seen more hone
for the South, and we have watched
with deep interest to note which line
would carry the more support.
The indications are diverse. Mr.. Will
hams has apparently succeeded in Mis-
sissippi, but by margin so small as to
show that the State is evenly divided
between the progressives and the reac-
tionists. The fact that Governor Var
daman, on his kind of campaign. could
run the liberal leader so closely is not
encouraging. In Alabama the election
OF Ex-Governor johnson as the successor
OF Senator Pettus is a distinct triumnh
for the right. The new Senator is an
able, enlightened and high-minded
statesman and will worthily represent
the new South. His colleague. Mr..
Bankhead, who succeeds Senator Nor
gan, is also fair man. In Arkansas
the election of jeff Davis some months
ago as the successor of Senator Berry
was the triumph of another Vardanan.
Nothing could have been worse.
These contests are watched with great
interest for what they signify. They
are followed with the sincere hone that
they may so turn as to contribute to the
true advancement of the South. More
are to come. South Carolina will soon
be engaged in a Senatorial battle. If
she should have the good sense to choose
such man as Colonel John c. HEMP
hill, the able and broad-minded editor
OF the Charleston ''News and Courier. "
she would at once take higher posi-
ton with the whole country. He is a
true leader of thought, and his election
would give the State such a Senator as
she has not had for many years. With
the best wishes for the South's true
progress we hope that more of its con-
tests will have such results.