The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-07-31

might of the United States Army.
Vardaman's candidacy places
for the first time before the white
voters of Mississippi the opportu-
nifty to say by their ballots what
their honest sentiments are on this
question, whether they will
Ratify or Repudiate the Negro Amend
mentS.
Opinions may differ as to how
much can be accomplished by Var
daman, if elected; but there can
be no question that in the posi-
tion he has taken he represents
the best sentiments and traditions
of white Mississippians of the
past, and the honest sentiments
and aspirations of every true
white Mississippian Of today.
Why then, should not our peo-
| Pile vote their honest sentiments
and convictions on this question:
MississIppi's vote on the Senator
ship will be interpreted by the
world as the verdict of her white
citizens on this negro amendment,
forced upon her and other South
ern states, which they have never
sanctioned, and the spirit of
which they can never live up to
and preserve their civilization.
The election of James K. Var
daman on this issue would empha-
size as nothing else at this time,
the irreconciIable, unalterable
opposition of Mississippi and the
South to "a final acquieseense in.
the negro amendments, and would
be fresh notice to the negro at
home and elsewhere, that Missis-
sippians never intend to furl the
flag of white supremacy.
1t is idle to say that there is no
race problem. There has never
been a day in a hundred years
when there was not serious race
problem in the United States. 1t
has assumed as many phases as
there are decades in the history of
the Government, but it has al
ways been the same problem.
There was a race problem when
the Fortieth Congress in 1870
fraudently declared the Fifteenth
Amendment to be legally ratified
BY three fourths Of the states.
There was race problem in all
its monstrous deformity when
the South was struggling with
the horrors of the black decade.
There was race problem when
the trainers Of the Constitution
fixed limit to the slave trade.
There was q race problem seven
ty-fye years ago when men we're
mobbed III Northern towns for
making abolition speeches.
There was race problem in 1920
when the Missouri Compro-
miseo measure was enacted.
There was race problem in 1850
when the same was repealed.
There was a race problem in 1851
when the Supreme Court of the
United States decided that per-
sons of the African race were
not, and COULD NOT BE ac-
knowledgled as a part of the
people, or citizens under the
Constitution Of the Unite d
States. Z There was race prob
lem when VIM. H. Seward de-
clared that there was an irre-
pressible conflict. \ There was
q race problem when Mr.. Lin.
coin announced that the govern
lment could not exist half slave
and half free. There was a
race problem when three and a
half million men met In the dead
| ly embrace of war at the sacriEoe
of one million white men. There
was race problem when Mr..
Lincoln issued bis emancipation
proclamation. There was d race
problem when
The knights Of the Invisible Empire. :"
overthrew the mongreI despotism
OF nergoand carpet bag rule.
There was 4 race problem when
the white MEN of the South held
lby force and eternal vigilance
| the white mans government re-
stored to them BY tie desperate
Ylrnpunss r,f Ria Kn X INV