Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-05-06

IN sixty days CnaC SIdCS, LHdC
has been forced to struggle
against greater obstacles than
any other in the South's marvel
Gus industrial development since
the reconstruction scourge that
followed the blight Of war, has
set before the eyes Of the nation
two sons chosen to represent
Mississippi's ideals in the senate
of the United States.
Our view of many phases OF
economics and politics are diam
etr;cally different from those of
any gulf state. Two men have
proved within two months that
our idelas are identical. Sixty
days have sufficed to show that
the state, which for ten years
and more has been identified
with a vicious demagogue, has
been able to uphold to the nation
the finest emboClments of past
and present Americanism,
No error is made when Ameri-
can ability and conscience are
measured by the membership of
the United States senate. Meth
er the downfall of Cannon, the
fervor for Roosevelt nor the re-
gretful disappointment over
Taft is nearly so significant of
the growth and change of the
nations thought as the realiza-
ton by Aldrich and Hale that
thew must follow SpOOner into
retirement, and the ridicule that
has followed every suggestion
that a Burrows or a Penrose
could. by seniority, succeed to
senate mastery.
Precedent is dead in the SEN
ate that long was the citadel of
precedent-if it be bad prece-
dent. And in this time, when a
bad period Of legislative sub
cerviencv to privileged wealth is
passing, it is significant that a
voice from the past shattered
two senate traditions within an
hour.
One unwritten senate rule has
been that new members must be
silent. Another that applause
from the galleries is rigidly for
bidden, and from members sim
ply an inconceiYable impossible
ty. But when a brave, modest,
Whimsical, kindly old man, a
simple, splendid patriot and a
gentleman for whom we can look
only to Thackery's Colonel New
come for a parallel-rose in his
place last February and told how
he had sought his sole office, the
sixty days OF an ureXpired sena-
torial term. because he had made
a boys boast to his old mother,
and went on to tell what real
southerners thought of America,
past and present, applause rang
throughout the chamber.
And when the people Of the
land read next day how Jim
Gordon, sMississippians and true
American, had spoken from his
great heart, the whole nation
was touched and softened into
that better understanding that
is ever the chief need of a peo-
ole so diversified as ours.
So Gordon'S fame is safe. The
senator who rose promptly and
declared: Il believe | express
the sentiment of every one of
the colleagues of our departing
friend when / say that we deep
y regret his going, and that no
matter how wonderful q genius
Or great a statesman succeeds
him, he can never be Senator
Gordon, of Mississippi" simply
expressed, the national sentl-
nent.
But we speak our congratulR-
ions to Mississippi and admit
lur envy because Mississippi
lent to Washington to succeed
Gordon Leroy Percy.
Mr.. Percy makes no claim to
,eing "a wonderful genius" or
a great statesman. He is a
geI-schooled, able, high-minded
nan. He led long fight
qainst the demagogic apostle of
ace and class hatred. James K.
ardaman.
Senator Percy was fairly cleo
ed. with votes to spare. But an
1tcry of bribery was made by
Vardaman follower. The leg
lative invesgation of the charges
suited in the accuser being un-
Die to produce any credible evil
ence, and he and his charges
ere utterly discredited.