The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-05-18
GOV vARDAMAN
ADDRESSED LARGE AUDIENCE
AT OPERA HOUSE ON 1.-THE
ImPENoIN CRISIS"
States Should Fix Qualifications OF
Votsrs--Denounces Political Cor
ruption--EIoquent Tribute
To Sentiment.

fine audience at the Cairo opera
house last night and although he
poke as pioneer in movement
which is not popular in the north
sections of the country, his argn'
msnts were convincing. The au-
iience was as large as any that has
ever created lecturer in Cairo com
posed OF some of Cairo's be c,ti-
zenship: and 1t was responsive TO hs
eloquent and forceful pleas and decla-
rations. On tie stage with the Cover
nor were Mayor Par ems. Prot Glen
lenen, H. s. Antrim, Hon. Niles FIe l.
erick Gilbert, e. L. Keaton and Hon.
Reed Green.
Mr.. Green spoke briefly by way of
Introductory, although, he said. he
did not besieFe it necessary TO intrs-
duce the distinguished visitor who
was known to the people OF Cairo
perhaps better than himself, who hal
lived here all hi, life He spoke Of
Cairo as a southern city. and its pep
pie as naturally In sympathy with
what concerned the south's welfare.
Gov. vardaman's address was a
fine an oratoricaI effort as tho Peep g
Ct Cairo have heard. He touched up
on the corruption in politics. and re.
ferring to remark by Mr.. Green
concerning the recent development at
Springfield in connection with the U.
s. enatorship, he said he was in no
position to say very much, as there
had been something similar in Mis-
sisssippi lately. THE Gov. was a
candidate for senator in his state and
there were bribery scandals in which
hi: successful OPPONENT was said 10
have been involved]. He denounced
corruption in politics in Scath;ng
terms, declaring that the man VINO
would betray the people in the public
service was greater traitor than
Benedict Arnold or Judas Iscariot,
Speaking OF the purity of the ballot
he said the me- who would sell his
vote was bad, but he who would buy
buy votes was worse-the man who
would buy the votes OF others would
eel his own If opportunity offered
and he were offered his price Zap
plausel The only king in this coun-
try was the man with the ballot. and
the only queen was the woman who
told him how to use it. He paid
high tribute to sentiment as the con-
trolling influence in all great achieve
ments. and denounee.- sordid mater
ialism as it manifested Itself in the
pursuit OF the dollar and the Injuries
Of life which had eau ed the downfall
of the greatest nation of history.
The speaker touched on the tariff,
an Imperialism, tine fatter as repre-
sented in the acquiring CT coloni IS,
notably the purchase of ten million
of Philippine negroes at 81 per head.
shooting the grace of god into them
and bringing them into srbiection to
he plundered by our commercial and
Industrial mercenaries. He spoke
also OF Prohibition. defending it as
a government policy; but the chief
part of his address was the rece qnes-
ton and his demand that the consti-
tutional amendment giving the negro
the ballot be repealed. He would have
is left to the states to fix the qualifi-
cations of voters. Granting the bal
lot to millions of people who had
been reared in slavery had been ,4e
crime OF the age, never committed by
any other nation. He described the
conditions in the south, the relations
between the races. which were diff
ferent from what they were during
slavery times when they were mu-
tually cordial, and often affectionate.
The south was now DISTINGUISHING
the negro under a subterfuge, but he
wanted 1t done openly and honestly,
The speaker was frequently APP
plauded, and he had ample reason to
feel that he had an approving au-
dience for the most part
Gov. Vardaman's presence in Cairo
was due to the efforts of Mr.. c. l..
Keaton who had heard him at Hot
Springs and was SO strongly impress
Ell with him and his lecture there
that he determined tohave him speak
l - nv