The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1910-11-12
JAS. K. VARDAMAN
FOR i. S. SENATOR.
From the Mississippian, Meridian.

From the Mississippian, Meridian.
The Mississippian has not, up to this
time, taken any part in the campaign
for the election Of United State sena-
tor that is, now, in full swing through
out the State. We have been govern
ed by more than one consideration in
thus refraining from participation in
that discussion. Primarily, we depre-
Gated the. opening of that campaign
eighteen months in advance of the cleo
ton; next, during the summer months,
we were 1aboring earnestly for the cleo
ton of Mr.. S. A. Witherspoon to Con-
gress and did not care to embarass the
advocacy with the introduction of other
issues that might possibly initiate "a
gainst his success, After the election
in August, we became very busily en-
gagged on a special edition of the pa
per that left no time for politics or any
thing else.
But we believe the time has now ar
rived when the Mssissippian should
take position on one side or the other
in debate that is engaging the inter-
est of the people of Mississippi more
universally and more profoundly than
any other discussion that has ever be-
fore entered into our politics, and a
newspaper that hopes to keep the in
terest of it's readers cannot afford to
ignore the issues therein involved; !;
moreover, it is not in the nature of The
Mississippian to stand neutral and
opinionless, a politician nonentity, in
the presence of such a stirring conflict
that is quickening every pulse of the
people from the Tennessee line to the
Gulf.
We have deliberately chosen to es-
pouse the cause of Hon. Jas K. Varda-
man in this campaign and support his
candidacy for the United States Sen
ate with such earnestness and energy as
strong conviction of the righteousness
of that cause may impart to our endeav-
or, and it is proper here to state the
reasons which have led to that conclu =
sion.
In the first place, through years of
useful and patriotic public service, as
legislator, as journalist and as govern
or, James K. Vardaman has proved his
fitness for and earned that honor and
promotion. During these years when,
when he diligently laboring for his
people, both of his opponents, now Gov
etous of the same honor, were, with
equal diligence, giving their time and
their talents to the making of money.
Neither has ever given a single hour of
his precious time to any public service,
whatever, save that which is incidental
to the obligations of ordinary citizen
ship, while Vardaman has given twen-
ty years of ardent and effec tive labor
for the promotion of the common well
fare. A seat in the Senate of the Unit
ed States, the noblest deliberative body
on earth, is an honor worth an heroic
effort and sacrifice 10 attain; it is a fit
crowning of the labor of life time ; and
so esteemed mas it been in the new
| States of the West, in the earlier time
that the mine-made millionaires paid
large fortunes for the distinction. 1t is
not strange, therefore, that both Messrs.
Percy and Alexander, after making
their fortunes at the bar, should seek
| to crown their brilliant and sncces sful
careers with this noble honor.
But the people will ask, and justly
ask, what have they done to deserve it?
Wherein have they shown any concern
whatever for any save some selfish in
terest, through all of their busy lives
up to this good hour, when they are
seized with desire to become sena =
tor, and are suddenly become tribunes
of people whose very existence, be-
fore, they were only dimly and vaguely
aware of. Opposed to such claims as
their selfish ambition inspires, stands
the record of James K. Vardaman's pub :
| lie service, scintallant with honor and
| ennobled by high duties, faithfully per-
| formed. 1t is needless to ask which the
people will choose.
Again, James Y. Vardaman stands
| for definite idea and declares pur-
pose in seeking a voice in the national
council. He believes that the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States should be repealed as in
consistent with American ideals of gov
eminent and civilization, and desire to
bring this important question to the Sc
rious attention of the nation. They tell
us that this is a~quixotic fighting o1
wind-mills; but we recall that Sen atol
George was met with the same sort OF
objection when he proposed constitu-
tional convention for the practical null
lification of that same amendment in
Mississippi. We have no space in which
here and now to develop the argument
in support of Mr.. Vardaman's conten.
ton in this behalf. That can wait. Our
present purpose being only, briefly, te
indicate the elemental considerations
which have led TO our conclusion to sup.
port the candidacy of the former Gov.
ernor for the United States Senator
| oSlar opa1flor,oy,