Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-09
FROM n PEOPLE

1t is common to say ''that man is
a reasonable being" This definition
may differentiate him from the lower
animals. and may do to state as a gen.
eral proposition; but, assuredly, a large
per cent of men are controlled by their
prejudices and passions.
In the common affairs of life this
proposition may be true to a greater or
less extent, but when applied to poli-
tics and religion, il does not hold good.
In the present campaign for United
States senator it would seem hat the
main question for the people to settle
should be as to which of the a~spirants
would be most capable to represent
Mississippi in our greatest deliberative
body. Instead of appealing to the rea-
son, the whole effort of one of the
candidates is to stir the passions by the
cry of corruption and u~nfairness in the
selection of our present senator De-
spite the fact that this charge has been
investigated by the senate and by the
courts and pronounced without founda-
ton, and despite the fact that the two
houses, without a dissenting vote, said
there was no stain on Percy's commits
sion; and despite the fact that the four
representatives from this county, men
of unimpeachable character, all say
that there was no unfairness in the
caucus; yet, on the mere assertion of
the self-confessed liar-Bilbo-the howl
is kept up. Is this not contrary to
easOn and commonsense?
The other twin card on which Mr..
Vardaman relies, is the appeal to race
prejudice. This race feeling is in
stinctive with all of US, but there is no
occasion for this appeal now, except to
further the ~gentleman's political for
tune, and considered in this light, it is
deserving of contempt.
For twenty years the negroes have
been humble, docile and haye had alb
solutely nothing to do with politics.
Some of the very men who are wild
ove~ this question are crazy about hir-
round. They will even fall out with
their best friends and neighbors in their
mao scramble to get them for the next
year. All this twaddle about their de-
sire for social equality is nothing but
an appeal to prejudice. In our section
the negro knows his place and never
presumes to thrust himself on white
people. He knows too we'll what the
result to him would be. Besides, this
question of social equality is one that
each individual settles for himself.
1t is strange that sensible men will
allow themselves swayed by such silly
appeals to race feeling. Suppose it
were possible to repeal the 18th amend
ment. how would that remedy the evil
Mr.. Vardaman dwells on SO feelingIy
and points so graphically? That would
not remov the negro from our midst,
nor change his nature, so what possible
good can result? The repeal of all the
amendments would not more effectual-
ly put him out of politics.
No, Mr.. Vardaman's whole purpose
is to stir passion and make votes for
himself, and viewed in this light, it is
absolutely contemplate.
Eight years ago he fooled enough
voters to elect him governor, but he
ought to remember that he cannot fool
the people every time by such dema-
gOgic appeals.
The real issue before Mississippians
today is not the race question, nor is it
primarily n of ability and statesman
oI1lP, OuC a IdO 4CSOINCu IC0Sl1 lIlCO d
much simpler one. 1t is now wheth-
Ell the gentleman as governor proved
himself unworthy of trust in the hand
ling of the moneys entrusted to his
keeping. When this campaign opened
there were not many who Thought that
Vardaman had knowingly and wilfully
misused these trust funds. While we
could not doubt that they had been
misused and misapplied, we thought it
was not Intentionally and deliberately
done, but was simply the result of his
lack of business habits and his tenden-
cy to squander whatever near came
into his hands. These charges of mis-
use of public funds are matters of rec
ord, and SO we'll established that the
thinking man is not satisfied by his pro-
fuse denials and his abuse of everybody
who does not accept as Flaw and Cos
gel' his statements. The truth or
falsity of these things could be estab-
lished, but he seems to think that he
can ride into office on h negro ques-
ton and the cry of corruption.
The people of Mississippi are proud
of our state and the record we have of
furnishing to the senate some of the
ablest and purest men who nave ever
sat in that body, and they will not send
there as their representative a man
whose honesty and integrity is an open
question. The doom of the demagogue
IS sealed, and at the August primary
Vardaman and his ''nigger" will be
consigned to we'll merited oblivion.
j. w. DEUPREE.