The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-09
History Repeating Itself; Wash
ington and Vardaman-

To The Vicksburg Post:
BE thou as chaSte as ice. as
pure as snow, thou shalt not es-
cape calumny. Hamlet.
1t is astonishing how his
tory repeats itself.
Thus the other day Senator
Percy compared Vardaman S
statement that if he could, he
would not recall single official
act of his while Governor. with
Washington S admission in his
farewell address that he had
committed many errors which he
wouldnot have made in the light
of after developed events
Had Senator Percy been both
well informed and so desirous of
being fair, he would have shown
that Washington also subject to
the same mean malignity of
hate andviolence of vituperation
that are now being poured out
against Vardaman.
Ompage 226 of Washington Ir-
wings life of Washington, Put
mans edition published in 1s4O
we read The ratification of
the treaty days treaty. had
opened the vials of party wrath
against him. His military and
political character were attacked
with equal violence, and 1T was
ayerred that he was totally des-
titute of merit either as sold
Ter or statesman. He was charg
ed with violating the constltti-
ton. Nay. more he was charged
y Il. nds ing drawn From tic e.
:. treasury for his private use
more than the salary annexed
| to the office.
So persistent and utterly reck-
less were these charges that 1T
was deemed advisable to pass
through the Legislature of Mary
mad resolution in which the
Legislators expressed their conf
dence in the integrity and Judg-
ment, and patriotism of the man
who had been with the barefoot
soldiers of Valley Forge.
This resolution brought the
following grateful reply from
Washington:
ssAt any time such resolu-
\ tion would have been consider
ed highly honorable and flatter-
ing. AT the present, when the
voice of malignity is so high
toned, and no attempts are left
unessayed to destroy all conf
i dence in the constituted authori-
ties, it is peculiarly grateful to
my sensibilities.
Think of it, president of the
United States, much less a Wash
ington, being driven to say tha1
he was glad that people believed
him patriotic and honest.
| Again in another letter Wash
ington saws: Il did not believe
until lately, that l should be ac
cused of being the enemy of ont
nation and subject to the influ
ence of another, and to prov
it, every act of my arministra
ton would be tortured, and th'
grossest and most insidiOus mi
representations Of it to be mad
by giving one side only of
/, subject. and that, too, in sucl
exaggerated and indecent term
as could scarcely be applied to
Nero. a notorious defaulter, o
/ even to a common pickpocket. .
Thus if Vardaman be not like
! Washington in humility he is at
least like him inthe vioelnce an
virulence that he awakens on Il
: lips of his enemies and detra
r tors.
IL All this abuse broke out
9 Washmgton's second admins
tration. when the Jay treaty WI
= being ratified and disclrsse'
a This treaty, like some of Vard'
+ mans acts such as the abOlisl
IS ing of the Sandy Bayou convi'
! lease, and the curtailing of II
lumber trust s greed ran coun
/" err to the wishes and interests .
p certain partisans- Until Washin
a ton crossed these interests, unit
y he had repelled British invasion
! and their carcasses were safe
their homes. the voices of the
men had been loud in his prais
e But when he ran counter
e their interest, there was no ut
- err charge too indecent, no Ian
uagc too infamous for them
y use
n So it Is with vardaman-
le He passed through the Cove
- nor's chair unansailed. Montl
aad years went By. Legislature
met and adjourned and ]
2 charge wao na1o.
y GoveEnor Nool I'D & poone
- Gom N unmonm - 81 nxno