Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-03-17

Than fcheHeSs and hncOHSt0ncD.
Spencer.
In 1900 James *. Nardaman'
! was a candidate for Governor of
the state of Mississippi.
He had been defeated for that
honor at the convention of the pre-
vious year, but had announced his
intention of being an aspirant in
1903.
At that time Mr.. Nardaman was
/ editor Of the Greenwood Common
wealth, and was using that organ
for the propagation Of his pecu-
liar political principles.
In the issue Of the Greenwood
Commonwealth of Feb'y 9th, 1900,
on file in the chancery clerks Of
flee at Greenwood, we find the fol
lowing leading editorial, written
by Mr.. Vardaman, which reveals
his very best literary style and it
is one Of the very few productions
of his pen that we q cordially
commend:
eff [ were called upon to name
one of the most prominent and
gifted young men in the Third
Congressional District, | should
unhesitatingly name Leroy Percy
of Greenville. AS a lawyer he is
profoundly and accurately learned;
as an advocate, he is adrOit, rug
gedly eloquent, tactful and as re-
s~ourcefuI as a Texas bronco is full
of tricks. His vocabulary is am
pie, illustrations pointed, striking
Iy pertinent and invariably find
fitting Judgement in the minds of
the jury or the court. The truth
is, he never opens his mouth with
out saying something. There is a
nugget of wisdom in every period,
and d well developed idea in every
conception. He is not what is gen
orally understood as a student, and
yet his information is wide and vO-
ried, and he has more sense than
anybody. Submit a proposition ia
him, legal OF what not, and his
mind goes through itlike an X-ray
through a window pane. All the
abstruse, intricate and difficult
points. reconciling. eliminating
Ond adjusting the varient phases
until the whole matter becomes
transparent. A most remarkable
faculty, wonderfully developed.
Another strong point in the char
acter of this extraordinary young
man is his influence over men. He
vas born to rule j; n Of those Pc
culiar characters whose influence
is felt and obeyed, and tnat too,
often when the person t2eFsjngthe
influence and the person Influenced
least expect it. That peculiar
power is GOd-given-muSt be born
in the man or woman. 1t cannot
be acquired. Another admirable
trait, markedly developed in Mr..
Percy is loyalty to friends and de
vOtiOn to principle. These latter
qualities are paramount and of SUI
perlative worth they are the
browning virtues of a perfect char
acter. With these qualities highly
developed man approaches nearest
to God; without them, his tenden-
cy and proper place is the other
extreme.
ITO such young men as Mr.. Per
cy we must look for the future
greatness and goodness of the Re
public. He is capable of doing a
great deal for his country, if only
his powers are properly employed"
And that is what Mr.. Varda-
man thought of Leroy Percy
eleven years ago.
What has Mr.. Percy done since
that time that would cause MI.
Vardaman to change his estimate ?
Absolutely nothing, save to
cross Vardamanis own selfish po-
litical ambitions.
That is the 'Esum and substance
of his SHINING"
If Leroy Percy was a man of
such splendid attachments and
magnificent equipment in19OO, isn't
it perfectly logical to believe that
he has grown to be a bigger, better
and broader man during the past
decade?
In Parnell's elegy, so often quoted
Mr.. Nardaman-and without
the quotation marks-We are told