East Mississippi times. (Starkville, Miss.) 19??-1926, 1911-06-30
The Baneful Influence Of Vardaman

great many of Mr.. Vardaman' $
supporters deplore the cutting af-
fray at Bay Springs few days
since in which deputy sheriff
was probably fatally stabbed In the
back, by Vardaman supporter,
while trying to perform his official
duty. 1t seems, from all accounts,
to be an instance where a few ia
natics were determined that the
opposition, as at that time and
place, represented by Senator Per-
cy, should not be heard, All law
abiding men, of whs tever politica
faith, looked with shocking horror
upon the coldblooded deed, turned
away with contempt for the at
tempted assassin, and with the
earnest hope that the law will Go
even justice in the matter. But,
there is always a cause, If not u
, reason, for unfortunate affairs OF
this kind; and this is not an ex-
ceptiopai case, A preacher of
strife, a champion 9f r. propaganda
calculated to arouse bitterness and
hatred between man and man, al
ways finds moral perverts bent
upon carrying the scheme to its
fatal results.
Mr.. Vardaman, unfortunately,
has fallen upon the idea that no
man can ever he elevated to the
standard OF common decenes who
dapes oppose his political ambitions
and this IDEA is expressed in every
combination of words at his com,
mand i'll denunciation of those who
oppose him. By means of fvituper-
at1on and persistent agitation of
matters that appeal to the predju-
dice and passion OF the RRthinking
and unreaSonipg, many seem to
Aave forgotten that there is yass
between political afilia-.
tion and politico-religious fanatis
cism which leads men to despera-
tiOn. Led by the demagogue men
ofteA forget the requirements of
peaceful citizenship and their du-
ties toward their fellowmen aun
awake from the rabid dream of
victory to find themselves the vic
Tins of # sad delnsion, and they
must drink Of the bitter oup ala9e,
When we so pin our faith to one
that though he may steal the
Lords supper and wipe his mouth
ON the taAle CLOTH" yet find us
worshipers at llas shtif|te !3nd com
posed in our allegiance to him, we
nre Inevitably clinging to a mis-
placed taita that will verify the
inspired statement THAI, There is
u wQy that seemeth right unto
man, bqt thG end thereof is the
way of death" SHrh ? faith as
this is born out of ,easop, and II
the spark is placed and the flame
kindled by the hero Of Qnr faith,
then he is teaching a dangerous
doctrine. Some peop'e only need
a suggestion and when the predic-
t'on is calmly made by the political
agitator that under certain circum-
stances blood shed will be the re-
suit in a political campaign, when
there is 10 possible reason why
such should be the case, there are
always some who will die, if nee Is
be, in order chat the gruesome
prophecy may be fulfilled, Such
a prophecy is All incitement to that
very end. When a man can speak
to such a blind faith as to conf
IDENTIFY say that his corpse would
he elected to the United States
Senate thirty days after his death,
he either believes his hopes of
success are based upon most pitie-
BILE ignorance, or he knows that his
'shiboleths are visionary, Surely,
"a living dog is better than u dead
lion, /" else Solomon's wisdom has
failed him,
While we eannDt believe butthat
Mr., Yardaman deplores the recent
yet, we feel that his pre-