Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-04-05
Bishop CandLer's Defense of the South.

wrote for the Christian Advocate
most admirable satire which stirred
many of our friends of the North not a
little. 1t was description of views
from a car window, and had reference
principally to the hoop-pole region OF
Southern Indiana and other sections OF
the West similar to it. The vivid pic
lures of poverty, desolation, and shift
lessness which the writer drew from
what he saw from a rapidly moving
train. of that then dreary part OF our
country, and his conclusion that the
same conditions existed all over the
West and possibly over much of the
North caused many of our brethren on
the other side of Mason and Dixon's
line to realize that they had been very
unjust in their judgment of the South
relying, as they did, too much upon the
imperfect things that they saw While
passing throught he South, or upon the
many exaggerated accounts which they
heard of the inefficiency of the Southern
people. The kindly criticism was far
reaching and was productive of much
good. Still, even to this day it seems
extremely difficult for our Northern
friends to give US credit for much ex-
cept Incidence, belligerance, extrava
gance, and hospitality. The sons and
daughters of the south are pampered
and petted and spoiled, and hence are
] the constant recipients of large and
fearful portions of freewill compassion
and counsel from their friends OF the
North.
OF these sons of the South, no trder,
nobler one is to be found than Bishop
Warren A. Gambler. With heart as
big as the universe, his love for his ma
tive Southland is as beautiful as was
that of Robert E. Lee; and as with Cen
eral Lee, so with Bishop Gambler. a
sneer at the South means sneer at
mother, and then-a reckoning.
The writer is permitted to give to the
public one of Bishop Candler's charming
and unaswerable strokes in defense OF
the South. W.T.
: The dreadful STORM of September.
1900, had swept with dessolating wings
over ill-fated Galveston and much of
Southern Texas. Bishop Gambler went
Immediately to the field of death and
ruin: and faithfully he toiled, how gent
ly he cheered, how wisely he directed
will never be known in this world. AS
he returned from Texas he was seated
in Pullman car, writing for the New
York Independent an account OF the
ravages of the awful hurricane. the
section of the car next to his was occu-
MED bv a Northern capitalist and his at
torney, a Hebrew. Several ladies',
Southern women, as was well shown
during the morning, sat nearer the rear
of the coach. The Bishop was compelled
TO hear the loud conversation of the two
men lust behind him; and as much OF 1t
was in depreciation of the South and ir
criticism of the Southern people, it was
very unpleasant to him. He wrote on,
however, trying not to hear. The strains
of abuse became louder from behinc
him. He finished his writing as the
train drew up to little station. The
engineer gave the passengers consid
erable Jolt as he applied the brakes
This was fresh fuel for the pentup fires
of the critical tourists.
"Well," said the Hebrew lawyer. 81
sbal, be glad when l get beck to New
= York where engineers can at leas
stop a train at a station without en-
Z dangering the lives of passengers
Such railroad I never before Travelled
, over. The roadbed is horrible, thu
rolling stock is abominable, and th'
running of the trains is in the hands o
ignorant conductors and engineers VIII
are utterly incompetent"
Forbearance had ceased to be virtue
Bishop Gambler, as usual, was "loaded.
The Jew had pulled the trigger, and h
ooly was responsible for what followed
Facing the men Of discomfort, to
I Bishop said to them very pleasantly
"Gentlemen, pardon me for breaking
Icy into conversation unlimited, but | hav
been forced to hear many OF the ur
complimentary remarks which you hav
been making all this morning about tn
South and the Southerners,N and | ar
one of those sorry Southerners, whor
Won so disesteem. The Southerners ar
not the trihing people you mistake ther
for and for many things which so dis
please YOU in the South they are in n
wise responsible. This railroad for eS
ample, is owned by one of your neigh
.bors IN New York, and we would llk
for him to make it better, but ne wi
not do it. If you can make him improv
t. we of the South, who have to use
most. will be thankful to you for it
;mproyement. But suspect he wi
tell YOU that he runs this road to max
= no q