Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-03-19

could be SO answered that the tide Of the years fown
backward to the days when political honesty was poll
ca expedency In Mississippi and only men who scorn
CD 70 WIN except upon real merit aspired to high public
station In the state the result would not be In doubt
the success OF Williams would be assured
but IN recent years--with the advent of yardaman
ism and Its legitimate offspring Bilbosm 1t seems
tnat SUCH change came DER the spirit" and conduct
al the polls OF so many Mlssssippians, 1t has about
come to pass the ballot-box here is no loneer
Il "A weapon that comes down as still
i AS snowhakes fall upon the sod,
i but executes a freeman's will,
i AS lightning does the will OF God
i Inc conditions here are much as. only they are
worse, than in South Carolina under the blight of
Bleaseism
In the closing days of the past summer the Charles
ton % 70 News and Courier published communca-
tlon from Senator Tilman to his constituents
full OF honors and years, the venerable patrot-for
let MS enemies say what they may, no fair-minded
man. familiar with his es record and his public acts
since MS entrance actively into politics Generation
ago, can Justly question his pariotsm-bids pathetic
goodby to public office
Among other impressive things he describes the
political situation in his beloved state in words which
so well picture conditions they in recent years have
existed IN Mississippi that here reproduce part of
his language:
onder the peculiar circumstances which now
exist IN South Carolina hope may be permitted
TO say few words about the present situation in
our state without being misunderstood It gives
me oeep concern. am mortified and disappointed
u a. the primary system has failed to develop in
the people sufficient political intelligence to enable
them to escape the wies and tricks of dema Ies
Aud1a;clty and aptitude in repartee, coupled with
CfIIlF Inr n1sl L.
slkig personality have made the people an easy
prey. Instead Of candidates being comnelled tol
q discuss public questions and policies, they have
peen allowed to make appeals to prejudice. and the
people, blinded by these arts, have followed and
MADE heroes OF men who are wholly unworthy
Could any master of English, however welI-in-
formed and scholarly he may be, better portray
the political situation as it is today in Misssspni
Than is there done by Senator TlIman in his lament
over conditions in his own state?
Again, In the concluding paragraph of his fare
veil message, he takes a final shot at Blease F
Huch OF what ne says applies so we'll to Mississip
us junior u S. senator that we quote part of
t. and begging the reader to substitute the name
IT Vardaman for that of Blease, and Mississinni
or that OF South Carolina the BEACON. if Senator
-lllman will permit it. begs to adopt what he saws
IS our own.
Tilman's words follow:
There is one striking thing about Coy. Blease t
s leader and statesman to be very .erionsIv !,
onSldered 1t seems to have been lost of IN =
this time He has been in public life since 189o "
le came to the front the same year did, If he ~
such great leader now, more worthy to he fol- =
'Wed than l1man, more worthy of admiration :;
nd trust how has he succeeded ali these wears in q
ldlng 1t? What has he ever done in constr,c. ns
We way to benefit the people of South Carolina ma
ct those who are his sponsors answer AZ AZ
On gentle reader, what Tillman has said of
outh Carolina, and political conditions there is
lly too true of Mississippi.
Vardaman' and the chief architect of his poll
cal fortunes, Bbo, have done for Mississippi lust
nat Blease has done for South Carolina, to-wit: a
Made the states good name byword and mi
ssing. lii
Only that and nothing more co
- OIL