Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-08-23
PASSING OF POPULAR IDOL
Landslide for Harrison ( Wilson


While the dominance OF the states
politics by Ex-Governor and Senator
James K. Vardaman will outlive his
generation as q shame and a stain,
there Is infinite cause Of rejoicing
that It has passed, says the Vicks-
burg Herald. And that its passing
has been so largely caused by the
awakening Of the men who raised
him up, to the true character Of the
man. In the memorable words Of
Judge Cochran, Of Meridian, 1--WE who
pulled him up will put him down"
Never was there rise to power so un-
merited, use Of power so blind and
base, or a fall from power so we'll
deserved, so ignominious and utter:
"Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen,
Fallen from his high estate,
Deserted at his utmost need,
On the bare earth exposed he lies,
And not friend to close his eyes,
Why Vardaman's quick and Luci-
ferous-lke fall, from place that
seemed impregnable? The answer to
the question is on the surface Of the
mans nature. That the plain people,
the honest people, so gulled, would
soon take his measure was inevitable.
The seeds Of success falling on thin
soil Of mentality. were choked by a
native and inordinate conceit, and ar
rogance that all went to weed. The
soil was, furthermore, wholly lacking
in moral fertilization. Like Dryden's
Shadwell, "he never deviates into
sense; for every inch that is not fool
is rogue"
To illustrate our subject scriptur-
ally, like the foolish man he builded
his house on the sands--the sands Of
lies, deceit and false pretense, abu-
siveness; and, worse, still, propped
on German propaganda that convicted
him in the minds of many, and
brought him under a general suspi-
cion Of venal disloyalty, IL not trea-
son. And in the now closed campaign,
all Of this enumeration of Vardaman's
qualities and defects surpassed them
selves.
No other man, living or dead, held
stronger hold on the state, politi-
cally, and no other man was ever SO
trusted and forgiven for offenses that
would have blasted others. The ease
with which he distanced better and
ADLER men, in the competition for the
public fhvor, turned his shallow head
and ie4 TO his undoing. He only
needed to extend an ordinary defer
ence to his constituents, and the pres
ident, to have been forgiven and re-
elected. But at a time when such conci-
liation and consideration for the senti-
ments and opinions, not Of his oppo-
nents-for that was impossible to his
mean and churlish nature-but of his
friends and former supporters, was
called for, Vardaman has roamed and
rampaged over the state, vomiting
denunciations and epithets, abuse and
insult and more disgustingly, trucu-
lently and Extensively than ever be-
fore.
Thus bloated and brutalized in pride
of opinion, Vardaman had no ears,
except for sycophants and adulators.
His campaign committee earned their
yellow chiefs gratitude for their zeal
if nothing else. For instance, the fol-
lowing disposal of the presidents let
ter to M. S. McNeal deserves to be
handed down as a marker of Varda-
mans finish and finale:
with reference to Mr.. Wilson's
letter, we have not said anything has
tily as to its effect. We know that it
would do no harm. We thought that
it would do the Vardaman cause good.
In the forty-eight hours which have
elapsed since the publication of the
letter, we have heard from practically
every county in the state. The result
has been what we anticipated. 1t has
put strength into our cause. 1t has
added determination like steel to over
come this attempt of the opposition
to draw from an outside source
strength for spineless cause"
AS to Ex-Governor Noel: He is only
referred to by The Herald incident
ally; for giving credit to the voters
for placing a true estimate on his
candidacy. They both knew and were
governed by their duty Of dealing out
justice to Vardaman. They allowed
no appeals of vanity and self-seeking
to divert or deviate them into even a
possible risk Of second primary.