The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1918-01-24

imagine because you cannot hear the
boom OF the cannon and the rattle Oh
musketry that we are not in war. we
are in 1t and it is going to call tor
great sacrifice end self-abnogation on
your part to win the war.
In conclusion, want to thank you
for your kindness to me personally
You have been good to me beyond my
deserts. l have endeayored to snow
my appreciation by faithfully perform
ing the functions Of the office to
which you called me. / have followed
the torch of reason guided solely by
a spirit of conservation to your SER
vice. l have acted for your interest
as God gave me the power to see IT,
Having done that, / have been crit,
cized, but criticism Is the privileges OF
every free-born American citizen.
voted against the declaration OF
war because / deprecate war / abhor
war; think 1t is stupid and brutal.
was in hopes that the United States
might establish precedent in the ex'
ercise OF a great moral force that
would have made war in the future
impossible.
voted against what l regard the
un-American manner OF raising an
army by consumption. | believe that
in an offensive war for world democ'
racy volunteers alone should fight
But when a majority of my colleagues
in congress declared war and pro-
vided for raising an army by con-
scription, / accepted their Judgment
as the law of the land. And | have
supported the government in the pros
ecution of the war in every matter
designed to strengthen it. / shall do
so to the end. Every statement to
the contrary which my political enc
mics have made is wicked, base,
cowardly lie told for their own per-
sonal advantage.
Now, | do not hope for that ehimer'
ical state of things which some of our
statesmen are wont to picture-a
world democracy--to come out OF this
war. rather agree with the views
of President Wilson in his recent
message to congress-:
1--WE owe it to ourselves to say that
we do not wish in any way to impair
or to rearrange the Austro- Hungarian
empire 1t is no affair of ours what
they do with their own life, either in
dustrially or politically. We do not
purpose or desire to dictate to them
lin any way We only desire TO see
that their affairs are left to their
own hands, in all matters, great or
small
It is impossible for this govern.
ment, if we are to preserve free 1nstl'
tutions at home, to dictate to other
peoples their form of government.
despise with all my heart autocracy.
| wish every crowned liar beneath
the stars who claims to rule by divine
right could be translated today TO
the limbo of ''innocuous desuetude."
But we cannot prescribe forms or
government for other peoples and
preserve freedom at home. There is
no doubt about that.
There is another thing that is i'm.
possible. We cannot have world
peace that is based upon world hatred.
! President Wilson, in his admirable
address to the Senate on the 22nd day
of last January, laid down the only
plan for permanent world peace.
There cannot be world peace except
that which is founded on the indies.
tructble principles bodied forth in the
life and teachings of the Man of CALI
lee. If there shall ever be a Paria-
ment of Man and Federation of the
World where the common sense OF
the most shall hold a fretful realm in
ave." it must come through mutual
confidence-it must be founded on the
divine philosophy of the Golden Rule.
World peace will come if we follow
the teachings of Jesus Christi we
ourselves, shall be imbued with the
divine spirit which he manifestedt
World peace will come when our PEG.
pie shall body forth in their individ'
ual lives and collective capacity al.
truism, rather than tyranny, greed,
and the philosophy of evil.
prince pity our faults wherein we
die,
Our greed and cruelty both condone
Only the Gods can mount the sky
Fame is the flower of love alone"
Let me thank you again, my fellow
countrymen, for your goodness to me,
lO1 t1AO SOIAAUOASC JO0 AoNO ASPOSNN ~
me, for the fayors you have shown
me T trust that the Great Coz OF
Love may give you prudence and wis.
dom to understand and perform well
the duties that will devolve upon you
in this hour of great emergency. That
prosperity and happiness throughout
all the coming years, which belongs
OF right to the truefpatriot and honest
men and women may bless your every
endeavor. God bless you.
Cordially and sincerely,
JAS. X. VARDAMAN,
D. c.