Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-02-06
Honor to Whom Honor is Due.

Mr.. Editor Human selfshness is never
shown more clearly than in the assumption
of paternity of the works of others. How
ever brilliant ones talents may be, when
ever he accomplishes any good work in the
world, there will be found envious persons
on all sides to dispute his authorship of it,
if not To claim it for themselves. They are
like the frontiersman who, when bear en-
tered his cabin unannounced, retired to the
comb of the house and left his wife to com
bat the animal alone and unaided, and after
she had beaten the life out of it came down
from his perch to have his neighbors join
his wife in extolling him for his bravery in
slaughtering bear.
Thus we find that the obnoxious force
bill had barely been defeated in the Senate
by the action of that brilliant young ora
tor from Colorado" the fgnis tatuus of the
Republican side of the chamber, in moving
to take up the apportionment bill, before
scores of wiseacres were heard shouting, 81
told you so; our man." Mr. Fair or Mr.
Foul or Mr.. Puddle, whoever the favorite
may have been, "has done the work, and
he's agoin' into that Presidential cheer
quicker than creased lightnin' into telly
phone box-he il"
Such volcanic exultation causes us to ask
the question, "Who was most instrumental
in 'stavng off the force bill, anyhow"
Among the Democratic Senators we con-
clude that Alabama's honored son, Mr.
Morgan, holds first place At the time of
the moving to take up the apportionment
bill, he was just starting out upon six
days speech against the vile measure. Ev-
cry Republican knew what was coming,
and they dreaded the unruffled and mex
haustble flow of the great Alabaman's elo-
quence as they would an attack OF the grip.
Even Mr. Edmonds, the watch dog OF the
Senate, could not have lived through that
harangue. Even he, with all his devotion
to the force bill, would have sacrificed it
rather than stand guard through the inter-
minable meanderings of the Senator's talk.
So there can be no doubt that Mr.. Morgan
gave the coup de grace to the force bill, and
the chief honors for the defeat of the vile
bill should rest upon his head.
Nor do we think the act of the six heroic
Republicans who cut loose from psrty ties
on the force bill and cast themselves adrift
upon the sea of political discord, should go
unnoliced. II was their independent course
that brought about the "kick- out" of the
force bill, and if by this brave act they are
forced to feed upon the husks of the Repub-
lican farm, IL is 10 be hoped that the plain
food will prove more palatable than the
sumptuous fare that comes as reward for
doing the unjust and menial work of their
political home.
1t is not meet for Democrats to question
the motives that led those SIX Republicans
TO join their opponents to defeat the force
bill. The question as to whether there was
any axe-grinding in the case, or whether free
silver was exchanged for free votes should
be lost sight OF in consideration of the fact
that one Of the most odious acts against the
prosperity OF the South, and dangerous as
well to republican government, has been de-
feated; and those who have the best inter
ests of the whole country at heart are in
spired TO brighter hopes for its future pros
perity when party prejudices are forgotten
In order to combine against a measure so
oppressive and dangerous as the force bill.
February 2, 1891. Y.