Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-01
MarcHEs AND oVERMATcHEs.

After it's usual style the Advertiser as- sumes that Captain Johnston in declin- ing to enter upon a debate with MT. Clarke is actuated by a fear of the forensic powers of that gentleman. It says:
 "A burnt child dreads the fire, and in view of Captain Johnston's declination of the invitation to meet MT. Clarke in joint debate his experience at Clayton and Dothan last summer fOrctbly reminds him of the wisdom of the old adage.'
 It also says;
 "Captain Johnston was very prompt to give it out that he would meet MT. Clarke in joint debate. Evidently his close familiars have concluded that he is no match for his competitor and hence the letter of declination.'
 It further says:
 Captain Johnston says he was moved to decline Mr. Clarke's challenge after correspondence with prominent demo- crats. Perhaps he includes in his list of correspondents Congressman Bankhead and Congressman Stallings, both of whom have had experience on the stump with MT. Clarke"
 We quote these paragraphs as an illus tration of the very small methods of the Advertiser. It is hardly necessary to say that no one fears to meet MT Clarke in debate. It is true that he may have the advantage of having adhered to both sides of the question and may, therefore, be more ready to anticipate the argu- ments of his opponent, but apart from this he has no powers on the rostrum that mark him as superior in informa- tion and logical acumen to Captain John ston. On the occasions when he met MT. Stalings and MT. Bankhead he car ried off no scalps. On the contrary he lost ground wherever he spoke. as his gross inconsistencies and tergiversations were explained so laboriously and in- effectualy as to excite laughter at his expense.
 When MT Clarke met MT. Bryan at Mobile he carried off no laure1s. The weight of argument, of eloquence and of manner was heavily on the side of the Nebraskan. MT. Clarke has no arts of the orator. He is utterly wanting in humor and genality. His words drop from him like the cold water from an icicle. To embrace his views it is neces- sary to wear an overcoat and sit upon a warming pan.
 Captain Johnston is a plain, blunt man who, like Julius Caesar tells his tale In simple language, without violent sway ing of the arms and prancing upon the stage. What he says is to the point and 1t is so we'll said that no irony or sneers can defeat it's effect. Mir. Clarke has said nothing In congress during his six years in that body. He has not car ried terror to friend or enemy. There has been abundant opportunity there for him to deal those sledge hammer blows xvhi ip1, ha A hot I,o ;e. able to deal upon the helmet of Captain Johnston. There is still abundant op- portunity for him to deliver heroics from his desk in congress within the next two months. If he is the Ajax defying the lightning which the Montgomery postmaster imagines him to be, no one has seen any awe struck eulogy of his words in any newspaper of the United States.
 We do not wish to belittle Mir. Clarke. We hold him in high esteem. and we ad- mire his many strong and manly quali- ties. The state of Alabama has reason to be proud of such a son, and we trust that his career will not be closed with his defeat at the April primaries; but we must protest and denounce as unfair un- just and undemocratio this effort to draw a comparison between the mental quail ties of the two candidates. So far as per sonal qualities are concerned. either of them is worthy to fill the gubernatorial chair.
 Captain Johnston has no fear of MT. Clarke, but he has reason to fear that debate which would inevitably engender angry feelings must endanger the unity and success of the party at the August election The best thinkers of the state members of the state executive commit- tee, men who are friends of Mir. Clarke even-have advised against joint de- bate. Such a debate would be without precedent. It would probably change no