Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-04
STATE PRESS ECHOES.

The state executive committee have covered themselves with a halo of glory. Every right-thinking democrat will say so and indorse their action from alpha to omega. He is narrow minded, selfish and self-conceted admixture of brawn and brain who would pick flaw in the action of that committee. They acted like wise men whose patriotism was democratic in the truest and fullest sense, and by their wisdom hundreds and thousands of brave and true democrats will like the prodigal of old, come home and come to stay. We are glad to say that our own county-grand old Colbert has men of nerve, courage and conVic- tion to do right as members of the execu- tive committee and who followed in the footsteps of the noble and brave fellows who compose the state executive com mittee.-Leiahton News.
 The wise and loyal action of Captain Johnston. in declining to lay a predicate for incurable party dissensions by going into an unseemly stump quarrel with the self-contained MT. Clarke, was very gen. orally commended by democrats, in speaking of the matter, yesterday. Re publicans, who wanted to see a family row among their foemen, could not con ceal their chagrin at Captain Johnston's manly and loyal stand. Of course not! Everyone who knows the two men knows that Johnston. personally, had nothing to lose by confronting MT. Clarke. He is every inch his match, and more. His coolness and readiness, together with his thorough knowledge of all questions that would come up in such political tour ney, would make him a formidable ad- versary for much stronger debater than MT. Clarke. But he loves his party too well to subject it to such hurtful divisions must inevitably follow from a joint discussion within It's ranks For this democrats highly commend him. Huntsville Argus.
 The Advertiser is "tickled to death" because Captain Johnston, after deliber- alton and upon the advice of prominent democrats, has seen proper to recall his impromptu intimation that he would ac- cept Mr. Clarke's challenge to meet him in joint discussion. The Advertiser puts Captain Johnston's declination upon the ground that he was afraid to meet MT. Clarke in debate. This shows that that bitter. unrelentless sheet does not, and never has understood neither the man. hood, the ability nor the patriotism of Joseph F. Johnston. He may not be polished orator. but when 1t comes to terse argument and solid, practical sense, his equal Is rarely met with either on the stump or otherwise; and as for his physical and moral courage, neither quality has ever been denied him. His action in declining to meet MT. Clarke because such discussion would not tend to harmoniZe or promote the best inter- ests of the democratic party, shows that he possesses patriotism and moral cour- age beyond that of most men. It has been his purpose to unify. build up and har- monize the democratic factions in the state, not to pull down, destroy and dis sipate the homogenity of the white peo- pie of Alabama. No. Joe Johnston Is in no sense the cringing coward the Adver- tiser would have people believe him to be. Instead of injuring him in the esti- nation of good, honest, sober-minded, conservative men. his refusal to become party to flaming smouldering embers into a raging flame. his course in declin- ing a discussion will be commended and applauded. The people will see that Joe Johnston Is not the clustering, rampant Hotspur of the Advertiser, but the cool. brave, self-poised gentleman that should and will be inaugurated as their next governor. Instead of driving votes away from him this act will draw right-think- ing men to him in the primaries, where the voice of the democratic hosts will be heard Selma Times.