Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-19
Gubernatorial Candidate.

Congressman R. Il. Clarke, apparently
 after much persuasion from the Adver-
 tiser and Mobile Register, has gallantly
 concluded to post himself in the last
 ditch and thereby, as he virtually states,
 save the democratic party.
 We suppose that MT. Clarke is
 valiant political warrior. and there isn't
 any difference of opinion among men
 that as a citizen of the state and quail
 fled as to age he has perfect right to
 aspire to the position of governor There
 are fully 1000 900 such men in the state, all of them eligible to the position of the
 states chief executive but we trust that
 none others of them like MT. Clarke will
 put themselves forward for the position,
 assuming to have call that way or
 claiming that such action is being taken
 at sacrifice to them but their devout patriotism impels to 1t iii order to save their state and country.
 Now Mr. Clarke has decidedly too ex- alted. too imperious an opinion of him self to announce his candidacy in the shape of plea of answering a call of duty. He Is being fooled. There isn't any duty calling upon him to run for the position of governor. There are oodles of men in this state who could fill the po- sition of governor with as much ability and credit as he possesses. MT. Clarke
 ought to skirmish around a little and try to fiMd a little modesty. He's no Levianthan, either intellectually or po- litically. The most noticeable thing that could probably be said of him Is that he is a cuckoo or a toady of Cleveland. Of course he is honest and would probably make a good governor enough If he could be elected, but we don't believe that the people or the democratic party of this state want to honor a goldbug Cleveland toadyite to the extent of electings one to the highest office in the gift of the peo- ple.-The Bessemer Weekly.
 Not "Dumb, Driven Cattle"
 The unique pretense of travelling over the road that leads to discord to attain to the heights of harmony is still held forth by MT. Clarke and his friends We presume the supposed-t to- bewise caper in the degenerate politics of today is to put forward a bold front arrogate a monopoly of all the virtues and claim everything in sight. At least this is the triple hand that the Clarke cabal are playing for all 1t Is worth. They are even practically maintaining that none but those of their way of thinking must take part in the party's preliminary work. At this time they would, if they could, shut every Johnston man out of the council chamber. Their proscrptive purpose is manifested partially in what they say, and even more in what they fail to say, just at this juncture. But they are counting without their host. They will find that the state executive committee, when 1t meets at Montgomery next Tuesday, will do it's duty to the great masses of the party, whose will is entitled to the fullest respect and whose votes are necessary in order to ratify the action of the state convention and elect the democratic ticket.
 So far as the nomination of governor is concerned, it would not ba affected by any rule however narrow and offensive. The democracy of Alabama is so over
 whelmingly for Johnston that the cos sacks of the cabal will not be able to ride down its will. The most arbitrary and autocratic orders would not change the outcome.
 Johnston will be nominated in any event But the state convention does not elect. It only nominates We have to go to the great, honest, toiling, patient masses for the votes that elect. These masses as we say, are patient. But there Is point where they can be made to lay aside tolerance. We could go with very poor grace to them and say: You are not good enough to nominate, but if you will be quiet about that we will let you vote with us" This the proposition of the little coterie of sclf-created bosses. When We put their reckless proposition down in cold, obdurate type they must themselves finch before it's audacity. The democratic masses of Alabama are not dumb, driven cattle. e."-Huntsville ArguS