Birmingham state herald., 1896-12-12

might mean little or much, as the reader might be disposed to take 1t.
 AndtfIen we have never had any great respect for Joe Johnston's ability or statesmanship; we have been disposed to- regard him as a shallow demagogue, Of the kind quick to catch the drift of popu- lar currents, and crafty in adjusting h d. self to changes in public sentiment.
 1t may be that we have been prejudiced against him since 1SS0 and we are al- most ready to confess that this is true. At that time he was chairman of the state democratic executive commit tee. and as such it devolved on party question presented to the com mittee, in the memorable contest of Richardson vs. Powell. The committee was tie, and Johnston cast the vote that gave the decision to Powell. We then believed that the decision was an out rage, .and still think it was wrong. It may be that the. feeling we had in the matter usurped our Judgment of the mo- tives influencing the decision; at any rate the conviction worked itself deep down into our consciousness that Joe Johnston played the demagogue, and suffered ul- terior and illegitimate influences tobias his decision.
 Since that time it is possible that this feeling has somewhat colored our criti- cisms of his public acts and utterances- we are willing to confess that 1t has.
 Still in this frame of mind we sat down to read his message. At first we found fault with his rhetoric, and his diction. The periods were not as rythmically sounded as Macauley's, nor as sweet in cadence and symmetry as Addison or Washington Irving.
 But we soon lost sight of the literary imperfectiens in the thoughts that bris- tied in every paragraph. It was plain that Joe Johnston had brought to bear on the material interests of Alabama an unusual amount of practical, com mon sense. He had studied the state like a book, and had marked and dogeared every page.
 Now, if he means what he says, and is not merely talking through his off, eial hat. he will give the state a reasonas bly, fair administration-one against which no just complaint can be brought when his term of office expires.
 We shall be better able to judge of these things when the legislature has completed it's work. If he is in earnest, and means business, he will doubtless be able to impress this fact on the law makers, and as the majority are with him. they ought to fall very generally into line with his suggestions If they understand that he is just "a-foolin'," of course they will give but little heed to what he says. Time will soon tell.
 He makes some very sensible and wise suggestions, and if the legislature would go to work and enact into well matured and carefully worded statutes, what is mapped out by this message, and then adjourn they will have accomplished more for the state than any ten consecu- tive legislatures of the past.
 There is not a suggestion made in this message foreshadowing legislation that we do not endorse. It is true that the legislature may, by crude and unwise provisions, destroy the wisdom of these suggestions. A good principle in a law may be entirely neutralized by the care= less or vicious manner in which the law Is drafted. Hence, we do not endorse what the legislature may do in it's att tempts to adopt these suggestions.
 So, in spite of our preconceived lack of faith in the ability and statesman- ship on the part of Governor Johnston, we have lifted ourself above these en- vironments, and take pleasure in com mending that which seems to be good Like the old lady (this is one of John ston's anecdotes): "The Lord sent it if the devil did bring it."