Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-22
ATHEN s.
The Blue- Eyed Boy in Athens-Be Does Ills
 Cause No Good.


 Athens, Feb. 21.--(Specal)--Mr Clarke has come, the people have heard him and heeshas gone. After tremendous efforts for tne past two weeks of drumming up a crowd, with everything favorable, he had but seventy eight hearers. He seemed to please the pops and rads more highly than he did his own followers, who were evidently greatly disappointed, expect ing, as they were led to believe, "a great orator and eloquent statesman His speech was the same old tune, all about himself, the administration kite, of which he labored so hard to attach himself as the tail, abuse of Captain Johnston and everything except the affairs of the state of which he would make it appear that he is a candidate for governor. Any stranger listening to his profuse and la bored effort would think he was an elect or for Cleveland for third term, and Carlisle or John sherman for vice-presi- dent As he ignored state issues. telling what he would do as governor, conSum- ing his time abusing his opponent and discussing affairs of the nation having nothing to do with state questions, the more intelligent portion of his audience were led to believe that he was running for a national rather than state office more of a speech as candidate for the United States senate than for governor Queer? At any rate, if he didn't injure his own cause, he never hurt Johnston nor shook the faith of a democrat in his determination to support Johnston. Two years ago Governor Oates carried this county. Now it is as sure for Johnston by an overwhelming majority as the ris- ing of tomorrow's sum- There is not candid Clarke supporter in the county, informed as to the sentiment of the dem- ocratc voters, who does not know this to be so. The vote two years ago was close Every man in the county who was Johnston Is for him now, while most of the active, influential workers who were for Oates then are as warmly for Johnston now. He will lead Clarke from three to one all the way to twenty to one in every beat in which there is fair election and an hon. est return.
 The Clarke men here last week started to organize a Clarke club, and got some thirty odd signers, when the Johnston men, without any organized effort, got more than three times as many, includ- ing the solid working democrats, the best men in the county, and the work "still goes bravely on." A significant fact that attracts the attention of every ob- serving democrat is that every republi- can whipper-in and every populite leader in the county favor Clarke all in their power and bitterly oppose Johnston. These straws have opened the eyes of democrats who hold the success of the party above personal elevation of any man. and who know that the only hope of our people is dependent on democratic success, and will never be willing to see the proud state of Alabama again humil- lated and degraded and disgraced by be- Ing under the heels of the mongrel, mot ley Moseley gang, dominated by negroes Let every democrat who sees this read it and read the Advertisers report. and af- ter the battle is over and the victory won compare and see how nearly correct this