Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-29

tain Johnston should be no bar to his
support by democrats who differed with
him on the financial question; because
that question was not a state question,
but one to be settled by the national con-
vention. The slogan cry of the News
Was that democratic control of the state
was of greater import to us than the
financial question, and 1t warned, in sol
emn language, the single gold standard
men that-t united vote of all the DEM
ocrats in the state, with the added vote
of recruits from the -populist sources,
was necessary to elect democratic gov
ernor And he stood on his Tip toes"
when, with a confidence born of a knowl-
edge based on stubborn fact, he declared
that Joe Johnston could poll more votes
as candidate for governor than any
other democrat in the state. Who more
than the editor of the News fought so
valiantly against Mr. Clarke's entry into
the gubernatorial race? Who was more
eloquent in exposing the injury that
would result? Who more energetic in eff
forts to convince the sponsors of Mr..
Clarke that his candidacy would be
Pandora's box, from which countless
evils would spring? When Mr.. Clarke,
in obedience to his trainers, issued his
manifesto to his trainers, who deplored
his action more than the editor of the
News? And when Mr.. Clarke came TO
this county-the home of Captain john
ston-to open his campaign, who was so
propriety that was inexcusable and indie
feasible? Up to this time the News was
active in the interest of Captain John
ston. But there came Presto,
changep and 10, the chrysalis which was
a Johnston germ developed into a Clarke
butterfly, with a golden color. The
mountain labored and brought forth a
mouse" The old saying, Consistency,
thou art a jewelr' has no application
here, for there's nothing in the course of
the News in this campaign to which the
term can be applied, except that it has
been consistent in supporting each Of the
candidates. From the assertion at the
beginning that Mr.. Clarke could not poll
the vote Captain Johnston could, it has,
by the doctrine of an evolution Matched
in it's inner consciousness, announced its
conclusion, biased upon as accurate data
as the News can gather" that Mr.. Clarke
will go into the state convention with
over 275 delegates for him. Caesar said
that the fat sleek and well fed fellows
did not fill him with any alarm; but the
cloak of suspicion always enyeloped him
when the lean and hungry Cassius came
about. 1 would not dispute any. asser-
tion made by the editor of the News,
biased on accurate data" but would Of
fer the suggestion, in a brotherly spirit,
that he be more liberal with his data and
more economical with his assertions. At
ter all, when the smoke of battle has
cleared and 1t can be seen who has won
the fight, the editor of the News may
weep like Marius at the ruins of Car
thage and sing
"Of all sad words by tongue or pen,
The saddest are these--it might have
BEEN"
1 enlisted with Johnston and deserted to
Clarke;
I cannot dissemble-I'm too Shining
mark.
Referring to the circular issued in this
county in the interest of Captain john
ston, the editor of the News saws: ut
announces in plain English that he
(Johnston) is anxious for votes, regard
less of the views of the voters, and yet
draws the free silver dead line with
wild calamity Shrek" was aware that
a dead line could be marked out with
piece of chalk or charcoal, or even q stick,
or anything that could make mark;
but how, in the name of a trusting credu-
lily, can you use such an intangible thing
as "a calamity shrek" to mark out a
dead line? A yell of frozen horror" has
often rent the air. in the early days of
the settlers when the willy Indian with
malice aforethought." cruelty lifted their
scalps You might well compare this
"yell of frozen horror" to "a calamity
shrek. But the editor Of the News will
never voice it., for no one has ever yet
seen scalped billiard ball. The editorial