Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-09

The Montgomery Advertiser and seve-
N, other newspapers Of that State are
sutjecting Governor Johnston 10 GNU
clsm because he left the capital al the
arst sign OF danger from yellow-feveF'
and has not yet returned.
| For weeks the Governor and some OF
the other State officers have had tneir
oe,ces at birmingham. Others or the
officers have remained at Montgomery
II ia conceded that the Governor pro-
hah,z could not have been OF any per-
scnaI service to the people OF MONT
eomcry. but on the other hand II Is
| insisted that his example and encour-
agement in time Of danger should nave
been thrown with the brave men ana
women who faced the fever. And this
ia undoubtedly tho view that the gene
raj public will take. The people look to
their high officials for examples. and all
who take office take It with this among
other responsibilities.
Far be 1t from us to insinuate ausnt
against the courage of the Governor
or to question his motives. No DOUBT
he is an honorable and gallant man.
but we must say he made 4 mistake IN
not abiding at his post at Montgomery.
The argument that the people VINO nau
business with the Executive office could
not get to Montgomery to see MIN Is
without much force. In the nrst place.
most Of that business is usually done
by mail: in the next, as the Advertiser
shows. the proclamations Issued by the
Governor himself practically pronipiteo
travelling in most parts Of Alabama
Governor Johnston himself, no doubt,
now sees that he would have better re-
NAMED at Montgomery. The danger
proved to be inconsiderable. Had he
STAYED and lived he would have In
creased his hold upon the confidence OF
the people. Had he died he would have
died a hero at his post of duty, full
filling the popular conception OF what
a governor should be. and doing prac-
teal work in encouraging those around
him to combat the epidemic.
Better for the captain to go down
with his ship, like the Virginian, Hern-
don, or the British Admiral Tryon, than
have any one suspect that he has been
too hasty in leaving.
There have been large number Oh
sea captains, many Of them rough,
coarse men, in the estimation Of the
world, who have gone down with their
ships. rather than quit their decks
when II was a matter Of dubiety what
| they should do. And the world is all
the better off for their self-sacrifce
| II has established the rule that no mas
ter may quit his ship until every other
person aboard has gotten off. He who
violates this rule may save his life
but his life is valueless to him ever
| thereafter.
| But a few years ago King Humbert,
OF Italy, went through the cholera
stricken cities Of his dominion, obedient
to the duty which was his to be an
example to all his officers. And thou
| sands Of weak, timid public servants,
| seeing what the King was doing, took
heart and thereafter went about wait
| ing upon the victims and stemming the
panic that was threatened. Perhaps his
| case and Governor Johnston's are not
analogous. Maybe so; we do not know.
| We would judge no one harshly. for
1--WE are all poor critters,A but self
sacrifice and heroism are Virtues that
best adorn high stations, and those peo-
| pie are most to be envied who have
| high ideals as to what their officers
| should be.