The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1898-11-13

'sHe who fights and runs away.
Will live forum another day,

qulre leaders Stflctly AOI tHS No99
parade occasions. They do not
build governments simply to graft
fy the vanity of the governors,
They can sail along very nicely
by themselves when the sea is
smooth and the wind is fair.
Theoretically men are placed in
positions of trust and authority on
account of their superior wisdom,
virtue or courage. Emolument
draws responsibility and some slight
risk always accompanies blunder.
It is the day of trial and not the
day of shouting which tests the
character of leadership; actions
show the metal of the gun. 1t is
peril and not prosperity which has
developed our Washingtons, glori-
fed our Lees and exposed our Ju-
dases.
When harm threatens the COM
munity, every private citizen has
the right to look after his own safe
ty in his own way. His obscurity
imposes upon him nothing but a
general obligation.
It's all very we'll for the fellow
who runs a peanut stand to scamper
off like a iack-rabbit. He has no
reputation to lose, and there is no.
body looking to him for protection
and guidance. But he who holds
the scepter of power stands in a
different attitude.
The magistrate upon whom we
rely for civil order, the physician
who ministers to our bodily needs,
and the priest who smooths the
path to eternity, their posts are
with the stricken, and it is only the
villain and the recreant who desert
his trust.
Imagine Jefferson Davis at Beu-
ma Vista, sneaking to the rear be-
cause, forscoth, he is not immune to
Mexican lead, and his family needs
him at home.
Imagine Walthall, the superb, in
the retreat upon Atlanta, covering
with his tattered Grays the rear Of
Johnston's army-imagine Waltz
all pleading that he could do Moth
ing there, that he might get hurt,
and with a contagious cowardice
setting the example of headlong
flight.
Imagine one of Andrew Jackson's
coon-skin riflemen at the battle of
New Orleans, showing the white
feather. The historical fact that
nary one got behind the lamp post
and telephoned for the police.
Behold, oh men of Mississippi,
the governor of your State, Com
mander IN Chief of your forces, with
paralysing fear which recurring
flights have made habitual, flying
in the face of a puny panic.
No one who has seen him at the
State encampment, riding so stern
ly at the head of Mississippi troops,
resplendant with all the glare and
glitter of that harmless war, would
believe that when one small nil
crobe sauntered into his Capital
City, he would skin up the tallest
tree in Rankin county and yell,
"steady, doctors, steady! Holler
for help; I'm wild yer"
He was very obedient as a citi-
zen, however. When the doctors
said "depopulate" he depopulated;
said "git" and he got.
And this is the man who volun-
teered to lead the Mississippi bril-
gade up the slippery slope Of San
Juan.
Possibly when he volunteered he
thought he would get a Major-Gen-
erals thirteen thousand a year and
a stragetic position defending
Pixies Peak from the Spanish navy.
When the air is balmy and the
heavens blue, he can delight the
multitude singing, 81 Want to be
an Angel" But when there is
chance to accomplish that laudable
ambition with credit to himself and
State, he concludes to keep his job
as governor a while longer and take
a shy at the United States Senate
on the way.
1t wouldn't do to risk all the love-
" opportunities merely for the pur-
pose of discharging a solemn OBJ
legation of his office.
The mansion at Jackson-when
Jackson is duly safe-suits him bet
terthan a mansion in the skies.