The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-30
PRIVATE JOHN ALLEN AND GOV
EENOR MLAURlN.

EGNOR M'LAUKlN.
The contest for the Senatorship now
in progress between Private John Allen
and Governor McLaurin in Mississippi
,s exhibiting tho worst features OF
theory Of politics which has unioFlu-
nately only. too many advocates ana
apoloeists in the Southern States. Al
recent ioint discussion between the two.
Allen charged upon McLaurin that as
Governor Of the State he had told the
attorney who was defending man
charged with homicide that u his client
were convicted. he would pardon him.
Suppose now that the Governor had
made this statement 10 the attorney,
ought the very serious question of who
should represent Mississippi in tho Senate
Of the United States TO turn upon the
fact? It would have been an undigni-
fled and improper thing for the Cover
nor Of a state 10 say. but al last. it
was no more than an indication that
might have been prompted by strong
feeling that the accused had great pro-
vocation for his act. it did not bind the
Governor. and could in no way affect the
question whether the accused would be
convicted or acquitted 1t was an indi-
cation and that was ALL
when Mr. Allen made the charge Gov
ernor McIaurn. instead of denying II
and thereby raising a false issue in the
ia
people that the great question they were
being called upon 10 decide. ought not TO
be complicated with trihing matter of
that sort. discussion Of which could have
no other effect than to take their atten-
ton away from the serious issues TO he
decided and Xix It upon what was no
more than q trihe al last That of
course if they did not think him
proper person to represent them I'm the
Senate. they should refuse 20 send him
there, but that mans character was
not to be judged OF by a single and COM
paratively unimportant matter ike that.
Instead Of taking this course, Governor
NcI.aurin got into a passion, denounced
the author of the statement as mali
cious liar, and IS now involved In an
acrimonious discussion of whether he Old
or ala not make the statement and all
Nfssisslppl is taking sides with the one
party or the other. so that the Senatorial
question will probably turn upon whether
the Governor of the state did or did not
make a trihing remark that was of no
sort of real Importance.
The materiality Of an this is in its bear
ing upon a theory Of politics which. un-
fortunately has only too many advo-
Gates in the Southern states. Our people
have an unfortunate tendency to intro
duce personalities into political contests
and make their issues depend upon some
thing totally personal 10 the candidate
instead of upon the ideas and principles
that the candidate stands for.
This lead to denials by the person
standing for a political office of the
charges made against him. and then
they are repeated by the one who makes
them. and very soon the constituency
instead Of considering whether the can
didate will be most useful i'm re-estao-
fishing our credit o. i'm suppressing
frauds In elections in inauguratng some
equally important public measure, Is
wholly occupied in informing itself about
something entirely personal to the candi-
cate
These ordinations and recrimnations
naturally stir mp bad blood. soon the
candidate and his accuscr are engaged
I'm a controversy which the community eN-
nects 20 end in combat between the
two and therefore, by logical sequence
many Of the community come 20 think
that the man who IS readiest TO FISK
his life in personal combat is the man
h.st qualified TO represent it in delibe-
rative bodies.
We are glad to say that this abnor-
NAL illogical. and absurd idea is not
nearly so prevalent i'm the Southern
states as II has BEEN but 80 IS only pre-
vaIent here now and it is consequently
announced in the Mississippi case, that
tho lawyer who claims that Governor
McLaurin made the statement reiierales
il since McLaurln's denial ana that
personal encounter is expected between
him and the Governor. Gould anything
be more absurd?