The age-herald., 1899-06-09
GEN. wHEELER PEACE OFFERING G

From the Galveston News.
 Some of the Alabama newspapers are de- manding that General Joe Wheeler offer himself as a candidate for the governorship of that state in order to bring peace to Ala bama democratic circles. General Wheeler is a warrior, a veritable Ben Battle, who likes wars alarms. It is said that the gen eral so loves war that he wanted to be sent to the Philippines when the Spanish were disposed of. If he really wants sure enough fight, just let him announce himself as a candidate for the democratic nomina- ton for governor of Alabama. Then he will be in a war which will make him for get that there was ever war between the states or Span sh- American contest. There is southern state, blessed or cursed, men may see fit to look at it, with a shrewder and more generally intelli- gent set of politicians than Alabama pos
 sesses. The most of them began their learning in the school of politics just after the war, when the very best education in practical politics was necessary to over- throw the carpetbagger. Since then, what was learned has been kept in mind on ac
 count of the strength of the republicans and popuists. There are Morgan, PettuS, Bankhead, Stallings, Underwood, John ston, Shelley and a score of others with whom the doughty general would have to deal, and he would find either one of them a sure-enough "army with banners" It so happens that at this time, while the cov- eted goal is said to be the governors chair, the real goal is further on-that is, the seats now occupied by Senators Morgan and Pettus In Alabama, as in the other southern states, the highest ambition of the politician is to get in the United States senate. While the position of governor Is most exalted one in political eyes and is worth a hard struggle, yet in nine cases Tn ten it is considered only as springboard from which an active man can easily lana in the senate. Morgan and Pettus are each up in or near the 70s. Their days cannot be long in the land Morgans term is in its last days If a man should secure the dem- ocratic nomination for governor of Ala bama, if he did not defeat Morgan Tor the senate he would improve his chances of getting in that body when Morgan or Pet tus died. If a man did not get the nomina- ton for governor, his prominence in the race would aid him in a race for the sem ate Under these circumstances the ap- pearance of Wheeler in the race would not be of a quieting character He would De considered only another candidate TOT the senate and forthwith other candidates would begin to fight him just as if he were an ordinary, everyday sort of man. There is no politics to speak of in Ala bama. There are eXpansionists, anh-eXpan- sionists, free trade and tariff men. all Of equal strength and importance in what is called the democratic party of that state: Hence, campaigns there are personal. and personal campaigns are so selfish that few men are strong enough to destroy the bit terness of them by coming forward and offering to take the prize for themselves Wheeler is a hero of the war between the states. Wheeler is a hero of the Spanish American war. But down in Alabama, when they are out after an office, they don't give a snap of the finger for hero'