The age-herald., 1899-08-06
It Cries Out at Last

Y Iom the montgomery Journal
 For several years past is has been cus- tomary for the Montgomery morning re- publican newspaper, commonly called the Advertiser, to refer to Hon. Joseph F. Johnston as man of small calibre, with out learning or culture, with no genius for public affairs and as a blundering poli- tician, without personal magnetism and with no ability to manage men. When he smashed their idol, Dick Clark, they found q ready excuse for his crushing blow to their hopes and aspirations. Finding the state overwhelmingly in debt, in spite of the Advertisers jerimiads and predictions of dismal failure, he removed the load, which hung like a body of death around the neck of the state, cleaned out the au- gean stables, purified the public service, ad- vanced Alabama's securities to the fore front in the markets of the world, redeem ed every obligation, disenthralled the com- monwealth and gave the people the most superb business administration they ever had. Reluctantly forced to confess this fact the Advertiser sneered at the gover- nor, belittled his efforts, sought to minim- ize his influence, poured out vials of wrath upon his head, shamelessly villified him, ascribed wrong motive for everything he did, and tortued everything he said into an effort to retard the growth, impede the progress and prevent the development of the state.
 When he assembled the legislature in extra session and repealed the convention act the Advertiser howled demoniacally and proclaimed that Johnston was dead, damned and delivered" Nothing he has ever done meets with favor in the eyes of this subsidized, plutocratic organ. When Collector Lott was compelled to make good his dedication, the Advertiser denounced the governor. When public officials were made to disgorge their ill-gotten gains, the Advertiser denounced the governor. When .t.1.@ for the benefit of educational institutions, the Advertiser denounced the governor. When faithless presidents of normal col leges were weighed in the balance and found wanting" the Advertiser denounced the governor. When the law was vindicat- ed the guilty punished. order restored and peace preserved anywhere In the state the Advertiser denounced the governor. When the men, who betrayed the party in 1896, while endeavoring to work their way back again into places of power and trust in or der to stab Bryan and tear down the Chi cago platform in the coming presidential year, were prevented from accomplishing their full design by the iron will and nerve of Governor Johnston the Advertiser, baf- fled, beaten, routed and dismayed, con- tinued it's abuse and Accommodation against this great man, whose shadow fell across its pathway. Recognizing the fact that Governor Johnston, by his unflinching dis
 
 dence of the people to such an extent as never before enjoyed by any man in Ala bama, the Advertiser at last wakes up 6 the realization of the fact that he lis no fool;" is indefatigable in his energies; he has a genius for hard work, and rare power for controlling men and making advantageous combinations while he Is sleepless in watching his adversaries. The pigmy has become a giant and the people are warned to be "up and doing" to arouse themselves and take speedy action against this dangerous man. Verify, at last, the Advertiser pays the governor a lofty com pliment. A word of advice "to our friends, the enemy" Get out into the country, under the trees, on the grass, by the streams, in the woods and fields of Ala bama; put yourselves in touch with the masses, away from the dwarfing influences of brick walls and city life, and you will become better, wiser and happier men. You will find out what democracy means. and that the people. who are the source of all power, can at all times be trusted to do right. After all, they rarely ever make mistake in their estimate of a public ser- want. To Governor Johnston they have spoken the glorious words: "Well done good and faithful servant. Let the Adver- tiser take care that they do not say to him yet another thing: "Go up higher"