The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-21
Old Students at Tuscaloosa.

1.-THE king can do no wrong may be
good rule in some states but it does not
fit this state, or any other state in this
country. Here may be kings in their own
minds; in other minds and under the law
there are none. All officers from the presi-
dent TO the lrumblest constable are in this
country public servants, known as such,
accepting office such, subject at all
times to supervision, criticism and invesu-
cation at The hands of their masters.
When Governor Johnston denies the right
of the Alumni Society to investigate his
official acts he not only ignores the law
which makes it an advisory and co-opera-
tive body, but he ignores the individual
rights of the members of the society under
the unwritten law of the land. Every citi-
zen has a right TO investigate, criticise and
review, as often as he pleases, and in any
manner that pleases him, be it in news
papers, ON the stump, before the courts,
in the pulpit, on drygoods boxes, or at
the ballot box, any official act, no matter
what it may be. This is American govern
ment; it is a very essential part of 1t, and
the officer who cannot meet and satisfac-
torily answer such investigation, criticism
or review invariably stands condemned.
The Alumni society Acted wholly within
their rights at Tuscaloosa; and they have
presented some issues that Governor John
ston would do well ito answer. 1t is only
necessary to call attention to a few as an
example of all, showing at once the need
Of fuller explanation from Governor
Johnston than he has thus far seen fit to
present.
We need not delve deeply into the report
of the alumni committee for the purpose of
rehashing it. Let this lease point suffice
why was the dispatch, Don't lease any
lands in township &c. range T." sent to Land
Commissioner Fits? Why was Land Com
missioner Fits instructed to omit certain
numbers in THE pending lease contract
with Mr. DeBardeleben? The sending of
the dispatch and the giving of the instruc-
tions named are beyond dspute-what were
tiIC dtlelludllI
We select the lease matter to illustrate
the need of a full explanation of the facts
connected with the land sale. Governor
Johnston sent the dispatch and gave the in
structions in question-why? The people
have a right to know The alumni have
right to know The humblest citizen in
the state has right ITO know. AS matters
stand no one can so readily furnish a full
history of this most mysterious case as
Governor Johnston himself. As duty to-
wards all the people ne should tell ALL
AS a matter of self-defense he should be-
gin at the beginning-at the unauthorized
granting of options upon the. University
lands, and follow the story to the end.
The report of the alumni committee is
dspassionate throughout. The paper is an
attempt to present all known and authen-
ticated facts, with pertinent conclusions in
law, and it should be met in like spirit
The difference in tone, not to mention
grammar, between the report of the alumni
committee and Governor Johnston's reply
to request for fuller information, is very
wide and very marked. In dealing with
the advisory committee Governor Johnston
is dealing with an arm of the state, with
widely-spread constituency, with the peo-
pie in fact The answer of Governor john
ston is unworthy of himself and of the
office he holds. 1t is not the way in which
public servant should meet his masters.
when an inquiry is made as to official acts
If the interrogators have sinister plans
and defeat them consists in a full, frank
and well-sustained explanation This is
what the people are entitled to, and it is
what they await.