The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-09-28
BETWEEN THE LINES.

BEL w EEN Il he LIN Ed.
The Columbia Journals article on
the late primary is moral. logical,
temperate and we'll considered
The lines read well; but between the
lines what can be read?
Now we give the Journal full
credit for entertaining honestly and
sincerely the sentiments expressed
in this editorial. We believe the
accredited writer of this article
would be glad to bring about some
reform that would purify the ballot
box and elevate the very best men
to office. He and the editor of the
HERALD have stood together before,
and it shall not be our fault IL we do
not stand together now and at all
times in any practical effort to bring
forth such good results, to promote
public morals.
But the Journals article stops at
a very interesting period, and leaves
unanswered that irresistible and
most pertinent question, what is the
Journal going to do about it? Is the
Journal writing purely, disinterest-
eddy in behalf of good morals and a
pure ballot, or under the guise of
this is it seeking to prejudice the
public mind against the Democratic
nominee and smooth the way for an
independent candidate for Congress
And if the Journal means to dis
own the nominee of the late Demo
cratic primary; if as the keeper of
its own conscience it feels no hon
orable obligation to submit to the
decision of a primary in which it
took so conspicuous part; If it feels
no pricking Of conscience for pur-
suing course it would have been
the first to condemn in others, had
it's candidate been the nominee; if it
has settled all these questions salts
factorily to itself, then how will it
administer the rebuke" it proposes?
We agree with the Journal that
this question is one not to be set
tied by mere quibbling or special
pleading Let's get down to bust
ness. The HERALD has said, and
the Journal virtually admits, that
'some of the friends of ALL the
candidates. NAV have used money
and whiskey improperly in the cleo.
ton. But the Journal says that does
not "relieve the situation;" and the
HERALD admits that. SO now we
are coming to an understanding, il
not an agreement.
The Journals position is this: The
candidates are responsible for the
acts of their friends, whether they
had prior knowledge or no. Second
the friends of all the candidates
bought votes and gave away
whiskey. And now while the minC
of the public is directed to this CUES
ton is the time to burn the truth il
upon the conscience of the publ,
until it shall not only administer {
proper rebuke to the guilty parties
but shall make it dangerous to adop
similar practices in the future"
If the Journals future acts ar
consistent, they have entrenchet
themselves behind a strong wall o
good public morals. IT they holt
all the candidates to a strict accoun
for the acts of their friends; and
clinging tenaciously to the whole
some maxim that fraud, whethe
little or great, vitlates the who'll
thing; and, rising above party tie
-, and personal friendship throws then
all overheard and brings out som
immaculate man who never di
such thing in his life, and would n
do 1t or allow it to be done for him
in fact wouldn't have it If some in
: discreet friend did do it; in short,
the Journal will make good its pro
LESSONS, then it will set itself upo
= a pinnacle to be admired of mer
and relieve itself of the suspicio
1 that it is writing its good morals 70
< a bad purpose.
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