The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-03

or to those who are not in that painful
situation and If It Is the new constitu-
| ton that Is the real point of Governor
| Johnston's opposition to Mr.. Jelks. and
the real object Of his attack, he will find
| a firm friend OF that instrument in the
present incumbent. and he can put his
canvass openly on that ground. He will
| also find as firm friend of the new con-
stitution In the Representative in his dis
jerks any personal injustice by seeking
his ''vindication'' in a Congressional cleo
| ton.
! II the people owe him a ''vindication.' .
| they would find their best opportunity,
and, doubtless, the one most agreeable
| TO Ex-Governor Johnston, by comforting
such honors upon him.
1 cannot think that the real purpose
iof his candidacy has any reference to the
honors or emoluments of an Office from
which he claims to have extracted all
that is agreeable to him, and scarcely
refrains from spurning. while demanding
He has claimed the highest office In the
sovereign State of Alabama as stepping
stone to Federal Office, thereby disparag-
| ing the dignity of the State. and using
its powers ana honors for personal ends
The rebuke given to this abuse In the
new Constitution Is, doubtless. one OF the
privations against which ''vindication'
will be demanded. in the form of amend.
ment, or in a legislative declaration that
this prohibition Is a nudity.
There is little. IL any. reason to doubt
that an election to the Senate of the
United States of one who is Governor OF
Alabama, in defiance of the State Consti-
tuition, would be ratified by that body, II
his political affiliation Is in harmony
with the majority In the Senate. or II he
should promise to act with them.
The election of Governor Sanford was
distinct ratification of his purpose to
reform the State Constitution so as to ex-
clude a vicious and destructive element
from the ballot box. that could contrib
| ute nothing to good government, and
was the cause of the appeal to the law
Of necessity: that set aside the written
| law, as Ia sometimes indispensable to the
general welfare of the peopl l need not
recall the evils that harrassed Alabama,
| to make this matter clean or to increase
our adherence of them. They fill the
| darkest chapter in our history. They were
such as to MAKE IL vital necessity that
| the degradation of the ballot should not
continue.
Every honest Democrat in Alabama set
| his face against these evils, from the
time of the adoption of the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments, and their
Democratic representatives in Congress
| combatted all election laws, civil rights
bills and force bills that were introduced
| for the purpose of putting the white peo-
| pie of Alabama under negro domination
Every movement of the Democracy OF
| Alabama was in that direction, and II
was the hope and prayer of every honest
| man of that party that day would ar
| rive when our people should find them
selves at liberty to exist in an atmos-
phere that was free from that degrade
ton and corruption.
| We found that time and experience
| had at last so modified the angry and
oppressive sentiments that gave rise ia
these political measures, that we could
| appeal to reason and justice for the re-
| lief OF our people, and we set about to re-
| form our organic laws, which had been
| forced upon US by other States. so thai
| we could preserve the ballot box against
| ignorance and corruption, and could place
i 1t under the control of wholesome laws
| honestly administered.
| This was a leading purpose In the cleo
| ton of all our Governors, from Houston
| to Johnston, and he pledged his admin
istration to its faithful support. His
| first administration was endorsed and vim
dictated by the people and he was again
| elected under the same pledges, and with
out doubt as to his fidelity. He recon-
| mended to the Legislature a measure for
| the reformation of the organic law of the
| State that would accomplish these great
purposes, and it was enacted by the
| requisite majority and became a law, by
the vote of the Legislature, without the