The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-08-22
A MISTAKEN IDEA, POSSIBLY


to run for Governor OF Kentucky,
Henry Watterson, the most gifted
son of that grand old Commonwealth,
gives the following:
"Preferment is not for me. Brought
to the point where | must look the
situation full in the eye am appalled,
by the conditions which the successful
candidate for office must needs meet
and overcome the rogues and cheats
he must court, or cozen the servlllty
he must affect or practice, the obi
cations incur; the personal solicita-
ton. ignoble and humiliating the use
of money more or less corrupt and
corrupting; for, though he have an
overwhelming majority of the people
at his back, there stands the machine,
first to be captured and then to be
employed. with all that this implies.
Is it indeed true that preferment is
not for such men as Henry Wattersonf
Is 1t indeed and in truth a fact that
the successful candidate for office
must court or cozen, cheats ana TO-
gues?" That he must affect or prac-
tice ignoble and humiliating servilityf'
That though he have an overwhelming
majority of the people at his back -
still "there stands the machine,
first to be captured and then to be de-
ployed, with all that this implies,
with ''the use of money, more or less
corrupt and corruptingY"
Is that true2 We do not deny that it
Isl we ask the question. Ii 1t is,
then is not right there the first and
most important point to commence
the Reform this government needs?
A stream can rise no higher than its
source. No government can be any
better than those who govern it. Ii
the conditions are such that Ma
ton strongest and best men will pre-
fer the easy path of private living ra-
Their than an honorable ambition for
public service, because, forsooth cheats
and rogues and political pilferers line
the way to hold them up and rob
them of their frankness, their virtue
and their honor, in heavens name
is it not time all parties were unit
ing in the common battle cry to Turn
the Rascals Out?'
What matters it, though man call
himself Democrat or Republican,
can he serve his country with faith
and fidelity if he must, or ii he does,
court or cozen cheats and rogues?
Mr.. Wattorson, with that broad range
his extensive experience has given
him, doubtless had in mind both the
cheap cross roads country rogue, and his
more highly cultured and expensive
brother the trust, combine and cor
poratlon artist, under his several
aliases. And his Microscopic view OF
this motley crowd, we trow, was more
disgusting than appalling.
But are they the great invincibles
that they seem? That they are factors
in politics, from the civil district office
to the presidential chair, no one doubts
or questions. But may they not be
overcome. Begging Col. Watterson s
pardon, is it not political cowardice to
court or cozen," with these "cheats
and rogues, and is it not a lack OF
manhood to "atfect servility, ignoble
and humiliatingT'
We believe the time is ripe and the
country ready to rebuke with everlast-
ing shame and disgrace these "cheats
and rogues, and servile hypocrites.
All the people need is leader and
chance. The party that will cry out
aloud against machine politics and
machine methods and machine men;
the party that will dare dig to the very
root of the trouble and give no tolerance
or quarter to cheats and rogues,
whether they be big or little, personal
or corporate whether they be petty
bride takers or grander scoundrels who
give Of corporate funds in larger
chunks; a party that will cry aloud
for pure elections and honest govern
ment, and raise up leader whose life
is clean and whose courage will stand
before bowling mob Of cheats and
rogues, big and little, and defy and
dare them; man who would court
defeat rather than share dishonor with
hungry horde of pap-suckers a party
who will stand honestly and true for
such reform. and leader brave and
strong enough to serve his country in
such crisis can put all this servile
class to rout and raise up anew reign
of statesmen, such rs the South once
furnished the Nation, before the Com
mercial Boor was known to rule and
ruin.
Memphis Morning News: 1.-THE