The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-13
JoHNsroN,s INcoNsIsTENcIEs.

JOHNSTOHS lNCONSlSTE
Consistency Is not only virtue. but. in
the language of the poet. "jewcl."
Like honesty. 1t is the best policy in
the long run, though not always the road
to immediate success. In sact, consist
ency and honesty are SO inte.woven that
enc cannot, 50 to speak, exist without
the ether.
Ex-Governor Johnston is brimful of In
constituencies, and speaking from po-
l,tical standpoint, he cannot be honest
that is, as to his convictions. or pretended
convictions
We find him now running the old soldier
racket, appealing to the old Confederate
soldiers for their support, when It is a
part of uncontradicted history that from
the very beginning Of iIls first term of
office as Governor, he paid not the
slightest regard to the sentiment he now
so tearfully and feelingIy invokes. The
number of worthy ex-Confederate sol
diers he turned out of office, and some
even before their terms had expired, be-
cause they happened not to hive been
among his supporters. can be counted
by the score. Not even the old veteran
who had lost an arm or leg. or was 9TH
Ell wise permanently disabled while in the
service of his country, vas spared from
the chopplng block of this merciless au-
tocrat, If perchance he stood in the way
of his ambition. or was marked as
subject for his vengeance. Satans ap-
- he
had been one Of them would be equally
consistent. Yet this man has the cheek
| to appeal to the old Confederate soldier
| for his support because he was one of
| them.
Again, he accuses Governor Jelks of
| attempting to break all precedent by ask
ing for a nomination for the second term,
because, as he says. no former Governor
who came into the office by succession.
as did Governor Jelks, ever received the
nomination for a second term, forgetful.
or. rather. unmlndful Of the fact that
no man has ever before in this State had
even the temerity to ask for a nominal
ton for a third term to the Office to
which he now aspires. In other words.
Governor Jelks must be condemned, un-
| der the circumstances, because he asks
for an endorsement of his administra-
ton; yet he, the Ex-Governor can with
impunity ask for a third term, though
so absolutely agains. all usage, all dem
ocratic ideas of government: because and
only because he is Joseph F. Johnston.
the great ~ am" and the only real
Governor the State has ever had"
Again, this modern Caesar claims to
himself all the credit for the forced"
adoption of the primary plan. when he
well knows that the ratification of the
present Constitution alone rendered such
plan possible, and that he led the fight
to defeat its adoption His inconsistent
conduct in reference to the calling Of a
Constitutional Convention, and his sim
lister motives for causing repeal of the
first act calling such convention. are
too we'll known for further discussion.
He claims that almost 1000 white men
had been disfranchised in Jefferson Coun-
ty alone. by the clause in the new Con-
situation requiring the payment of poll
tax as a condition precedent to the right
| of suffrage, when ne well knows that
the white man thus disfranchised has
l disfranchised himself by the failure to
comply with this condition, and re-
! fusal to contribute the mere pittance re-
uuired toward the education of the chill
dren of the State.
Again. and in this connection he is I'M
mindful of the fact that in a message TO
the Legislature. while Governor. he re-
commended a suffrage clause based sole
" on the payment of even a greater
poll tax on all voters without regard
| to age than that now required. While
admittedly unfriendly to the new Con-
stitution he insists that he is the proper
person to be selected as its nurse. As
we'll might the cat insist upon sucking q
nest of young mice.
l. These are among. but by no means all
of the inconsistencies of this great "a
Am" to say nothing of the many "mis-
takes made by him in his statements
as to matters of fact, as shown by the
records and the reports OF the officials
, What we now most need is peace, peace
from political strife and turmoil-and
we can never have 1t as long as Joseph
F. Johnston continues to disturb the wa
, tiers for the purpose of gratifying his
, personal and inordinate ambitions. Moth
, ing but another crushing, Overwhelming
defeat will convince him that Tillmanism
will not be tolerated in the State of Ala
bama.
Abiding to the action of the Alabama