The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-03

ment or in a legislative declaration that this prohibition is a nullity.
 There is little if 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 con- stitution would be ratified by that body, if his political utilization is in harmony with the majority in the senate, or if he should promise to act with them,
 The election of Governor Sanford was a distinct ratification of his purpose to reform the state constitution so as to exclude a vicious and destructive ele- ment from the ballot box, that could contribute nothing to good government. and was the cause of the appeal to the law of necessity that set aside the written law, as Is sometimes indispensa- ble to the general welfare of the people. I need not recall the evils that harrass- ed Alabama, to make this matter clear, or to increase our abhorance of them. They fill the darkest chapter in our his- tory They were such as to make 1t 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 democratie representatives in congress combaloed 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.
 Better Atmosphere.
 Every movement of the democracy of Alabama was in that direction, and it 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 degrada- tion and corruption.
 We found that time and experience had at last so modified the angry and oppres- sive sentiments that gave rise to these political measures, that we could appeal to reason and justice for the relief oi our people; and we set aDour 10 reform our organic laws, which had been forced upcn us by other states, so that we could preserve the ballot pox against ig- norance and corruption, and could place 1t under the control of whoiesome lawh. honestly administered.
 This was a leading purpose in the elec- tion of all our. governors, from Houston to johnston, and he pledged his adminis- tration to its faithful support. His first administration was endorsed and vim dicated, and without doubt as to his fidelity. He recommended to the legisla- ture a measure for the reformation of the organic law of the state that would ac- complish these great purposes, and 1r was enacted by the requisite majority and became a law, by the vote of tho leg.slature without the necessary Tor hi5 approval as governor.
 Johnston Signed Bill.
 But to emphasiz his approbation of the measure and to honor his name as a participant in the act calling a consti- tutional convention, he voluntarily af- fixed his signature to the bill. as the governor cf Alabama
 The state convention of the democratic rarty made nominations for delegates, at large, to the constitutional conven- ten, and the counties and districts made their nominations of delegates, and all necessary legislative and executive acts were performed, that were requisite to the lawful election of delegates.
 The delegates SD nominated were not agreeable to the personal aspirations of Governor Johnston, to promote which he had diligently devoted his official patron- age, anG without aEy cause or reason, in the slightest degree connected with the welfare of the people, he re-assembled the legislature and urgently recommended the repeal of the law calling the con yention to refoi m the constitution. It was dcne, and the democratic party was split into factions.
 It is needless now to discuss the ques- ticn of lis power, or that of the legsla- tufG IO 1Gpedi tic Ia ItS dpptdi "ao urged end approved by him. There was great dissatisfaction with this reversal cf inc policy of the democratic party, and the hopes of the people for relief from negro domination were almost destroyed.
 In the elections of the succeeding year these questions came before the people, end earnest accusation of the breach If his pledges to the democracy were made against Governor Johl ston He sought hls .vindication'' in primary elections by the people. as a candidate for the senate Of the United States. and struggled to ally hinself with the forces of the popu- list party, without Gny considerable sue cess They remembered his record and lefused to trust him. The people refused to approve his course and his appeal Tor sindication vas decided against him.
 Duty Falls on Jelks.
 In that campaign Governor Sanford was chosen to carry out the wishes of the people for the reformation of the constitution and his lamented death de- volved that duty on Governor Jelks. Gov ernor Johnston's second-sight policy of keeping the people under the heel of ne- gro domination. until they could outive the oppression, would yield to his plan of relief, was condemned in the nomina- tion Of Governor Sanford, in the prima- ries, and afterwards by a great state convention, and he now claims that he was greatly wronged because the conven- (Honfipued an ca.1sI