The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-03
R. H. CLARKE In SELMA
SPLENDID SPEECH MADE By
THE MoBILIAN.
The Political Career Of Ex-Governor
Johnston is Reviewed-The Lat
ter Speaks in Interest Of
His Candidacy.
Advertiser bureau,
Selma, Aug. 2.

/ Selma, Aug. 2
Hon. r. H. Clarke spoke at the pavilion
tonight to a splendid audience on the po-
litical issues of the day. On account Of
it being Saturday night and threatening
rain, not as many turned out as would
otherwise have done, but there were as
many present as were at the court house
today to hear Governor Johnston
. Colonel H. s. D. Mallory introduced
Colonel Clarke in splendid ten minutes
speech. in which he took occasion to up
hold Governor jerks as the opponent Of
the new Constitution and scored ex-Gov-
lernor Johnston for trying to tear down
the organic law that had been adopted
by the people.
l When Colonel Clarke appeared before
the audience he was greeted with tre-
mendous applause and he made a mas
terful speech in favor of the new Con-
stitution and the nomination of Governor
Jelks. as the exponent of that instru-
ment.
Mr.. Clarke opened his speechs with a
splendid tribute to the great men that
Selma had produced, and then launched
into his speech. He said that he was
here to defend the people. the rights of
white men Of Alabama to govern them
selves according to law. He said that
| the white men are pledged by both faith
and religion to govern this State. Tho
party had governed the State since 1874
but not always according TO law. This Is
the first time that party has ever had
the opportunity of governing the State
strictly according to law. The four years
Immediately following 1868 were worse
! than the four years of war.
He referred to the terrible times we
had when the iniquitous constitution Of
1868 was forced upon us, when the State
was given over to ignorance. prejudice
and hate He then referred to the light
ming committee and told what Cover
nor Johnston had done and lauded him
| for it, but he could not help believing for
| his honor and good name. that 1t would
| have been better for Johnston IL he had
| died when IN the discharge of that duty.
He will live to regret his present
stand" said Mr.. Clarke dramatically. Il
| will not refer TO his children, but it would
have been better for him IL 'finis' had
been written then and there in his
career"
Mr.. Clarke said he had no personal i'll
will toward Ex-Governor Johnston. He
| read extracts from his message in favor
| Of a new Constitution and praised It's
| patriotism and the forceful manner in
which 1t was written. He then followed
| Johnston's career step by step until he
| signed the bill calling a Constitutional
Convention. but would not do so until a
| Joint caucus Of the two houses had made
| It Democratic measure. And now, he
| continued. Ex-Governor Johnston Is sneer-
| ing at the new Constitution and threw
| the first stone to overthrow the party
caucus of the two houses that made the
matter a party measure.
Mr.. Clarke's speech was a scathing ar
raignment of Ex-Governor Johnston's po-
| litical career, and. when he compared
his fall from the high position that he
once held in the affections Of the people
| to Lucifer's fall from Heaven, 1t was a
| splendid piece of effective oratory. The
speech was "a masterpiece of logic and
| made a fine impression.
A thunder storm came up and inter-
| ferred with the speaking. Those who
| heard Clarke and Johnston today say
that the former made a stateman's like
| speech, while Johnstpn's were the utter
ances Of a demagogid place hunter.