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

the office. This Is a queer attitude He his power to get some ofrice he does de- sire, and that the vote in the legislative primaries will secure it to him. It is a vital question whether Goverhor Johnston intends, if he Is elected, and consents to qualify as governP, to increase the vot- ing capacity of the negroes, or does he intend to decrease it2
 Bring Back Negro Suffrage.
 If he has not changed his mind since he was a candidate for the senate, he would remove the restrictions that are in the way of what Is called the man hood suffrage" of the negro and bring back the condition that our people have so long endeavored to get rid of. That is the important question to the people or Alabama, and to the entire south It is a question they have in mind and heart, and candidate for governor should not avoid a clear committal with reference to it.
 We all know what was the attitude of Governor Sanford on this question and the attitude of Governor Jelks, and that 1t Is without shadow of turning, or any ocubt.
 If we 'vindicate' Governor Johnston's attitude by electing him over Governor Jelks, we must condemn the attitude of Governor Jelks and of the democracy and the world will so understand our action. We cannot escape that result. This is the most important feature in the present situation. To retreat, after the field has been won will destroy the confidence of the lecple of the south in our integrity and will invite a renewal of the assault of the politicians of the north, all along the line, on the question of negro suffrage. I he action of Governor Johnston, in forcing retreat from the position he had chosen for us. and in the battle he had set in arr ay, because the honors of vic tory might be divided between him and others who had entered the field to as- sist in the great struggle. would have destroyed a people who were less deter mined tran the demo cracy of Alabama, or who had cause less sacred, to de- nland their stosdfast devotion.
 Peoples Resentment.
 Our people were quick to see the false attitude Into which he forced them, and they were firm in their determination to resent it at the ballot box.
 He was able to foice the retreat, but he was not able to prevent the people from renewing the bottle under the lead of Colonel Sanford, nor was he able to secure the 'vindication" that he now seeks at the hands of the people. in his campaign for the senate.
 The people triumphed against his oppos- ition ard his vindication was silently | withheld.
 The people took up their own cause and regained the ground that had been lost in the retreat that he had ordered choosing for their leader righteous man of peace, William J. Sanford. whose fidelity no man could question. and whose courage was that true moral fortitude that was equal to any occa- sion; and they triumphed gloriously. Without any change of purpose or any recantation, or change of attitude, Gov ernor Johnston again demands a vindi- cation at the hands of the democracy of Alabama. He is seeking to do now what he failed to accomplish in l9O0 and he demands it as a vindication. A vim dication of what? It can only be a rat ification of his order to cease our efforts to reform the constitution of 1875, which was the citadel of negro suffrage, erect | ed within the walls of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. The people refused to obey that order, and are not ready for him to renew it.
 What He Demands.
 The yindication that he now demands. c,-, only be, that, we shall surrender the ground that we have taken and for tifed, and restore the negro to his for iner power in the state. If it does not mean that, what does 1t mean? Governor Johnston Is studiously inde- finite as to the particular facts, or points upon which he demands a vindication.
 A number of questions were raised anC discussed in the campaign of 1900, relat ing to his conduct as governor. but the,