The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-23
Beware of Tillmanisnn.

AqOp4ie Register.
Former Governor Johnston is seeking
third term as Governor of Alabama.
This fact alone should count seriously
against his chance Of nomination by any
political party In Alabama.
Third-termism has never been favored
by the American people. President Wash
ington although entrsated to accept the
presidency Of the United States for the
third time refused, his reason being that
make the holding q life tenure In viola
ton of the spirit of the Constitution,
which contemplated frequent changes in
the ONCE Of chief executive. His action
was accepted as the example to be fol-
lowed and the unwritten law that the
limit should be two terms was generally
recognised.
In 1850 an attempt was made to disre-
gard this example and override the nn-
vocated as candidate for the third time.
The excuse offered was that although. IL
elected. this would be General Grants
third term. 1t would not be his third con-
secutive term, President Hayes's admins
tration having interviewed; but public sem
timent against perpetuation of any man
In the high ONCE Of President was so
strong that even Grants great popularity
rejected by the Republican Convention,
and Garfield received the nomination.
Walter A. Houghton, author OF the His
tory OF American Politics" records this
as ''oyerthrowing the attempts at chang
ing the traditional policy of the country,
which prohibits any man from serving
as President more than two terms"
The States have followed the Federal
,practice in this as in other matters and
It Is unwritten law that Governors OF
States shall have not more than two
terms. This law has never been disre-
garded in Alabama.
The reason for the law is we'll known
the fear of the dictator, the man who,
by use OF public patronage. shall so Sc
duce the minds of men as to readily hold
their aid, perpetuate himself in power,
gradually extinguishing the liberties of
the common people.
1t was Answered by the friends Of
Grant as 1t will be answered by the
friends of Captain Johnston. that the in
tervening ADMINISTRATION having thor
oughly broken up any possible organiza-
ton looking to the enslavement Of the
people. a third term would not be more
dangerous to public interests than first
term; but the people would not and will
not accept even the shadow OF the dicta-
torship. In Grants case they refused the
third term even to a well-beloved MILF
tary hero. In Johnston's case they will
refuse also, and the easier because Cap
tain Johnston Is known TO nave pre-
served the machine he built up In the
two terms. and, IL reelected VIII go into
office armed as effectually for domina-
ton Of State affairs as If he had never
been out of It,
II there was ever time when the un-
written law against third -termism should
be enforced It is now. Captain Johnston
Is essentially a dictator. AS Governor he
was boss of every man and everything
within his purview; he had In each Coun-
" his junta of appointees and favorites
who assumed and exercised absolute con-
tpol Of County politics. To be a candidate
one had to ask the permission of these
men; to get the Governors attention to
petition Of right their endorsement had to
be obtained. So strong was this despot-
ism Of Johnstons that it ruled even the
State Legislature as with rod Of iron,
and that body was almost eervile in obe-