The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-07
Has Made Another Blunder.

Birmingham News.
 The News gives space today. to a Thomas Heflin of his recent attack upon Judge Thomas c. Jones. Mir. Hefiin was entitled to be heard and his reply should receive careful and courteous considera- tion.
 The News does not see where MT. Hefiin has improved his case. Of course, 1t is very commendable for him to be jealous in defense of constitutional liberty and all that. He is eminently correct In stat ing that the right of trial by jury is a sacred heritage from an immortal ancest- ". He boldly declares that eternal wig ilance Is the price of liberty" none will dare to deny 1t. In fact. all of his re- marks about the privileges of. American citizenship and the land of liberty and free speech and glorious institutions are above cavil: or If they are not they should be. They have been said in substance no one has ever entered a protest
 MT. Hefiin fails. however, to demon strate that Judge Jones is engaged in de- stroying the right of trial by jury, or is ing the liberties of the people. In fact, the genial young Secretary of State seems to be about the only. person in Alabama spending sleepless nights for fear that Judge Jones will destroy the Constitu- tion. Most of us remember the record of Judge Jones-"as brave as the bravest a true representative of the highest type of Southern manhood-and, remembering. feel that the liberties of the people are as safe from attack by him as they are from an assault by Mir Hehin, the self constituted champion of rights which have not been assailed.
 MT. Heflin in his statement re-tries the Turner case. It will be recalled that the charge which filled MT. Hefif1in with so much solicitude for the safety of our in- stitutions was delivered in a case which Turner plead guilty. MT. Hefiin tries to make it appear that the defendant was harassed and coerced into making this plea, notwithstanding his innocence. This of the prosecution and weakness in the character of the defendant that will re- quire more proof than the statement of MT. Heflin affords. The rehearsal of the Turner incident seems to have been made with the idea of eliciting sympathy and breaking the force of his plea of guilty. with MT. Turner and regret that 1t was ever necessary to arraign him in court of justice, he has in most solemn form admitted his guilt and thus completely justified the prosecution.
 It will be observed by the careful reader that Mir. Hefin while denying that he Is a candidate for. higher office, does not retract the charge made against Judge Jones that his course in the peon. age cases was inspired by desire for promotion. In other words, MT. Heflln mess of purpose which he denies to Judge Jones. He was quick to ascribe aA un- worthy motive to a man of proved indc pendence and high character. but he winces at the suggestion that the political bee was buzzing in his own bonnet,
 The News has never charged MT. Hefiin with making his Luverne speech with the idea of promoting his chances for office. It did not even suggest that his attack on Judge Jones was an attempt to curry favor. It was content to comment that the young Secretary of State had made a serious blunder and to pay tribute to the courage and intellect, the patriotism and devotion to duty of Thomas c. Jones,
 Comparisons are usually odous, but Mir. Heflifn makes an invitation which ca annot be escaped. In upholding the in- stitutions of the country. in fidelity to principle. and in love of his State. the re- cord of Thomas G. Jones, without dis ceeded by no living Ala abaman.
 And now to look at results what has MT. Heflin accomplished by his attack? Is trial by jury any more secure? Is the Constitution more firmly entrenched? Is not his valiant charge a counterpart of the famous attack by Don Quixote upon the windmills? He has coniuree up dan gers which did not exist. He has sought to right wrongs which have never been perpetrated. The conclusion is unescapa- ble that he is either playing to the gal 1eries or is the victim of a delusion which takes the form that the liberties of the country are imperlled and it is his mis- sion to give Succor.
 Mir. Hef1in made a very had break in the first instance, and as is customary in such cases he follows it up by making another.