The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-09-23
GOVERNOR FRAzIER's SPEECH


campaign speech. 1t is not profound
or learned or sta 5esmanlike; il abounds
In clap trap. denagogy. eloquence and
humoI; it takes that to make
good campaign speech; the people like
that sort of thing.
His expose of Republican misruie in
Tennessee and his review of Demo-
cratic management CT affairs. is fair
and able presentation of the facts OF
the case; a record as highly creditable
to the Democrats as 1t is disgraceful
to the Republicans. Between two
such records it is difficult to see how
any thoughtful son of Tennessee who
loves his state and has no personal ak
to grind; who feels a pride In good
government, and wants the laws made
and enforced for the greatest good to
the greatest number; any patriot who
earnestly desires to cast a patriotic
vote-it is hard to see-it is entirely
beyond our ken-how such an one can
cast Republican vote in Tennessee.
We see no good reason why any
Democrat should vote against Cover
nor Frazier. While we do not con-
slider him Sound" upon the Adams
law, we regard him as not nearly so
rotten as his opponent.
A distinguished statesman of earlier
days declared his position upon the
tariff as follows: ''If the tariff is too
high, lower it; it 1t Is too low. higher
It," And that is substantially the
lucid manner in which Governor Fra
zier defines his position upon the Adams
law. He is for it, at the present writ
ing, because his platform is fol- it. He
regards its present limitations as ex-
perlmental. If it is too wide. narrow
it; If it IS too narrow, widen it. 1t
does not seem to matter continental
durn to the Governor whether it is
wide or narrow. The basic, funda-
mental principles of temperance anu
local self government, upon which the
Adams law rests, the Governor let's
everely alone.
Governor Frazier defends his free
use of the pardoning power by
an eloquent and touching appeal
for 1.-THE children His hearers
IL they had closed their eyes might
easily have imagined it was Bob Tay-
Tor talking. There was such famil-
lar ring to IT that one could anticl-
pate the climax before it came. The
woman falling upon her knees before
the Governor; the little child entwin-
ng its arms about his neck, and that
midnight candle scene with the Gov
ernor porting over the records one
Christmas eve. and the pardoned pris-
oner clasping his loved ones in his
arms the next day. 1t is one OF Our
Bob's prettiest pieces of word paint
ing, and worthy all imitation.
The Governor alluded to philippe"
published against him by the Nash
,ille American and the Memphis Com
nerical Appeal, for the too free use
II the pardoning power, and replied.
with eloquence and pathos and power
hat brought tears from the eyes of !
many of his audience. that he''would, by
he eternal gods, pardon the children as t
ast as they were sent there. e
But if we remember those philip
lies, /" and we think we do, they were n
coring the Governor for pardoning
ADAMS law breakers, gamblers and :
istol toters. We do not recall where o
% has ever been criticised for pardon
ng a child. He seems to have avoided =
he issue raised. by raising one upon
,hich there is not the slightest Il
iverslty of opinion. Bob Taylor
,ade the people unanimous upon par !,
oning the children, years ago; but b
o man yet has ever Ieconciled him. b.
III with the people tor pardoning Sun, tc
ny tippeIs. illegal whiskey sellers. =
amblers and pistol carriers. F
The Herald has never made a sug- pc
sstion to the Governor that he would
Ike. But If somebody else would sug-
,st 10 him that he recommend to the
,xt Legislature the establishment of SO
and Industrial School fol '"
,nng criminals, and the Governor
ould give heed to the suggestion. IT
ould characterize his administration
the noblest act the party has done 4
I many years. ~
Albeit the Herald in the unforgotten
st has weighed the Governor IN the
lance ana found HIM wanting. still l.
, earnestly desire to see him re-
,cted. We prefer to be always
nest with our readers. hence we do
{ place our support upon any false
ound. We do not support him as
Adams law man; but rather Ms