The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-08
Editor The Advertiser:

Editor The Advertiser:
 I am writing to you on the fifth Of May. Forty years ago ago, today, made up my mind (with the assistance of our Secretary of War) to give the Yankees a rest. We were at Washing ton, Georgia. The night before the brigade, hearing there was hard money in the neighborhood, declined to sad dIe up" at the call of the bugle till the color of that money could be as- certained It appears that the distrl- button of the money was in the class of cases known as ground hog. At least we got twenty Mexican dollars and a $5 gold piece, apiece. to carry home as q reward for whipping the paid, the great body of the command. actuated by the noble patriotic deslre to "carry it right home and show 1t to your DADDY" saddled in great haste to seek somebody who would Kindly az. cept the surrender. Our Brigadler- General. Ferguson, was inclined to con tinue the struggle west of the MISSES sippi River, and ninety of us Voluh- morning CMay 5th) General Breckin- ridge advised us to give it up so, MT Brown" and we turned our faces nome ward There were five from one com pany. I am the only one left to recoi- feet the day. After all these years l can't help but think that our wise men of those days should be called by. different name. They were mistaken somehow. our great leaders satisfied our people that. like Moses, they had been with the Lord and'had assurance that He would be with us. After all, may be slavery was wrong and we were fighting in a bad cause. Some people may conclude that We failed on that account. but I am almost per suaded that if the tremendous odds had
 E1NY whipped the Yankees like Brother Fur man was going to excel a poor preach CT, Lord or no Lord It is a little curious that We continued to follow leadership which had so effectually demonstrated it's incapacity-and do vet You see. our very wisest leaders even in this day. publicly acknowiedge a slowness to learn. That last obser- vation comes of considering how earn est are certain men in advocating. now what. few years ago. they so right eously and conscientously opposed. Why a few years ago, Populism was considered such a hydra-headed mon ster, here in Alabama. at least that anything fin law or morals" was prop CT for it's suppre ssion.
 It seems to me that self-acknoWI edged simpletOns. upon coming to llght' should. at least, have the manliness 10 confess that they are too slow to lea n to be fit for leaders. The zeal or sud- den conversion (for personal purpose)
 
 therefore. suggest that Governor: rall- road Commissioner and United States Senators be not selected from these fire-now zeal fellows who have just awakened t. the fact that Populism Is popular. It seems tO be fact that our Alabama Congressman can only sue ceed themselves by an ungodly pro1es- sion of Populism. How can sucn things be-" Why, you are so lamp like and speeches. in all this trouo- ling of political waters that I'm con strained to think you are waiting to see which way the cat jumps. How ever. when you are converted beleN9 you'll he elf-respecting enough 10 calI yourself a Populist. That appears to be the proper course for one honestly converted, and until self-respect eVi- dences conversion, I must be permit ted to have my own opinion about our divided Railroad Commission. And IT Populism is to succeed next year Tn Alabama, l hope it will not su ,'eed uh- der false colors. It can't do itselt me people, the railroads, the corporations justice while doing itself the shame and injustice of another name. IL may be. and I think it is true, that we hay great, wise leaders whose greatness should be evaporated because founded alone upon that matchless political wisdom of Count 'em out" Have you ever noticed that the great men who succeeded to high honors by virtue oi the depravity of election managers ana turned loose one teat to take another have, somehow, failed to succeed 10 their hearts desire? There must pc kind of retrihutive justice In It. nave