The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-11-24
FOR UNITED STATES SEN
ATOR.

The formal opening of Senator Car
msck's campaign at the Vendume
Theatre in Nashville Monday night, is
an occasion for a thoughtful considera-
ton by the people in general, and by
the democrats IN particular, of the
qua ton as to whether we shall turn
Senator Carmack down, and that, too,
when even his competitor can urge
nothing against his pubic record, and
who publicly declares that the only
issue between them, is one of personal
ambition.
But those who heard Senator Car
marks opening speech and those
thoughtful psr.ons who re d it, see, in
this contest, far more than a question
OF personal rivalry and personal ambI-
tion. The question as to who should
represent Tennessee in the Senate of
the United States should rise far above
a question of personal rivalry. The
men who put themselves forward to
serve the people In this high Office.
should stand foI something; should
stand for all that Is sound In political
principles and for all that is best in
public and private life. He who rep
resents us in the most serious and most
dignItied deliberative body In the gov
ernments of the earth. should be- a
man, who in character and ability is
equal to the dignity and responsibility
OF the situation; VINO would indeed
represent us, and in turn reflect honor
upon us. by virtue OF his qualities as
q thoughtful statesman and a private
citizen.
Tue idea too much prevails that it
is q matter of no consequence who gets
the office. The prevalence of the idea
that government is only a question of
Office getting, a question of spoils. is
responsible for the decay of govern
ments and for the corruption of parties,
and for the growth of graft. We must
dispel this idea and substitute for it the
idea that public office IS a public trust,
ana that the public service requires the
highest qualities of ability and of hon
esty and of falthfulness.
The signs of the times are encourage
ing. The results of the recent elections
IN New York. Pennsylvania and ONO,
yea, even in Memphis. show us that
the people are looking more closely TO
the character of their public servants,
and are sending into exile the political
CRATER and the unworthy servant. and
are calling to serve them men Of the
highest ability and of the best char
Rcter. In all sobetness anc In all
seriousness we should consider these
things. The selection of officers from
the highest to the low est should be a
question of honesty, of capacity, OF
watchfulness, OF courage. Itshould not
be merely question of personal riv
airy; 1t should never degenerate into a
scramble for Office. Is there any
thoughtful cltIzou who will deny that
such is the highest and safest duty of
citizenship? There is none. Then if
such ideas and such principles are to
guide US in determining the pending
contest for United States Senator, what
is our plain duty?
The speech of Senator earn ack Mon
dy night unfolded the man. As he
progressed in his speech he disclosed
the honest man, the able man, the
watchful, faithful servant, and equal
to, il not above all, the man of splen-
did courage and of earnest conviction.
We saw the great man IN the full vIgor
OF manhood giving all the powers of
his mind and heart. to the study OF
the great problems of government,
which not only affect this peace aud
hsppin sss of the present generation.
but problems which affect the destiny |
OF the Nation and the perpotuity of
our institutions. We saw him stand |
lice mountain side In the midst of
the path of race storm and turn it
from us. We saw him with de-
termined resistance defend us and our
civilization with such earnestness and
such eloquence that the President him.
self saw the error and the folly of his
course and changed his policy.
But 1t Is not our purpose to review
this speech. 1t must be heard. 1t
must be read. To him who heard il,
IL was an inspiration. To him who reads
1t, ii will be a conviction. In the
solution of the great problems which
have confronted our government and
which are yer TO be solved, the "Fid
die and Bow" have no place; they
should remain at home, where their
soft strains may continue to gladden.
the hearts of the hearthstone. In the
serious considerations of public ques-
tions. "Visions and Dreams" are Of no
avail.
In all seriousness and soberness are
we to turn down man in the full