The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-02
rHE soar or cAxrArcr.

!
 It is great pity that this, the most important campaign that was ever forced on Alabama. could not be conducted strictly on the line of ie- sitimate and moderate arguments tion. The Advertiser was hopeful at the beginning that there would be no abuse and nisrepresentation induiged in. because we foresaw from the be- ginning that the campaign was to be an entirely different one from any that had gone before. It was . aues- tion about which honest and sincere men were bound to differ. and could differ without laying themselves open to censure. It was a matter that would divide and probably aiienate families. friends and brethren. and cause future bitterness unless modera- tion should be used on both sides. It was a campaign in which neither poll itics nor religion should have been used as lever.
 Knowing all. this, and apprehending what might occur. this paper wanted campaign of reason and argument. but 1t soon found that 1t was need less to expect or hope for such cam paign. The Advertiser has been abus- cd and fnaiigned from the beginning It has been bitterly and often un- truthfully criticised by the newspa- pers. by public speakers. and in a number of cases from the pulpit it. 1 self. No language has been too bit- ter. no accusation too unjust and no charges too unfounded to prevent their use by some of those on the other side of this question. and all be- cause We saw fit to take what we saw was the right course, as any re- spectabie newspaper ought to do. For that determination and action the viais of wrath have been uncorked and poured out on this paper with out reservation. and in most cases without fairness or justice.
 Under these conditions what was The Advertiser to do but fight them in their own way? To have gone along quietly and paid no attention to abuse and misrepresentation would have been looked on as cowardice or fmpotency. It would at once have been said that we either had nothing to say in our own behalf. and defense of our position. or were afraid to say it.
 That has never been The Advertise CTS way. It has on more than one occasion found itself on the apparent ly unpopular side of important issues because 1t could not see It's way to go with the current for the time being. This paper has never been able to do the ostrich act. To turn the other cheek may be all right in some cases but not in all. To lie low and be run over may suit some people and newspapers but not this one. To keep silent under ahuse and insult may seem right and proper to some but our idea Of manhood Is to stand up for the right, regardless of results or effects.
 And so it comes about that The Ad+ vertiser, like all others who are bat ting for the preservation of the Con. stitution has unwillingIy been com .pelied in some cases to fight the enc my with his own weapons, and resort to the same means that are so freely used against 1t. If the language Is sometimes severe. and ifswe use plain English in replying to the attacks di- rected at our course, those who in- augurated campaign of bitterness and invective. and who are keeping 1t up in every possible way. have no right to complain. They brought 1t on and may as we'll make up their minds to receive doses of their own medicine from now on.
 There are times and occasions when forbearance ceases to be a virtue and this Is one of them. If the advocates of the amendment choose to throw bricks they had better prepare to dodge some from this direction. If they prefer abuse and vituperation to argument they should not be surpris- ed or aggrieved If they are the recip- ients of plain talk. If nothing will do them but bitterness we suppose they must have 1t. The Advertiser is able to meet any of them in their own way, if nothing else will do.
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