The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-01-07
The Spectacular Fall
of Rufus N. Rhodes.

The Journal wishes to add its voice
TO the volume of indignant reprOacn
which has been poured by the editors
of the South against Rufus y. Rhodes,
OF Birmingham, Ala. Mr.. Rhodes's
impudence was as great as his sy-
cophancy when he went to Augusta
the other day to invite Mr.. Taft to
glorify Alabama's mineral city with
his resplendent, hallowing, adorable
presence in the following choice
words:
Judge Taft, / am going to take adj
vantage of this opportunity TO say to
YOU that if you know the heart and
head of the men of the South, ana
particularly of Birmingham, You would
know that they regard the result of
the last election as a benedictiOn
from God Almighty himself to the
people of the South over their own
protest. I am a Democrat; most of
these gentlemen are Democrats, but
We all welcome your advent into the
South not only because we have come
to love you for your human qualities,
for We understand that your SymDa-
thies are as broad as the universe,
but because you have come here, sir,
indicating TO us that you want the
South once again TO hold her place in
The councils of the nation I want to
say TO you that YOU viii find no more
fertile field for the planting of your
seeds of patriotism, independence of
Thought, Independence of political &C
.ion-yOu will find no more fertile
ield ia America than among the rep
,eSent8tive men of the city of Birming.
ram, Ala. While we are a new town
aot forty years old, yet having for
more than ten years made the price
OF pig iron for the civilized world and
seized the sceDtTe of steel from Pitts
burg, still We are old enough to know
how to dispense a genuine and cordial
hospitality to a good man any day or
night. We really feel that you could
DO a great work along the lines you
aaye indicated, more at Birmingham,
possibly, than any other point IN the
country We want You, but the thing
Of all things we want you to sec is
not only our remarkable city, In the
height of its buildings. in the vasUnss5
Of its industries; in the loving serv-
Ice we would like to do you and Mrs.
Taft, but that YOU NAV come there
and-though a Democrat and a life
long Democrat ! am willing to say
it@-help us strike off our hands the
TEN, which does not do the most to
develop our resources o. 10 prosper
and safeguard our happiness. We
promise you a good time, but we
promise YOU more than that-real
genuine. tangible results for The great
ness and the glory of this Country. l
wish to say TO you that the best men
of the South, regardless of politics.
look forward 10 your administration
because YOU. in our Judgment, are the
fittest man in all our history who has
served in the executive Office-that
YOU are the fittest man that was ever
called to this high honor. I wish 10
say to you that you have the reYerent
and earnest prayers of our people for
success of the administration of your
high Office.
Was there ever a more signal, more
deplorable, more despicabIe case, OF
rank toadyism than this of Rhodes's?
1t is impossible. of course to let it
pass without notice for fear that Taft
might possibly be led into a belief
that there Is some truth in such full
some expressions of admiration and
the declaration that the men OF the
South regard the result of the last
election as a benediction from God
Almighty Himself"
Never was there a more arrant
falsehood uttered. 1t sounds like an
echo Of the silly Chattanooga susges-
ton of John Temple Graves thai the
democrats nominate Roosevelt for
. president. All know what that result.
ed in. Graves left Georgia to become
a henehman of Hearst, and when he
ran for vice-presideRt his former state
accorded him but eighty-nine votes
each one of them, probably, a proto-
type OF Rufus Y. Rhodes.
And now this man from Birmingham
VINO has the impotence 10 call himself
a democrat, dares 10 pledge TO one
who, besides being a republican and
therefore Numerically opposed in
principle TO the best thought of the
South, has over and over again de-
elared he would carry out the policies
OF the discredited ROoseveit-we say
Rhodes has dared to pledge to this
man the sympathy and love of the
Southland and TO proclaim him as a
savior
There is only one thing for Alabama
democrats TO do with Rhodes, and that
is 10 drum him out of the party and