Bisbee daily review., 1909-02-03
SlANDERtNG PUBLIC MEN.

Patterson of Tennessee. He had passed through bitter campaign and that was quickly followed by the death of E. W. Carmaek. his late opponent. and public feeling ran high. Then came the legislature with it's overwhelming majority for prohibition. to witch the governor was opposed
 From the beginning of his campaign to the hour of his inaugural the con test in one phase or another had con linued without abatement, but rath. CT with increasing intensity. and ugly things had been said on both sides There were even whisperings that De was in collision with the slayers of Carmack.
 When he faced the legislature he was moved to resent. with becoming dignity. this and ether impu.ations and to invite a trial by jury CT i'm peachment-
 With his controversy we have noth- ing to do. We have no inimate knowledge of the political conditions CT the merits of ;he Tennessee con test. It may be sssumed. says the Fort Worth Record, that the bitter ness and strife will gradually subside Fortunately. that Is the way of Amer ican political turmoil. But 1t Is not amiss to call attention to the cruel habit among partisans of sll sorts to question the motives of their oppo- nents, and even to ascribe corrupt or criminal intent to men in high sta tion Or to those who have the courage to say what they think We made like protest upon .he death of the la- mented Carmack, and the circum- stances warrant another plea for tol- erance and fair dealing.
 The truth is that extremists and zealots on both sides of sharp is- sue, especially moral issue. disgrace themselves and discredit their cause by reckless charges and insinuations which are nothing Jess than wicked slander. On the one hand ve hear ministers of the guspel arraigned as fanatics and fools: on the otnel we hear good men denounced as allies of the devil In Tennessee it was charg- ed that an effort would be made to impeach the church standing of one man on 8 point of Christian theology. Tn Texas it is not Unusual for public men. private citizens and the press to be lectured and urbraided as if it  were sin or 9 crime to express an opinion or to favor or oppose a par ticular proposition submitted for the peoples consideration.
 Perhaps such acc, sations do not in- jure in the long -uE; generally they are discounted the moment they are uttered. still. the5 sting; they are cruel. and they are unworthy of the persons who make them. The safety and the glory cf tho republic .s fieo speech, with the free thought and ac- tion which it represents. and the citi- zen is not only entitled to his opinion but he is under a solemn obligation to express it.
 In the clash of contention and in the enlightenment of discussion we find the truth CT the expediene way out of public dimcuI '. Hence, what l ever flinders discussion beclolds truth and obscvres the Fath Of wise con duct.
 Besides. the advocates of a cause imply its weakness when they are un- willing to have i- debated or when they grow impatient of opposition. The bigot is half coward at heart; the intolerant man Iroclaims his mar rowness and his izcapacity to reach sound conclusion by a process of reason.
 Public men and leaders Of pubic causes. for the most part, are honest. Our whole history proves it. Not one in a thousand betrays a trust or is guilty of dishonest practices. The gov ernors of our states, our congressman, judges and other pdblic servants are mostly clean men: if they lack fntes- rity they have the discretion to be decent. for they hDow full well that they will fall if they are not circum- spect. They perfectly understand that honesty is the best policy in public as in private life They may play