Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-08-26
METHODS THAT MUST FAIL.

We had hoped that the voters
of the Fifth Congressional District
would pass through the campaign
now on without having thrust upon
them alleged speeches which lower
the dignity pertaining to the high
office of Congressman, and which,
inevitably, must result in the igno-
minous defeat of the gentlemen who
resort to slan6erous and outrageous
attacks upon a worthy opponent.
Messrs. Clayton and McGregor have
pitched their campaign upon low
plane, and they will learn, to their
regret, that the people of the Fifth
Congressional District cannot be led
astray by their cruel villificatiOn OF
the Hon. Joseph E. Ransdell.
We have followed the newspaper
reports of the meetings held all over
the district, and if either Mr.. Clay
ton Mr.. McGregor has advanced one
single, solitary reason why either
should be elected to Congress, we
have not had the good fortune to
discover it. Both have taken Mr..
Ransdell as text, and have villitied
him numerically. They have en-
deavored to make the people of this
district believe he is Republican,
a traitor and deserter. They had
Just as well try to make the people
believe that the Mississippi river
changes its course at their command,
as to try to soft soap the men of
the hill and river parishes with any
such rot as that. Mr.. Ransdell was
, born and bred in a Democratic
household, rocked in a good old
Democratic cradle and has never
heard any song half 30 sweet as the
merry music made by the fathers
of Democracy, in defeat or victory
, He has ever been true and loyal to
the party. But it is not necessary
to refer to these well-known facts
! The people of the Fifth District
know Mr.. Ransdell, and before the
campaign is over they will know
5 the two gentlemen opposing him
e and their verdict at the ballot box
: on September 9Th will set the sea
: of disapproval upon the methods
8 they are adopting, vainly hoping t.
n defeat him.
d The voters like to listen to a join
> debate, when conducted upon higl
: and honorable grounds. They d.
q not enjoy "a debate that resolves it
: self into an attack upon a man WHIT
: has proven worthy of the respec
u and honor his constituents have re
peatedly conferred upon him. Be
v fore it is too late, we desire to sug
!, gest to Messrs. Clayton and Nc
e Gregor that if they have any legiti
u mate excuse why either should re
place Mr.. Ransdell in Congress the.
had better offer it now and not con
fine themselves to slanderOus at
-. tacks. The free use of billingsgat
never can be twisted into argumen
=, or OratOry, and when men have n
j., other reason to advance in their be
. half, it proves that their cause j
! weak and that they are trying t
. bolster it up by baseless denuncia
= tions of their dignified and cOurteOu
70 opponent.
In the interest of harmony th
News-Star urges the gentlemen t
cease such tactics, for it may lea
to disagreeable results. Such meth
\ dds will not win one single, sOlitar
:, vote, but will certainly estrang
y those who may be inclined to bel
20 them. Fair play and honorabl
10 means appeal with peculiar force t
, the voters of this district, and
/; they fail to register strong an
=, vigorous protest against a cOntinu
\ ance of this ud-slinging," W
- are very much mistaken in tn
/; temper of the people.-Monro
News-Star.
New liGhf Mates