The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-02-25
IHE aERIENpLY sPEAkINes.-

\ THE "FRiENDLY SPEAkiNGSs"
= The speeches made By the candl
, dates fcr Judge and Attorney Genera
IN their friendly speaking canvass
may De entertaining but they car
0 hardly be called instructive. at is ap
D Lareut that for lack Of something else
to talk about or for some other cause
, they feel il incumbent that they
should devote the major portion OF
her time 90 demagogie tributes to
tnoir Democracy; their ancestry and
he Confederate veterans. And this
in a Republic where a mans ances-
try is presumed to have no influence
in securing the favors OF the popu-
lace; where merit is in theory the only
channel through which to reach high
station!
The candidates might devote little
Of their time in telling the people just
what relationship the character of a
mans Democracy bears to his qualifi-
cations for the judiciary VIII they
seriously insist that a Democrat, eth
er through choice, hereditary or enyi-
ronment. is a better citizen or better
qualified for a judicial position than
Populist, Republican or Prohibition
list? Then in all candor why not elm
mate all this rot about this or that
stripe of Democracy and its pro
nouncements" and tell the people how
the crying evil of the day, the non-en-
forcement of the law, may be abated?
Republican judge, with the fear of
God in his heart, moved by patriotic
motives, inspired by the highest sense
of duty, and with the courage to do it,
would not be calamity to any section
or country. And what is here said
with equal force to the Office Of Attor-
ney General.We have no doubt that
every candidate for both offices will
subscribe to this sentiment. Then
why should they belittle the high Of
fees which they seek by all this dem
agogic twaddle about Democracy, an
cestry, Confederate devotion?
There are great isues which they c
might discuss that would at least [
lrove helpful TO their fellow citizens q
md be a credit to the candidates.
When Americans are every year muir Q
iering 10000 of their fellow citizens Il
md less than ten per cent are receiv-
ng any kind of punishment for this n
highest crime against the laws of God ?
md man; when every day the stat u
ties of the State are being spat upon
nd openly derided, not infrequently al
With the conniVance and approval of q
he sworn officers, when the mob spirit
5 rampant, just beneath it but thinly pl
eiled the dread monster of anarchy
urely with this condition confronting nt
ne people Of America, the candidates CT
n the 5gIiciary, if they must speak,
0uld do their part toward the creation Il
a sentiment that would make hui FL
ian life safer and the laws that shield th
I'd anchor which they were intended fu
, be- Fl
The Herald entertains the friend 81
est feeling for all the candidates It ab
as no preference. 1t is counseling
it'll tuem as patriotic American citi-
ms. They have a great opportuni- Er
/; let them not abuse it an
it use it for the honor ar
ID glory of their common country. COZ
ne candidate who follows this advice
ay not reach official station but he fol-
III have the satisfaction of a con tw
Of duty done. And to the rel
an worthy of office that is infinitely Spi
ore to be desired than any place of orr
rthly power or station. tin