The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1910-04-22

Our Governor.

Our Governor.
Who is Governor Paterson Evi-
IDENTIFY the wisest man in the State
perhaps in the nation. lie is wiser
than all our judges; his mandates great
er than our statutes He sets aside the
decisions Of our ablest judges, Rnd rides
over their neeks m the high chariot Of
authority, like a conqnering god in the
battle Of Troy; he reins under and curbs
down the majestic law, by his own ia-
perious will, and makes it iootstool
for the feet Of his majesty; he snaps his
fingers with detance in the face Of the
better class Of people. and ignores their
wishes with lofty disdain; he pardons
capital offenders at discretion, with the
dictum nf q presiding deity
In all that, he may seem recklessly
independent But in doing all that
in the very act Of such high-handed
measures. at the same time, he is bow
ing down like an obedient vassal at
the shrine Of the lawless interests and
classes, and offering up to them the
sacrifice of his honor his manhood.
bis official power and prestige Turn
ing his back on the better class, he
ignobly serves the. worst class. Sworn
to uphold the law, he tramp!es it I'M
der and becomes its arch enemy.
But the Governor must save his
friends, that they may save him, He
is caught in the snare OF the whiskey
ring, shorn OF his locks by the Delilahs
Of lawless cliques, and is forced to grind
IN the treadmill Of their own wicked de-
vices. Were the lawless element to drop
him he would sink, and sink forever;
and he knows it. He has got to serve
them, to stand by them, OF get down
and out. Floundering in the waves OF
the condemnation Of an outraa and
indignant people, he is clutching at
every sinking wreck to save himself.
| know many worthy and noble people
are for him, but they are not his great
force; they are not strong enough to
save him. ! come not to bury Patter-
assuredly not to praise him
but believe me, he is working his own
ruin. He is gathering aims for his own
lefeat. The right shall triumph at last.
For Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise
again.
The Governor complains OF the SOW
ms Of the dragons teeth Of dscord'-
he disturbers OF peace and harmony.
He evidently alludes to the State widers.
Vow who are the real disturbersg Do
hey belong to the ranks Of the temper
nee or christian people? The Governor
Knows they do not But according to
lis philosophy, the law breakers are not
he disturbers, but those who try to en-
orce the law and bring the criminals TO
ustice--they are the breakers OF har-
nonyl Oh, the lawless sets and fac
ions are peaceable, they are dociIel
hey may steal, rob and murder, but it
all done very quietly, very decorously
I we would not modest them, Just SUBJ
lit like we ought to, there would be no
reat fuss about it. We should let them
lone; let them have their own way un-
! they ride down all law and make us
1wering subjects to their own will II
e were dupes, slaves, and towards,
e should, doubtless, do that Let us
and firm, and remember that our votes
i'll count. For the sake Of our law,
I'D morals, and our purest and Hottest
eals, we must put MEN at the head Of
If government. have no i'll will to-
ard our Governor; as man have
,thing against him.
EUGENE r. McSPEDDEN.