The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-12
THE ALABAMA VICTORY.

THE ALABAMA VICTORY.
We notice that papers which a short
time ago were predicting a Democratic
defeat in Alabama are now trying to
account for the tremendous victory
which has crowned the Democratic
campaign in that state.
One theory advanced is that plenty
of money was promised to Oates by
Cleveland, if he would make a good
fight. That is just what Republicans
would be likely to surmisa, because
money has been such potent factor
in their own successes. But all the
authority given for that story is "a
statement from one who knows" That
is about as definite and conclusive as
the Tribune's unnamed respectable
old lady which used to be its final
reference in proof of wild assertion.
Another theory is that the negroes
were induced to vote for Oates by the
preachers. This is coupled with an
intimation that money was to accom-
pany the persuasion, but so far not a
scrap of evidence has been forthcoming
in support of the insinuation.
1t seems, however that the negroes
in many parts of Alabama did vote for
the Democratic nominees. And they
cast their ballots with the understand
ing that they would gain from the
Democratic party what they had in
vain expected from the Republican
party for so many years. A confer
ence was held by number of colored
l. II.
addressed a communication to the
Democratic committee, asking a pledge
that equal rights in a number of re-
spects should be secured to The color
ed people. The chairman of the state
executive committee, in his reply, said:
"Of course I have no authority to
speak for the party as a whole, but I
know that the members of the execu-
tive committee, of which l am chair
man, and the members Of the party
generally, believe that the negro race
are entitled to those things which they
ask in that communication, and that
the laws giving them should be en-
forced, and if it is necessary to, en-
force them to enact new laws, then /
know the Democratic party VIII pass
them I have no hesitation in pledg-
ing you 4 use whatever influence [
may possess in securing to them their
full rights before the law, and in see
ing that the people of that race are
protected in their lives and persons, in
all their rights before the law and in
the exercise of their right to labor in
whatever occupation they may be en-
ployed."
This appeared to satisfy the clergy
men and they adopted some resolu-
lutions, declaring their belief that in
the Democratic party lies their best
security and that at is to the best in
terest of our race to live on friendly
terms with the good white people,
among whom we have been reared
and who are in favor of law and
order" and finally they resolved that
I'VE hereby urge upon and beg our
race throughout the state of Alabama
to vote for and work for the success of
that ticket, feeling that under the adj
ministration of the Hon. W. c. Oates,
as under that of his EXcellency
Thomas G. Jones, the laws will be en-
forced for the protection Of all people,
without regard to race or color, and
government established where all will
be secured in their rights before the
law"
The result of this understanding be-
tween the two races cannot fail to be
beneficial, and it is to be hoped it will
be established throughout the south
It helped to make UP the big majority
for Oates, and it shows that the color
ed folks fully understand that the Re
publicans never had any use for them
except for their votes.
Another thing that helped the Demo-
cratic majority was the fact that the
farmers had had enough of Populism
Alabama is chiefly a farming state 1t
is among the farmers that the Popu-
lists have done their principal work
For four years they have made great
efforts in Alabama and at first gained
considerable ground. The fusion with
the Republicans by which they ex-
pected to carry the state has failed,
and Populism in Alabama as well as
some other places has gone down to
it's doom.
The Alabama victory was due to the
fact that there are more Democrats in
the state than members of any other
party, including the fact that the
colored people of the state have found
out wherein their best security lies Tor
justice and equal rights. The party
of high flown sentiment and glittering
promises to the Ncolored man and
brother has utterly failed to do any
thing but make political tool of him.
His eyes are open and henceforth his
vote will be for "the good white peo-
pie among whom he was reared
The Alabama victory and the Ten
nessee success make good harbingers
of the coming victory for the party at
the fall elections. The party that ex-
poets to make so much capital out of
the hard times will find it will not
yield them great returns and they will
have more surprises than successes.
next November.
CATHOLICS AND SALOONS.