Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-16
COMING TOGETHER.


 vertlseF of the 18th appears the following candid admission:
 'eThere were free silver republicans and gold standard republicans supporting Harrison in the campaign of 1892, all de- claring that the republican platform jus tifled their contentious. There were free silver democrats and gold standard dem ocrats supporting Cleveland in the cam paign of 1892, all construing the demo- cratic platform to suit themselves.
 Tt Is useless now to discuss the ques- ton as to what was the proper con struetion of the platform. There Is no intelligent man who does not admit that 1t was capable of two constructions"
 This admission of the Advertiser fur nshes a very valuable standing ground upon which all democrats can come to- gether in support of Hon. Joseph F. Johnston for governor
 The national platform of 1892 being capable of two constructions, any demo- crat can stand upon it whether he be- lieves with MT Cleveland or with Sell ator Morgan. Therefore it is wrong, unpatriotic and undemocratic to de- nounce those who believe with Senator Morgan as ignorant and dangerous.
 Down to this date, ever since it modi- fled its views in the summer of 1893 the Advertiser has consistently declared that the national platform was susceptible of no other construction than that given it by MT. Cleveland. It kept as a frontispiece during the Oates campaign of last year the resolution of that western delegate who attempted to place the free silver construction upon the platform, and re- peatedly declared that the failure of that resolution was proof, strong as holy writ, that the convention did not intend what the western delegate asked for. Of course such reasoning was weak, as the conven- tion would certainly not vote to un- cloak measure which they had studi- ously disguised But the Advertiser day in and day out, shouted until it was hoarse that the national platform was a gold standard platform, and so when the Kentucky convention reafirmed the na- tional platform that journal again de- clared that no other construction could be placed upon it except that it called for a gold standard
 It is gratifying to see that it's frantic calls upon Governor Oates, Help me, Cassius, or I sink" has brought dismay to it's heart and a little reason to it's head. In it's calmly and dspassionately considered article of the 18th it goes on to say of the national convention:
 "They wanted a candidate who could draw support from both free silver and anti-free silver voters. The truth is that for more than decade the two great par ties of the country, republican and dem ocrattc, had been avoiding this question. Both were afraid of it. Both constructed platforms in 1880 and in 1884 and in 1888 that were equivocal to the silver question. Both parties expected to dodge the aues- tion again; and they both did in their platforms of 1892"
 While admitting that the question was lodged in the platform of 1892, an ad- mission which lets into the Democratic party in good standing any voter what ever may be his views upon money and currency, 1t would have been we'll if the Advertiser had added, that while the national convention lodged the question, the democratic conventions of all the southern and most of the western states have constantly and persistently de- manded free silver as equal money with free gold.
 Here in Alabama the democratic leg islature of 1884, when the sub-treasury scheme was up, adopted resolutions de- claring that gold and silver are the moneys of the constitution, and that the right and power to issue money should not be delegated to the banks. From that day to the state democratic convention of 1892 the democracy of Alabama have consistently demanded free coinage of gold and silver as the money of the con- stitution. Not only was this the voice of southern states and conventions, but 1t was the unanimous voice of our senators and representatives down to a recent pe- riod when a few of them fell by the way side
 The Advertiser has made happy ad- vance in admitting at last that the free coinage of silver is an open question and that no democrat is shut out by any party law from advocating 1t. In taking this advanced step it shows a. readiness to tolerate the nomination of Captain John ston. It is to be hoped that it may apply to itself very soon the somewhat altered words of the poet:
 'Free silver has such a fearful mien As to be hated needs but to be seen;
 But viewed so oft, familiar with her race We first endure, then pity. then embrace.