Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-05
CONCESSIONS AND HARMONY.

The Mobile Register, in it's criticism of Governor Oates. said:
 We were surprised that the governor should go out of his way to preach har- mony with men who profess what we be- iieve to be wrong principles
 It will be recalled that the governor replied to this very narrow view of po- litical duty as follows:
 .The coinage question does not embody all the principles of the democratic party but is but one of the policies. If the ad- vocates of free coinage be sincere and honest, s we who oppose 1t profess to be- in what way can we compromise unless by mutual concessions? They are dem ocrats, meu and patriots. as well as our selves. Do we expect them to surrender everything and come over to us, or are we to make clean surrender to them? I think g. mutual respect for each other 8 opinIous and proper concessions to a reasonable extent should be made in or der that the party may not lose the state next year. I tell you, my friend, that if this fight continues to grow in bitterness, s.s indicated in the papers of each faction. which are more hostile to each other than they are to the common enemy. the success of the party next year may be put down as doubtful, if not hopeless. am prepared to make any concession which can make consistent with honor and sclf-respect to avoid such a calam- ity."
 This was the language of patriot and a statesman. We have known Governor Oates for thirty years-from the day he donned his uniform to fight the battles of his people-and in all that time we have never had occasion to differ from him upon any of the fundamental ques- tons which affect the rights of our peo- pIe. It Is a matter of regret that we could not stand more closely with him upon the currency question, but apart from that question the governor has been in line with the people earnestly and hon estly. bravely and with great wisdom and prudence.
 His advice now that we should not permit differences upon the money ques- ton to stand in the way of democratic victory ought to be needed. The constl- tuition of the United States would never have been ratified if the people had not compromised their differences, If Ham,i- ton aud Jefferson had not agreed 10 dls- agree on minor questions for the goon or tho country. The democratic party would have gone to pieces when Andrew Jackson swore that he would hang Cal houn if the tariff compromise had not mel the South Carolina Droclamations with an offer of harmony. And so the democrats would have been defeated by Fremont in 1856 if they had not waived their free trade ideas and nominated Buchanan in order to carry the protec- ton state of Pennsylvania.
 Unless the various factions of our par ty yield something to each other 1t is im- possible to keep the party together. Where would Alabama have been in 1851, when the secession convention was so closely divided and when Nick Davis and Jemison were defying Yancey, if the dscordant factions had not harmo- nized?
 And so now 1t Is the highest patriotism to meet upon middle ground and keep the party together for the salvation of the state. The last state convention &C., knowledged that there were differences of opinion on the money question and that such differences should be tolerated. No newspaper has any right to strike down tha.t platform and declare for in tolera ton. When 1t does so 1t steps out side of the party lines Governor Oates is right in his patriotic view of the ques- tion and deserves. as he will receive. the applauye of the people.