The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-07-11
SILVER In ALABAMA.

People familiar with current
events know for the last four years
the Democratic "machine" has man
aged to cheat the Populists out of
two elections in Alabama. Reuben
KOlb has been elected Governor of
the State, and no man from Alabama
who has as much honesty in his soul
as would rattle in a mustard seed
hesitates to say that the Popu-
lists are in majority in that State.
A man named Oates is now the
Democratic Governor. He is a would
be leader of the administration"
element of the Alabama Democrats,
which by the way is about all the
Democracy there is in that State.
That element has tried to leave the
impression on the outside public that
Alabama is not for free silver, and
some of its agents who have recent
ly been to New York are reported as
saying that the "silver craze was
dying out" down there. This could
not have been the truth from the
very fact that the majority of Ala
bama voters are Populists, and Pop
ulists are for free silver everywhere
and all the time.
An emphatic illustration Of this
fact was given few days since
when W. j. Bryan of Nebraska, and
r. b. Clarke of Alabama, met in Mo-
bile to debate the silver question.
Clarke was the champion for gold,
and the only thing he could do was
to resort to lying and abuse. This
Is all that any gold advocate can do
when confronted by a silver man.
AT least it is all that any one of
them has ever yet done; and it is
quite natural that it should be all.
for the position of a goldbug does
not furnish a single point on which
to base a rational argument.
Referring to the debate, the New
Orleans Times-Democrat tells in q
few words how it came out; and the
result shows that, Mr.. Oates and all
the administration agents to the
contrary, the people of Alabama are
for free silver by majority of about
16 to 1. The Times Democrat saws:
ut is matter of general comment that
Mr.. Clarke, whose reputation is that of a
sagacious politician, should not have
perceived that his attitude toward Mr.. BRYAN
was suicidal one. Having turned his own
shoot himself all to pieces. TIE result of
his wild accusations was soon manifest. The
audience, at the opening of the debate, was
composed of equal parts of bimetallists,
monometallists, and persons of undecided
opinions. Before the debate was over it was
self possession, and lucidity had gained all
of the non opinionated, and had captured a
large percentage of the adherents of his hot
headed and denunclatory antagonist,
At one time, when Mr.. Clarke's attacks
were particularly wild, Mr.. Bryan rose with
calm dignity among the storms of jeers and
Kisses evoked BY the denunciation, and as
sured Mr.. Clarke that when he came to Ne.
braska he should be given a much more
courteous reception than he lMr. Bryan
was unfortunate enough now to be the re-
ciplent of in Mobile. At the conclusion of
the debate the entire audience waited on the
sidewalk for Mr.. Bryan and gave him q
rOl1sin0 ovation fOll0wino him doup Tho
street to his hotel with the most enthusiast
tic cheers. Mr.. Clarke's reception on COM
ing into the street was one OF entire silence.
The crowd was all shaking hands with the
stately, digniied, and courteous gentleman
from Nebraska!
And to this the Washington Post
adds: