Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-19
ENTER THE OPEN DOOR.

The following able editorial is taken from the West Alabama Breeze. While the Breeze may some times lean little too far in it's advocacy of the single gold standard it strikes the keynote when it urges that Democrats be invited back into the party and through "the open door,"
 If every man in Alabama who is a Democrat at heart but has drifted off on account of factional differences would come together in one solid phalanx and bury past differences there would not be enough Popultes. Kolbites, Jefferson ians and Republicans left to work the road after the grand Democratic pageant had passed over in 1896.
 If the doors of the party are thrown open we do not believe there is a gentle man in either of the opposing factions of the Democratic party or other political party who would enter this door prompt ed by other than the purest motives, and with the honest intention of abiding it's action. The State Herald believes a large majority of the citizens of Ala bama are honest patriots, irrespective of their political affiliations, and that if all the doors and windows of the Democratic party were thrown open, the f1ue of the chimney pulled off and the gable end of the old homestead torn asunder to admit the crowd there would not be enough Judases in the assembly to commit re- spectable suicide:
 We have often thought of the fact that there are many good men here in our own county who are in the Populist ranks and who are considered Populists by their acquantances, who are really at heart Democrats and who desire to again be back in the ranks of the Democratic party. For such we have the very kind est feeling, The Democratic party is their natural place, and is where they be- long. If they had been told four years ago that they would now be voting with the Populists, they would have actually felt insuted The fact is, they were per- fectly honest, but were lead on step by step by their political leaders, in whom they had perfect confidence. They did not know where their leaders were going and blindly followed them on until now they have realized that they were im- posed upon
 We ask such men, who are some of our very best citizens. to pause for moment and give this matter some real sober thought Why should you longer remain out of the Democratic party? Now, really why? Times are now much better than they were cotton is bringing a better price, we are feeling better we believe we understand each other better, we all really want to do what is right and get together again. Then why not all go to work again in the same old party that we have loved so long, and which is really and truly the party of the people? Of course 1t is to be expected that your local Populite leaders will urge you to stand together and will dosall they can to inflame your minds and keep our peo- pie divided, but it should be remembered that they have a purpose in all this. It is their only hope for continuing in or securing office. The interest of our masses are common and the same. and we should not allow any candidate to keep us separate
 Come, let us get together. The doors are wide open. and our hearts are warm to receive you."