Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-27

the support of a democrat without for
mally eXacting of him approval of high
protective tariff and the principle of con-
troll ng southern elections by army bayo-
nets.
1t is impossible for me, with the views
1 hold, to make a contest on the coinage
issue. l believe in the good old democrat
ie doctrine of the joint free and equal use
of gold and silver. This doctrine is as far
removed from the single use of gold,
which enables spectators to juggle with
its value, as it is from that other princi
pie which seeks to establish an impossible
ratio for its sister metal.
Therefore, entertaining the views do,
and now thoroughly impressed with the
belief that the party will consent to make
silver issue, feel that as an honorable
man l should make way for some one
who can carry the banner with that de-
vice.
IT am grateful to the honorable the
state committee for the very fiattering
vote by which it provided for the ap-
pointment of your committee of notifica-
ton, and which so generously left to my
decision the question of my remaining
the standard bearer of the party. / feel
that the decided vote on that occasion
was due more to the eloquence of a
prominent member of the party than to
the sertled conviction of the individual
members of the committee as to the pro-
priety of my candidacy under the present
circumstances. There seems no place in
the democratic party today for conser-
vatism Men are divided into two classes,
each entertaining extreme views and each
exceedingly intolernnt of the other. The
history of legislation is that conserva-
tism in the end prevails. l believe that
the democratic party, when 1t approaches
the responsibility of legislation, will be
true to itself and to the people,
is it's weakness. 1t is the party of the
people. 1t stands with sympathetic arms
welcoming the oppressed, the weak, the
distressed and promising comfort and re-
lief. 1t is natural that mischieVous and
destroying elements should clothe them
selves in the garments of honest distress
and seek to shelter themselves within
those arms, and to conduct from that ref
uge their predatory raids.
What the democratic party needs is
wise, fearless and powerful organization,
which will respond to every beat of the
popular heart but which will regulate
the entrance of the wicked and perVerSe.
This organization will not come from out
side, but from those inside the party. l
have no sympathy with those who desert
the party now in its hour of need. Every
democrat who believes that the party is
or can be made an instrument of good
should stay within its ranks, and by
counsel and example endeaVor to build it
up and make it strong.
IT inherited a patriotic love of country
a profound and loyal affection for the
democra tic party. When men revile it
want the more to hold 1t fast The men
who wander at will from one party to an
other--who have no political ties which
temporary discomfort will not break
cannot understand this sentiment. My
party can demand of me no honorable
sacrifice will not make; 1t can ask of me
no duty will not perform My best use
fulness now will be to humbly remain
within its ranks and give such powers as
1 possess to strengthening dts pillars and
establishing it's bulwarks"