Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-22
Order Splint Coal. Phone
las and GA. sun&wed If.
A DEFIANT SUPPLIANT.

Democrat in Tuscaloosa Gazette.
The Montgomery Advertiser of the 18th
inst, in a very labored and lengthy ar
ticle, laments the condition now existing
in our party organization and notes with
pretence of regret the widening of the
> breach"
Commenting on the situation, the Adj
Vertiser says:
.'The Advertiser, to the limit of it's abil-
ity, has been trying to pour oil on the
troubled waters. 1t has been pointing
out in q calm way the lessons of the re-
cent disaster and has been doing allft
could to allay the soreness and bitterness
of many of the democrats who voted for
Bryan. 1t has carefully avoided pouring
any vinegar into their wounds. 1t has
been looking for time to do its sure and
kind work of healing"
Now, in the name of common sense,
how does this sound coming as it does
from such source? Has the Advertiser
forgotten the part that it took in Gre
ating this breach? Has the Advertiser
forgotten that it left the party because
the party did not see fit to adopt the Pc
cuiiar policy to which the Advertiser was
converted very few years since in
manner that has very often attracted
comment and criticism? If the Adver-
tiser will reflect, it will see that we would
have had no such breach in the party as
it is now lamentng, If it had kept its
pledge to abide by the results of the pri-
maries to which 1t was admitted on the
past record of its editors. If you have
bolted you must take the consequences
of your cool and deliberate act. If you
have been denied participation in the
party's councils 1t is your own fault and
you have no one to blame and no excuse
for their action except your own lack of
manhood and stamina.
Again, quoting the resolution adopted
by the democratic caucus in the legis-
1ature on Tuesday last, and commenting
thereon the Advertiser saws.
"Resolved, That only those who voted
for the democratic nominees in the Au-
gust election of 1896 and also voted for
Bryan and Sewall and the democratic
nominees for congress in the November
election of 1896, are entitled to seats in
the democratic caucus.
PLAINLY. therefore, any member who
refused to vote for Bryan and Sewall or
for the free silver congressional nomi-
nee IS not recognized as a democrat. If
there are any such democrats in the
house. they were kicked out of the eau
Gus by that resolu ton"
What can any democrat find in the
above resolution to weep over? What
democratic paper has been kicking"
about this action? 1t is to be expected
that the boilers ard apostates would find
this fault; but is 1t reasonable that they
should expect to be admitted to the par
ty caucus? What assurances have the
other democratic members that the sound
money democrats, If there are any, would
support the nominees of the party? Why
shouldn't they again join forces with the
old arch enemy of the party and try to
elect a sound" money man to the Unit
ed States senate?
The writer has never approved letting
down the bars every time a stray sheep
was heard bleating outside the fold. We
always favored some kind of probation
before the tramp or wanderer was per-
mitted into full fellowship In the coun-
ellis of the party The boilers in the late
national contest may be better men than
was a majority of the followers of the
lamented Reuben Kolb. and we doubt not
that they are, but their claims to de-
mocracy are no better than Kolbs. The
reasons of the one for boiling are just
as trivial and groundess as are those of
the other and both should be held off at
arms length until 1t has been ascertain
ed beyond doubt that they have return
ed to the party of democracy with n
bona fide intent of staying and working
for the party's good.
Still further commenting on the situa-
dion the Advertiser says:
"The Advertiser presents this matter
in fair judicial way. 1t has no purpose
save the health and strength of The party
organization in the state. we do not be-
lieve the rank and file of the party will
indorse the idea that no man is demo-
crat who refused to vote for Bryan and
Sewall But If such is to be the decree of
the Bryan organization, well and good.
The anti-Pryan democrats are not sup
plants; they don't want to get into free
silver organization, and will not go into
one. They are not, for the most part,
office-seekers. They are, genrally speak
ing, of the most substantial class, able to
take care of themselves financially. and
certainly able to do so in politics. IL
they are to be heralded as unworthy of
the party name and to be kicked out of
the state organization, they are ready
to meet the situation. They have their
organization and can push 1t into state
affairs, and, of course, will Go SO, il forced
to do II.
Now, hasn't the above ring of de-
fiance To it? The Advertiser admitted
that when it deserted Bryan and Sewall
1t deserted the democratic party. and is
kicking because the last legislature in its
caucus has placed greater burden on
boiling members IN order that they may
get back into the party than did the leg
fslature Of 1894 and 1895. which only re-
uuired that members to be admitted to
the caucus must have supported the ma
tional ticket fola Priesident and the nom
snce OF. the paFt5s foE congress-s ~ s.
Again, IL mot the above defiant and
arrogant way of getting back into the
party? Who ever heard of a man being
admitted to the deliberations of any
body on his own terms and In the pecu-