Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-18
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TRAY rs DEAD.


more state papers during the past week
the Montgomery Mckinley Advertiser
finds consolation for its bolt only In the
columns of the. Opelil1a Post, Decatur
News Eutaw Mirror, Ashville Aegis
and one or two populist papers.
In the days that have passed, when the
Mckinley organ was floating the demo-
cratic flag at it's masthead, it was proud
of the name of grandma" a name given
it by the people of Alabama on account
of the years it had served the true de-
mocracy and the best interests of Ala
bama.
It's 'yelpers," as the weekly press of
the state were dubbed who followed IN
its footsteps, were proud of the honor
to be thus recognized as being in the
ranks lead by this once stable old demo-
cratic journal.
But alas. the proud old democratic
banner has been wrenched from the
masthead and in it's stead there APP
pears the flag of the arch enemy whom
it had formerly taught usurped our Of
fees demoralized our people, polluted
our government, Slapped our treasury
impeached our honor and betrayed our
by the white people of Alabama that
their souls might be stirred with that
purity of thought that the Caucasians
were yet to rule this God-favored state
are now filed with the views from the
leopard we were taught to avoid and
shun.
In our chase for liberty and white
supremacy, like old dog Tray, the Mont
gomery Advertiser was the leader OF the
pack. Its bark was the sound of in
SEPARATION and the signal of victory. It's
leadership was cherished and sustained
by every democratic patriot in the state
and babes at the mothers breast were
taught to honor, love and revere its name.
Children have grown to manhood accept
ing as truth and right its every utter
ance; men of learning and hoary hairs
have not dared to question its policy or
its principles; politicians have sought
it's favor, and those who would seek hon.
ors at the hands of the people have
shrank away into oblivion when their
aspirations were not looked upon with
favor by this influential newspaper.
Then, how applicable is the expression,
when we turn from retrospection and
scan the columns Of the Advertiser of
today, How the mighty have fallen"
In the common parlance of the woods
man and the hunter, "Old Tray is bark
ing on the wrong trail" Yea, he has
lied at the tree-has barked at the moon
has attacked the herds and flocks;
chases the chickens in the barn yard,
and sucks the eggs from his masters
hennery. He has run mad raving over
his own shadow; he froths at the mouth
and snaps and snarls at every sound.
His running mates first distrusted and
then feared him; they only raise their
heads and listen when they hear his
bark; the old familiar sound is not there
it is the bark of deceiver; the trail is
not even cold-no fox has passed-the
very bark bellies the honesty of the
trailer They lay their heads close upon
the ground and listen, while the hot tears
run from their eyes; they spring in
stantly to their feet--the hair rises upon
their backs; Tray approaches-he Is
coming towards them--they cannot
evade him-he is mad; they prepare for
their fate-they must fight to the death.
He bounds, he leaps; he bites his own
flesh; he makes a fierce rush at the ken
nel The old master appears-a familiar
report is heard from the old democratic
gun that has brought down the game
of many a chase and placed honors upon
the pack. Tray reels. staggers falls!
One whine alone passes his lips-he's
dead.