Birmingham state herald., 1896-08-20


 this movement is to elect Mckinley and defeat the nominees of the Chicago con Vention. l remember when a boy at circus to have seen the foolish clown un- dertake to hide bright spot in the ring made by a ray of light which entered through small hole in the top of the tent. He put his foot on 1t, he laid down over 1t, he put one thing and another upon 1t. but the spot remained and shone as brightly as before The light came like the light of truth from the throne of God, and it was beyond and above all his efforts to efface 1t.
 Any government which is controlled by the people must in the nature of things be party Sovernment-a govern ment where the will of the majority is reflected and enforced through the agency of political parties. It matters not by what name called, there have al- ways been two, and only two, great po- litical parties in this country in which people of like views have associated themselves and by concurrent action have sought to control legislation and make an impression upon the policy of the government
 Made the History of This Country.
 For more than fifty years the demo- cratic party made the history of this country, and those of us who have en- listed in it's ranks have done so because we believe it represents the correct idea
 
 people have never made such progress and enjoyed such prosperity as during that period when the government was administered upop democratic principles, and, looking to the great future, we be- lieve that the peace aud happiness of all the people and the preservation of that constitutional liberty which is the birth right of every American is involved in the perpetuation and enforcement of the principles of our party. What are the principles of democracy and who has the right to declare them?
 I suppose every political platform must contain two elements-one state ment of general principles and the other a. declaration upon the practical political questions of the day. Until the year of our Lord 1896 it was never doubted but that convention of our party, composed of delegates duly accredited and charged by the people who sent them with the duty were competent and authorized to declare upon what issues the campaign should be fought. In 1892 the organized democracy of the state had no abler or more earnest advocate of the supreme necessity of party discipline, of party fealty, of the duty of submission to the action of the party in convention as- senbled. than your own distinguished citizen, Gov. Thomas G. Jones. But since then the governor has made discovery. He now finds that each voter is hImsef
 
 conventions action if it displeases him either in its enunciation of principles or in the person of the candidate named.
 A Latter Day Revelation.
 "The duty and right presses instantly" he now says, upon each individual mem- Der to determine how far he will be bound thereby" I recognize this as the doc- Urine of mugwumpery, but refuse to &C., cept 1t as rule of conduct tor the organ ized democracy. I am afraid my distin- guished friend on this question Is some what in the attitude of prominent law yer in this state who was wonderfully gifted in getting out of tight places. He had just tried an important case, con suming a great deal of the time of the court in which he had been completely successful On the following day another case was> called involving directly the same principles, In which he appeared for the other side of the question. He brought in law books enough to cover two tables, and began his argument with great de- liberation. The court interrupted him and asked in amazement: Sir, is this not the same question which has occupied past and which I ruled in your favor?" .'It is,' the attorney replied. Then, sir, why do you propose to consume further time in this court to discuss this ques- tion?" If your honor please" he said, If we were wrong yesterday why should we uOl get IlSnL tOudJ
 MT. Calhoun was the great apostle of publication, but in this doctrine of indi- vidual sovereignty with the right to null lify the action of the entire party my distinguished friend has carried the doc Urine of nullification beyond any limits ever dreamed of by its author.
 Would Have Been Traitors.
 If people can be trusted with self-gov- ernment can they not be trusted to de- clare the principles they believe in?
 The issues involved in this campaign, and which are set forth in the platform of our party, were discussed before the people. The gentlemen who are now op- posing its action had full and fair hear ing I have no war to make on any indi- vidual, but 1t is impossible for me to un- derstakd how a man can participate in the primaries of his party and seek to enforce his views upon his fellow citizens by pledging them, as well as himself, in good faith, to support the nominees of the party, both state and federal. and be- cause things go contrary to his wishes can justify himself in bolting the action of its convention and allying himself with