Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-17
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE,
Never before in the history of Alabama
has there been waged a more earnest,
determined and uncompromising contest
for gubernatorial nomination than that
just closed between Capt. Joseph F.
Johnston of Jefferson county and Hon.
r. H. Clarke of Mobile, which resulted in
magnificent victory for the former yes
terday.
From the day of Mr.. Clarke's an
nouncement of his candidacy every hon
orable effort was made and every prac-
teal agency employed and unsparlngly
used to compass the defeat of Captain
Johnston and the principles he repre-
sents and insure the triumph of Mr..
Clarke and the theories he supports.
Following an able leader there were ar
rayed against his competitor a number
of the most sagaciOus politicians, man
aging his campaign, supplemented by
many of the most forceful and influential
speakers, who advocated his cause and
pleaded for his success in every section
of the state where 1t was thought posi-
BILE votes might be won and delegates
secured for their favorite. AT no time,
from start TO finish, was abundant ma
terial assistance not at hand for such
disposition as might be necessary. The
hearty support and cooperation OF many
of the great corporate institutions of the
state sustained his canvass and urged his
nomination, fortified by the potent in
fiuence of the national administration
and it's sympathzers present and foreign
and it is too we'll known how powerful
may be such aid.
On the other hand, Captain Johnston's
campaign was conducted by himself al
most alone, except the local aid he re-
ceived in the various counties and the
sections of the state from his political
friends and adherents and the advocates
of the principles of national policy he
represents. With practically no finan-
cial help from any source, and without
the material support that is usually CIV
en- a candidate for the nomination to the
high office of governor he went before
the democracy of Alabama upon his rec
ord as a man and a democrat, relying
upon the justice of the cause he person.
ified and with absolute confidence in
the devotion of the people to the eternal
principles of true democracy as he I'M
derstands and maintains them. At no
hour in the campaign did he surrender
or yield a hairs breadth of his convic-
tons on any of the great principles of
democratic faith as handed down
from Jefferson and Jackson and other
great leaders of the party through the
century of its existence and triumphs;
but, on the contrary, he boldly, unequiv-
ocally and earnestly declared and urged
the maintenance of them. The people
heard him gladly as they hearken to one
who speaks the truth, and have re-
sponded as those who have the faith and
courage of their convictions; for, viewing
it fairly from any standpoint, it cannot
be denied by the we'll informed and in
tellgent observer of events that the re-
suit of the campaign is an unquestiona-
-.ble declaration in favor of bimetallsm-
a doctrine dear to the great mass of the
people-and of condemnation of gold
recommendation. The returns show more
than two-thirds Of the delegates to the
state convention to h. for Johnston, and
by this token the people understand and
know that an ancient and cherished
principle of democratic faith abundantly
prevails among the democratic voters of
the great state of Alabama.
But while the State Herald rejoices at
the double result of it's own county man
bama democrats as their candidate for
governor, and the splendid victory won
for cherished and cardinal doctrine of
party faith, it is not unduly elated. 1t
realizes that this is the success of one
democrat over another of the same party
in a contest for the highest honor within
the gift of the sovereign people of Ala
bama that the other has made a heroic
struggle for theory he contends is
right and has met crushing defeat, not
because of any depreciation of his mer-
its and capabilities as a man, not because
of any want of confidence in his loyalty
as democrat, not because he has not
made an able representative in congress-
but because of the inherent and fatal
weakness among Alabama democrats of
the cause he represents and which he
made the leading issue in his contest
for the honors of the party. We realize
further that many true and tried demo-
Gratis, who have served their party well
in rank and file. have gone down with
their leader before the conquering tread
of overwhelming numbers of as true and
tried democrats as they, contending for
what to them is the true faith in a
friendly contest for opposing financial
theories and are now temporarily suffer-
ing the modification resulting from re-
pulse in well fought battle. We know
that many of these men have led in many
a hot conflict for the cause of democracy,
and doubt not they wifi do so again. We
who have opposed them know that in
them we have met foemen worthy Of