Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-24
CONVENTION IMPRESSIONS
White Folks Bent on Favoring
the White Metal.
TRIFLING NOT TOLERATED
No Democratic Body Was Ever More Truly
Representative.
SIXTEEN TO ONE WAS THE COUnTERSlGN
Great Service Rendered the Party by That
Grand Old Patriot, General Pettus.
Full Text of Captain Johnston's
Speech.
TRlFLING NOT TOLERATED
SIXTEEN TO ONE WAS THE COUNTERS SIGN

1t was a bout as 16 to l a convention as
ever assembled in the United States.
There was no other countersign with
the majority than 16 to l, and when they
realized that they were masters of the
situation they lost no time parleying as
to whether they should allow anybody
without the countersgn to share in the
direction of affairs as far as they re-
lated to the money platform.
Why, had it not been for the radical
difference between Captain Johnston and
Mr. Richard H. Clarke on the money
question there would have been no chal-
lenge for joint debate; the Mobile con-
gressman would not have felt himself
called by duty to make great personal
sacrifices in order to enter the canvass;
he would not have felt himself con-
strained to disregard precedent by conf
ing into the home county of his fellow
democrat and competitor to take his
support away from him for the sake of
principle Everybody understood this
No; there is no doubt about the fact
that the issue was whether Alabama de-
mocracy should be committed to the
single gold standard, renouncing its pre-
vious declarations for silver or whether
it should speak out for the restoration
of the white money metal in unmistaka-
BILE terms. There was no middle ground
on the question. Those who wanted a
compromise or relegation of the ques-
ton to the Chicago convention were few
in number and pitifully feeble in argu-
ment.
I talked to many of the Clarke dele
gates and others interested, self-styled
sound money, and they invariably said
that had they been in the ma jority in the
convention they would have adopted
single gold standard platform. believe
It would have been one, the recitation of
which would have been music to the ears
of Mr.. Cleveland, Mr.. John G. Carlisle
and Mr.. John Sherman. The manifesto
tions at the convention savoring of com
promise postponement were justly
overwhelmed by the determined silver
delegates. The gold men could expect
nothing else. AS DR.. Cunningham aptly
put it in his little speech, they were Just
bluffing."
1t was a fine convention take it all in
ALL There was less of the distinguished
politician and of the wire puller in 1t than
one usually sees in such bodies. 1T was
remarkably representative of thought
full and resoute consti tuency 1t was
very much of people convention:
Best of all, convention never assembled
clearer understanding of what they
wanted The chief thing was free sill
yer 16 to l platform. They carried II
with every question incident to 1t with
impassioned emphasis. They realized
their strength and would tolerate no
trifiing. AS soon this became appar-
ent, things settled down to expeditions
progress and the members very generally
got themselves into good humor which
was increased to most gratifying de-
hU he tpmnef
speeches made at the close of the struggle
over the platform
There were very few of the old gray
haired veterans of democracy in attend
ance The few who were there were, as
rule, quescent But there was one
battle worn Albanian who did take an
active part and who rendered conspicu-
Gus service TO the convention, in that by
a very few frank, plain, honest words he
shaaled ali opposition to frank, plain,
honest declaration of principles ON the
money question. That man. it is hardly
necessary to say. was Gen. Edmund W.
Pettus. Bless the grand old man. NO
wonder the people love him!
When called to the speakers stand
the veteran and stalwart democrat stood
before the convention and read the short
platform with deliberation and emphasis.
The clean cut phraseology of the thing
over which the great battle had been
waged-a straight out l6 to l free silver
plank-was sweetest concord to the ears
Of the ba tile worn host, and they cheered
the utterances until there seemed dan
ger that the piasterng of the old capitol
would shake loose upon the heads of the
just aud uniust-silverloon and goldbug
alike.
AS the committee made It's way
through the densely packed hall he was
greeted with a whirlwnd of enthus-
astic acclaim, which must have made
the moment to him a thrillingly proud
occasion. Again and again the cheering
was renewed. 1t was the unbounded
jubiIance of triumph of honest con-
viction and a spontaneous tribute of
heartfelt homage to a brave and lofty
leadership. When enabled to be heard
Captain Johnston with the barest trem-
or of diffdence in his voice, but with
growing frmness and confidence, spoke
as follows;
Gentlemen of the Conventions: / am
here 10 express my profound gratitude to q,
the friends all over the state whose gen
erous and unselfish and untiring support
made this result possible.
''rhe days have ripened into weeks and
the weeks into months during which !
have stood In silence and received into
my uncovered breast many shafts from
democratic sources. Today / remove
thpse shafts and cover the scars and put
behind me all unworthy resentment.
Applause2
II love my friends but politically my
ehe.nies are the enemies of democracy.
For more than thirty years have fought
the battles of my country and my party.
In all that time have never once shot
into the ranks of my comrades or drawn
blood from those under my flag ZAP.
plause.)
'Ihave made 1000 speeches for my party
anil never in one have removed the an
cient landmarks OF democracy or depart
ed from the faith that was delivered us
blythe fathers. have quenched my po-
liIical thirst from the springs that Jeffer-
son opened in the eternal rock Of free