Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-25

he will have the almost unanimous sup
port of his German fellow citizens. / am
no public speaker, but / promise work
and. support of myself and my friends
for Captain Johnston" (Cheers)
Introducing Ex-Mayor Lane, Mr.. Por-
ter said:
II have the pleasure of introducing to
you the Hon. A. o. Lane, whose active
brain and clarion voice are ever felt and
heard whenever and wherever the demo-
cratic party is concerned; a man whose
energy and magnetism can hold together,
in one course and for one candidate,
voters who, differing from him in some
important matters, fain would follow an
other cause and another candidate"
(Cheers)
Mr.. Lane-I congratulate Birmingham,
Jefferson county and Alabama upon the
victory of one of the foremost citizens of
this land. (Cheers) Coming away from
the convention / met my old friend, Col.
B. L. Hibbard. We shook hands and said
nothing, but laughed for several minutes.
That was an old Methodist habit of mine.
We were both feeling that We were in
the midst of an old-fashioned democratic
revival (Applause.) l am glad to say
that the party has indeed taken on new
life, new spirit and new zeal. Recalling
the recent contest before the nomination
and the character of the opposing forces
in this county, l am convinced that
united in one phalanx, defeat for then
~
grand contest of splendid fighters, and
with these touching elbows we can bid
defiance to populists, republicans and
other uncivilized politicians CHEERS and
a voice, "rhe fights begun now!) We
have for our leader one of the grandest
democrats who ever lived In Alabama.
(Cheers.) We shall one and all feel proud
to follow his banner wherever 1t floats
/ believe, with the splendid qualificatio
he possesses, when history records his
ty furnished, through him, one of the
finest administrations the state ever had.
Let us now all join hands and, forming
in solid phalanx, give a glorious victory
for democracy and Joe Johnston.
(Cheers.)
A call was made for Railway Commits
sioner Ross c. Smith, and Mr.. Porter got
that gentleman to the front and intro
duced him as Mr.. Smith," continuing:
What kind of Smith, you ask? A chiv-
alric Smith-Ross C. Smith a Smith who
fights with all his power for his cause;
he was gold Smith, but now he works in
silver, and I am reliably informed that
all the pieces now fashioned by him bear
the impress of red-headed rooster.
cloud applause)
Mr.. Smith spoke well, though briefly.
He alluded to the rock-ribbed democracy
of Jefferson county and said In essen
tials we must be the same. We must and
will have unity to bring about the tri-
umph of our party. You have been told
something of our family contest. I was
an enthusiast in it, but can say Captain
Johnston's triumph was fairly and hon
orably won. AS democrats we are all
interested alike, above all personal con-
alterations, in good government and pub
lie honor. Amid loud cheers Mr.. Smith
congratulated Captain Johnston upon his
splendid victory.
Dr. Cunningham, great favorite with
called for, and Mr. Porter his late gal
liant adversary in the contest for the JEFF
ferson county senatorial nomination,
brought him forward, saying: II have
the exquisite pleasure of introducing to
you a man of whom IL you have never
heard 1 can say that I have daughter
and cheers)-Dr. r.. M. Cunningham. a
man bright In mind and noble in heart.
Any and every person can trust him In
all things. (Cheers.)
DR.. Cunningham responded briefly,
saying he was glad to be on hand to join
the greeting to the distinguished leader
of the masses of democracy. He felt now
that he was addressing neither goldbugs
nor silverloons, but democrats who were
determined upon winning victory. 1t was
an honor and privilege of which he felt
proud to join in demonstration OF loyal
greeting to our standard bearer when
the man who presided over it was M. A.
Porter. (Cheers) There were not two
stronger friends in Alabama. Applause)
"And that illustrates" said DR.. Cum
ningham in conclusion, chow we all stand
together for the success of our party"
Mr.. Porter introduced Richard III.
Fries, Esq, as bright German lawyer
and secretary of the German club.
Mr.. Fries said he came out but for one
purpose, and that was to join in this
greeting to the foremost citizen of Bir-
mingham. He had followed his leader
ship for six years. had felt proud of him
in defeat as well as in victory. He knew
him to be a true friend, true democrat
and a friend of all the people. So ardent
had been his partisanship in all these
years that on his barred heart might be
read Joseph f. Johnston" loud ap-
plause)
Mr. Porter thanked the people for their
presence and dismissed them with as
surance of a great democratic victory In