Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-10

| withdraw from the conspiracy which
was formed to destroy one-half the me-
| tallic money of the world In order to es-
tablish the slavery of greed and usury,
more degrading that the tyranny of arm
| ed force.
1t is the stern demand from unrequit-
| ed toll, bankrupt enterprise and ruined
| homes for a change In the money sys-
! TEN which for years has brought disas-
! ter and desolation.
| In this crisis of our country and party
we must take no step backward in plat
form nor candidate. We want no UNI
certain nor doubtful leader. No lag
gard in peace or bastard in war" No
latter-day silver saint, but a grizzled and
SCARED veteran, who has borne the heat
and burthen of the day and whose breast
is marked from edge of sword and point
of lance on a hundred fields.
Fought fer Silver Twenty Years.
Twenty years ago the battle for silver
was begun in the halls of congress by a
modest, unpretending, brave man, not
an iridescent nor meteoric statesman,
but of the people and from the people,
who has never faltered for an instant
in the great struggle. Others doubted
and wavered, some yielded to blandish-
ment and patronage, and are now hold
ing officer under the gold power; others
misrepresented their constituents and
have been provided for in the national
| but Richard Parks Bland stands now
where he stood then-tha living, breath
| ing embodiment of the silver cause.
He struck with steel point the golden
shield of the money monopolists, as did
Ivanhoe that of the proud templar in
the lists at Ashby, and has neither asked
nor given quarter.
Nor is he a narrow, one-idead man.
For twenty years in congress he fought
in the front ranks for democratic princi-
pies and policies, as taught by JEFFERSON:
He stood by the side of Randall and
risked health and life to defeat the first
force bill. He opposed ably and earnestly
that browning tariff infamy, the McKin-
ley act, and again was among the fore
most opponents of the last force bill,
which passed the house, but was de-
feated in the senate
Author of the Seigniorage Bill.
He introduced the first free coinage
measure in congress and was the author
of the seigniorage bill, which passed both
houses and was vetoed by President
Cleveland.
If this be an obscure record, where can
be found the career of any public SER
want which deserves the plaudits of his
countrymen?
The democrats of Missouri, who have
passed through the fiery furnace of re-
publican prescription seven times heated
and whose state flag has always been
placed beneath the great orifiame of the
national democracy, make no apology or
excuse when offering such a candidate
for the presidency.
If you ask, "Whence comes our can
didate?" we answer: mot from the
usurers' den nor temple of Mammon,
where the clink Of gold browns the voice
of patriotism, but from the farm, the
workshop, the mine-from the hearts
and homes of the people"
To reject him is to put brand upon
rugged honesty and undaunted courage
and to chill the hearts and hopes of those
who, during all these years. have waited
for this hour of triumph. To nominate
him is to make our party again that of
the people and to insure success.
"Give us Silver Dick and silver quick
And we will make Mckinley sick
In the ides of next November"