Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-31

a single state law touching finance; they do not question the integrity or efficiency of a single department of our govern ment They stand before the record our party has been making over twenty years and dare not say that in one single in- stance has it ever failed to stand for the good Of the people
 Whenever hostility, whenever vindic- tVeness remains silent, then, indeed the people should be satisfied.
 In 1879 the assessed value of all our property aggregated $f23 757 072; in 1895 it had grown to $241 ,S38;025, gain in six teen years of about SIS, ,000, ,000, or nearly double. During this time the tax rate has been reduced from 75 gents on the $100 to 55, and our appropriations for pub lie schools have been largely increased
 From two or three small furnace plants our state has arisen to the third rank in the union as an iron producer.
 It has greatly increased the number of our factories and machine shops.
 It has built many hundred miles of rail- road, increased the output of coal from @ few thousand tons annually to more than 5000 900 tons, and we are now giving light and warmth and power to the peo- pie of many states.
 Cities now stand where barren fields marred the landscape, and church spires tell the traveller that the people who have done these things recognize the watchful providence who has held his hand over them. That such progress could have been made under the government that was overthrown by George s. Houston and the great body of the white men of Alabama no fair man will claim. That this state can continue this great mate rial development with the administra- ton of it's affairs in the hands of the twd parties that this year have amalgamated and fused is hardly conceivable. The greatest threat to progress, the most im-- minent danger to the betterment of our public schools to the building of better roads, to clean and economical govern ment, is the insidious attempt to divide the people whose united efforts have ac- complished these things in the past and made 1t possible to accomplish yet great CT results in the future.
 There is an old legend which declares that once God called the angels togethers and told them he intended to send num- Der of them to the world to enter the souls of men and inspire them to nobler and greater achievements and the angels commenced to pray for choice in the work they were to do! One prayed to en- ter the soul of great poet and kindle in his heart sweeter songs; another desired to enter the soul of a great king to if- spire him to worther deeds, and others made their choice. Finally one of them said: My Father let me enter the soul of the man, one who has neither rank nor wealth, nor fame, nor station, NOf there Hes a nODie WOfK III inspiring contentment and peace, and holding him true to himself, his country and his God" And the Father said: My child. thou hast the noblest task of all, and thy crown shall shine more resplendent in heaven than those of any of thy brethren"
 This is the gospel on democracy. It has refused to bend to wealth or power or station or inheritance. It denies special privileges or favors to any class, opens the pathways of life with its struggles and burdens and rewards to all alike, and stretches out its hand to protect the common people from the greed of wealth and the rapacity of power.
 It is this party with its 6,0Oo,00 voters. scattered through every hamlet and plain of this great country that appeals to you today to stand by the faith, to be true to your country, to yourselves, to your convictions It is this party, whose commission I hold, that in storm and sunshine, in defeat or victory, has never abandoned it's principles or worshippsd strange Gods, but has stood true to the people, for equal rights to all and special privileges to none, and it Is this party that appeals to the white men of Ala bama to set the step and mark the path way for a glorious victory this year throughout the union.