Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-08
GOVERNOR.

The citizens of Alabama will necessa- rlly greatly differ among themselves as to the proper remedy for our monetary troubles. No amount of argument can bring democrats together on that ques- ton, just as no amount of debate could possibly bring the democrats of Pennsyl- vania together upon one line of policy as to the tariff. We must agree to disagree and must join hands to secure those things which are of more vital impor- tance to our liberties than the character of the medium of exchange This country has lived under all forms of money. We prospered under silver basis when gold retired; we prospered under a gold re- gime when silver retired; we prospered under a greenback system when both gold and silver retired. We grew wealthy under a state bank system. It is true that under each of these conditions of monetary exchange we experienced shocks and panics, but in that respect we did not differ from the experience of other nations. The panics came like recurring epidemics of disease, and they passed away leaving the world no wiser as to the causes of their advent and de- parture.
 Just now we find an effort being made the first time in the history of the demo- cratic party of this state, to define monetary standard as the test of demo- cratic faith The impolicy of such a test is so apparent that the people on all sides are rebuking the candidacy of MT. Clarke They regard his letter of announcement as drawing line across the democratic nt of ha body of democracy, but only of those who conform to his financial views, what ever they may be. Those whom he as- sumes to represent are utterly at sea as to solution of the questions they have sprung upon the people. They would retire vast amount of our currency-so vast an amount as would entail panic, depression and ruin upon all industries such as this country has never witnessed, not even in the past three years. But they offer nothing in it's place-nothing except vast burden of bonds upon which national banks may or may not is sue circulating notes at their pleasure. The great body of the democratic party cannot and will not accept this solution of the problem. They prefer to stand upon gold and silver as the primal money of the country, with free banking based on gold and silver. They wish and in- tend that gold and silver shall be kept at a parity, and they believe that with our vast population and unlimited re- sources we can maintain a bimetallic standard independent of the other na- tions of the world
 While our people differ on this ques- tion, we see no reason why a good and true democrat like Captain Johnston should be driven from the field and he and his followers ostraczed for enter taining an honest opinion upon a ques- ton so open to difference of opinion. MT. Clarke who announced himself not long ago as candidate for governor comes forward to lead crusade against Cap tain Johnston, not because he wishes the office of governor, but because he esteems it his duty to battle against the doctrine entertained by such large portion of the democratic party. He aims to create a schism and to lead one faction in an effort to destroy the other faction. He elevates the banner of dscord and strives to ex- cite and alarm one class of people against another. He sought to engage Captain Johnston in public discussion, a thing without precedent in party usage. The