Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-16
A MER1rED TRIDuTH.

A MERlpED TRlBUTi.
 The Atlanta Constitution of yesterday pays the following merited tribute to the gallant standard bearer of Alabama de- mocracy in the pending campaign:
 '"rhe Constitution takes occasion to extend it's congratulations to the gallant democratic nominee in Alabama, who is carrying on such a brave fight for de- mocracy.
 Through the union there are many men who have served their states, and who have led their people out into the open arena where they can sniff the air of victory, but none of them can eclipse the incomparable Johnston, who bore the brunt of the fight before the other states had become enl,ned, and when the con- test was all his own. Faced by power and servilty, and impressed by the fact that almost half of the democrats of the state had been driven out of the party, he appealed to those who remained and succeeded in restoring among democrats that old feeling which enabled Alabama to escape from republican dominion in 1874.
 The news from the state brings evil dence that when the election of August shall have been held, it will show a re- united front among the white men of Alabama, such as they have not seen in years, and a majority will be given to Johnston unparalleled in the history of even that democratic state"
 These are not the words of empty compliment idly spoken, but is the expression of a great papers apprecia- ton of worthy services rendered in cause of which it is so able and con- spieuous a leader.
 Captain Johnston was the active lead- CT in the opening contest of the great ba tile that is now on between the people and the money gamblers and bond gob- blePs and the true democracy of the country. Alabama was the first in the list of democratic states. falsely termed "doubtful' by the goldites, to take posi- ton on the great issue before the Ameri- can people, It had been staked out as the battle ground upon which the first engagement was to take place between the contending factions in the demo- cratic party.
 Indeed it was intended that this state should be the pivotal point and the cam paign for the nomination the crucial test of the strength of the free silver cause in the United States, and all the power of the national administration, fortified by all the munitions of war that the money power could supply, was unsparingly used to defeat the will of the people and IOTCe a QeclafdIlOH TOT tne Solu olsiludlo. The policy of the administration was to be indorsed and Johnston to be defeated at all hazards and at any cost. Upon his devoted head was rained all the blows intended for those democrats who refused to fawn at the feet of the man whom they had elected to the highest position within their gift, and upon whom they had bestowed with lavish hand the su- premest honors ever conferred upon an American citizen. and lick, like beaten CUTS, the hand that had dealt them cru elest blows. But undaunted and inspired by the courage and patriotism that is ever part of true democracy he still held aloft the banner upon which was inscribed "a government of the people, for the people, by the people," and ap- pealed to the people themselves to help him carry it to victory and plant 1t upon the ramparts of the citadel of the peoples rights. From one end of Alabama to the other his clarion voice was raised for the masses and democratic doctrines and principles, and to his rallying cry came from the hills and valleys and prairies of Alabama the great democratic yeo- marry of a great state and bore him and the principles he represented to a splen- did triumph, to be surpassed only by the crowning victory in August.
 But however much credit may be justly due Captain Johnston for what he has done towards the rehabilitation of the democratic party in Alabama, there were other agencies at work to that end and none was more powerful than the Atlan- ta Constitution, which is always found in the forefront and where the battle wages fiercest for the cause of democracy and the peoples rights.