Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-03-12
WHICH SHALL 1T BE

There is fierce struggle in pro-
greSs in Alabama between Rep
resentative Clarke, of Mobile,
and Captain Johnson, of Birming.
ham, for the Democratic nominal
ton for Governor. The conven-
ton will be held early in April,
and the parties have just begun
to hold conventions for the cleo
ton of delegates. Representa-
tive Clarke is squarely in favor
of honest money and against the
free coinage of silver, while Caps
tain Johnson has been advocat-
ing the widest cheap money
schemes, and hopes to win the
nomination by appeals to the
necessities and the cupidity Of
the people.
Both Representative Clarke
and Captain johnson are men of
admitted ability and character
No individual objections could be
urged against either for the high
position of Governor of theState,
and so highly is Captain johnson
respected in Birmingham, where
he resides, that until quite re-
Gently the friends OF honest
money were disposed to support
him regardless of his demagogic
money theories. But when John
son took the stump and advo-
Gated the election not only Of
State officers but Of Legislators
devoted to the free silver craze,
the friends of sound money at
his own home were compelled to
take issue with him, and he is
now confronted by formidable
opposition in Birmingham. The
Evening News OF that place, that
has heroically advocated honest
money, started out in the contest
to support Johnson for the Office
of Governor independent Of his
heretical financial ideas, but
within the last week it has been
compelled to cut loose from the
free silver leader and make the
issue of honest money para~
mount.
AS the Philadelphia Times say,
the battle in Alabama is especial
ly important because it will be
the first expression of any Dem~
ocratic State Convention in 1896
to forecast the attitude of the
party in the selection of national
candidates at Chicago. If Ala
bama shall declare fol the free
silver craze it will be notice that
the whole South is demoralized
on the issue, and that it will be
next to unanimous in the Demo-
cratic National Convention in
favor of the free coinage of silver
and the destruction of national
and private credit. The contest
between Representative Clarke
and Captain johnson is thus one
that rises to the dignity of ma
tional Importance. If Alabama
shall declare for honest money
by the nomination of Represents
tative Clarke, with Kentucky
and Alabama in the forefront for
a sound financial system it Is
quite probable that most Of the
Southern States would follow,
and thus enable the Democratic
National Convention to save
itself from the disgrace Of a
cheap money platform, that could
result only in defeat from which
there could be no resurrection.
1t is idle for political leaders
from North or South to close
their eyes to the fact that no
party can hope to win in 1896, or
to have a hopeful future. that
does not declare with emphasis
in favor of horest money. The
issue has become SO sharply des
fined that no party can escape it,
and if the Democracy shall yield
to the demands of the cheap
money freaks it will not carry
five States in the Union for its
candidate for President, and
could have no hope of rehabili>
tation thereafter. 1t was the
only party of 1892 that declared
unqualltiedly in favor of honest
money, as it demanded that gold
and silver coin should be. equal
intrinsic value" and any depar-
ture from that deliverance would
be notice Of the decentralization
that is the forerunner Of death.
Alabama may do much 20 save
or to annihilate the Democracy
of the nation by its verdict for
or against honest money IN the
coming April convention.