Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-05
THE IMPORTANCE OF oRGANIzA.
mTON


The most thoroughly organized and
best disciplined armies usually win the
greatest victories. This principle ap-
plies with no less force in politics than
in war.
There has not been In many years a
greater necessity for thorough organiza-
ton and discipline of the democratic
forces in the campaign about to open
and the one to follow than now con-
fronts the party. This grows not so
much out of the weakness of the party
in the state, but from the fact that it is
now in position to greatly strengthen
Itself by accessions from the ranks of
what has been in recent years its strong
est opposition since the overthrow of the
republican party in 1874. While in 1894
the democratic party proved itself
stronger than all combinations that could
be formed against it, it was not then, and
is not now as strong as it should be or
as 1t is the desire and to the interest of
the white people to make it. Those who,
previous to 1892, had co-operated with the
party, but since then have opposed it,
no longer have any tenable reason for
further opposition, and the great mass
of them are ready and anxious to again
ally themselves with their late oppo-
nents and aid them in the great work of
perpetuating white supremacy and good
government in Alabama. They realize
that the action of majority of their
leaders in forcing fusion with the repub-
lican party last week in Montgomery is
but step further in the direction of final
amalgamation with that party, COM
posed 50 per cent of negroes, which was
the blight and curse of the state and our
people when it was dominant in politics.
They feel that to ratify the action of the
populite convention in its effort to de-
liver them into the republican camp
would be treason to themselves and their
families and utter and absolute repudia-
ton of the principles for which they
primarily organized and have stoutly
contended ever since. They recognize in
the nomination of two republicans upon
their state ticket-men who fatty refus-
ed to abjure any doctrine of republican,
ism-an effort to commit them finally and
forever to the advocacy of republican
doctrines and associations, which they
have always abhorred and repudiated.
They know that this action of a majority
of the leaders, over the earnest protests
of some of the best men in their organi-
cation, means it's disruption and speedy
disintegration. They resent the purpose
of the bosses" to sell them into republic
can bondage, and, while they feel that
the party with which they have in re-
cent years affiliated is doomed, the large
majority of them will never consent to
political fellowship with a party they
have always fought against and regard
ed as the enemy of the white people of
Alabama.
The eighty odd thousand votes cast by
this organization against the democratic
candidates for state offices in 1894 pre-
sents most inviting and promising
field for work for recruits, and with
proper effort rs per cent of them can be
influenced to renew their fealty to the
democratic party and democratic prin-
ciples as declared by the state platform.
This work can be done effectively only
by organization of democratic clubs
throughout the state and an invitation
to all white voters who will believe in
the principles of democracy and will
support democratic nominees to full
membership and in cooperation with
them
Inc cause OF democracy was greatly
strengthened by the liberal action of the
state executive committee relative to
participation in the primaries, and the
advantages gained thereby should be
pressed until the party regains its former
prestige and power Nor can the work
be begun too soon nor too earnestly and
diligently prosecuted Let the executive
committees in all the counties in the
state advise and urge without delay the
formation of clubs in their respective
| jurisdictions and give careful attention
to such details as will develop the full
voting strength of the party in August.
This done and nothing is more certain
than reunited democracy, and with it
| an overwhelming triumph of it's candi-
dates at the gubernatorial election in
August.