Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-18

The people have been pleading for
thirty years for relief and propose to
plead no more. but will drive from the
temple of democracy those who have
refused to respect their wishes.
If free coinage had been adopted in 1898
and the evils had followed that have fol-
lowed the legislation against it, what
man who favored free coinage could
have saved himself from the Indignation
of the people?
Captain Johnston said he was always
ready to raise his hand and carry the
flag when his party has spoken, it mat
ters not who the nominees are or who
the leaders may be.
Captain Johnston then introduced Hon.
John d. Burnett of Conecuh, the first
speaker on the programme.
The speaker said the pleasure of adj
dressing the audience was enhanced by
the fact that he was speaking in city
where thrift and progress had not only
attracted the eyes of the state, but of
the civilized world. All Alabama feels a
pride in Birmingham, and S one of her
sons he shared that feeling of pride in
this great city, which Is destined to grow
in wealth and population and all the ele-
ments constituting a powerful and splen-
did city.
The speaker classed the state a sover-
eign, and apologized in case it should
give offense to those who style them
selves national democrats" as 1t APP
in their somersault and evolution at In
dianapolis.
I'm country like ours" said the
speaker, "our interests are inseparable.
The people make the government and are
the government. When one class die
tates the policy of the government and
its laws the other of necessity suffers.
Human nature is such that when GER
tain class rules that class will be selfish
at the expense of the other classes. Our
stands for nuna1 riohtS tO all and
special privileges to none, home rule, low
taxes and a good, economical govern
ment, while the republican party repre-
sents the opposite principles
Gentlemen who leave us at this juno
ture may be sincere and patriotic, but
the inevitable effect is to aid Mckinley
Il intend no offense by calling the In
dianapolis palace carlhippodrome fiedg-
ling. That is just what it is, not feather
on it, and the real democrats will knock
the down off the young gosling in Novem-
ber.
But says Ex-Governor Jones, par
ties, like states, have constitutions. and
delegates in convention assembled have
no more right to disregard the cardinal
principles of the party than the legisla-
ture has to ignore the limitation of the
constitution l demur to this court in
his indictment on the grounds;
u. There is difference between leg
islative body and constitution making
pose of framing a constitution, and | am
sorry the governor failed to draw the
distinction, because We have lost his in
f1uence by reason of it.
"2. The delegates to the Chicago con-
vention, which he and all his friends
tried to defeat and failed (but neverthe-
less helped TO make), created when as
sembled in Chicago a constitution max
ing body, and not a Legislative assembly,
and though they had the right to frame
,Intf ,Cti it,1tt tnt,A
all other democratic platforms (constitu-
tions), they did not do SO, but obeyed
their instructions, made the platform ac-
cordingly, and Governor Jones and all
his friends are in honor bound to support
the platform and our candidates.
But says Gen. George p. Harrison,
the permanent chairman of the first con-
vention ever held in this state, or ever
will be held again of persons calling
themselves national democrats If you
give your agent authority to buy horse
and ne buys a mule are you bound by
it?' The general states the law Of agency
correctly. The answer to the question is,
no. The general, however, is badly mixed
on the facts. Why didn't he ask If you
give your agent authority to buy horse
and he buys horse If you are bound by
it? | will tell you why; because he
knew the answer to the question is yes,
and our agents to Chicago (delegates)
paid their own expenses with their own
money ana 1naue us u present OIL the
finest feetest racer In America, who will
distance all competitors in the race for
the White House OH the Sd of November
next His record is so clear, his speed is
SO great, that he is the wonder and ad-
miration Of all democrats and the envy
Of all obstinate 'goldbug mules in the
land"
Hon. Tennent Lomax.
Captain Johnston then said: "Those
who opposed the letting down of the bars
were the first to leave when the bars
were let down, but the young gentleman
now to address you needs no bars to keep
him in the democratic party"
Mr.. Lomax said If the people wanted
to see a leading Chicago anarchist to be-
hold him. He was among the chiefs, be-
ing chairman of the Alabama delegation
The speaker kept the house in a roar of
laughter over the part played by Weber's
band. He said when he pictured in his
mind Webers band marching before the
Alabama and Florida delegations, as
noted by the press reports, and Tom
Jones did not get the credit of all this
demonstration he could not refrain from
weeping.
Interesting speeches were also made by
Senator e. b. Almon of Colbert, e. II.
Foster of Madison and John Burnett of
Etowah.
Mr.. Burnett said he was from among
the yeomanry of the country who till the
SOIL and men who cannot be coerced or
bought.
He caught his crowd with the couplet
from Bobby Burns, which runs this
way:
''If I'm your lordling's slave by natures
laws designed,
Why was an independent wish ere plant
ed in my mind?
And If I am subject to this cruelty and
ScOrn,
Oh, why has man the power to make his
his fellow mourn!"
The meeting then adjourned.
GENERAL ROLOFF ARRESTED.
He Is Charged With Aiding and Abettine
an Expedition to Cuba.
New York, Sept. 7.--Gen. Carlos Rolom
was arrested last evening and taken to
Ludlow street Jail, where he was locked
up.