Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-06
=
MR;PUCH ON THE SITUATION
D..
An Interview With the Junior
k.4 Senator from Alabama.
r.
HISTORY OF THE GREAT ISSUE
Looking Over the Field, the Senator Sees but
One Real Danger Menacing the De-
mocracy in this State.


A reporter of the State Herald called
upon Senator James L. Pugh at the Nor
ris hotel, this city, and informed him that
the State Herald desired an interview
from him for publication on the para
mount question now absorbing the atten-
ton of the people of Alabama and of the
United States. In compliance with the
request Senator Pugh furnished the fol-
lowing recital, dictated by himself:
1.-THE people of Alabama fully under
stand my position and opinion on the
paramount question: expressed in sew
eral speeches and votes in the Senate of
the United States, commencing with Mr.
Clevelands administration in 1885 and
ending with the adjournment of the last
session of congress.
1.-THE greatest debate ever had on the
question of finance in any government of
the world was that in the senate and
house of representatives in 1898 on the I'M
conditional repeal of what is known as
the silver purchase clause of the so-called
Sherman law. The unconditional repeal
of that clause placed this country on the
gold basis, and necessarily placed silver
bullion in the position of mere merchan-
disc to be valued in the commercial mar
ket by gold as the only money standard
of value, as predicted by Hamilton in his
report ON the coinage question in 1892, APP
proved by Jefferson This unconditional
repeal revived the act of 1873 in all its
force and effect The transcendant i'm
portance of this legislation brought out
all the ability and learning of both
houses of congress on the money ques-
ton walked up the people, who COM
menced to inform themselves, and today
the farmers and working people in all
conditions of life are able to answer the
arguments against restoring silver to free
coinag.
when President Cleveland called con-
gress together for the sole purpose of re-
pealing the purchasing clause in the
Sherman law there was mot single DEM
ocrat in Alabama who was known to ia
vor his recommendation, and not single
democrat who was known to be opposed
to restoring silver to free coinage al the
old ratio. That extra session of congress
and its action forced the issue and pro-
duced the result of the Chicago conven-
tion.
Alabama occupied an Important posi-
tion in this great struggle, as it had to
speak first. year ago a conference OF
free coinage democrats was called to
meet in this city to suggest plan of or
ganza ton for the primary and final cleo
ton in this state. Over two hundred old
line democrats came here in response to
that call What they did is known to thu
people of the state. The platform framed
by the committee on resolutions. OF winch
I had the honor of being chairman, was
reported by me to the conference ana
unanimously adopted.
ITO promote the success of the appear
of the conference to the people of the
state Senator Morgan and myself, in Mo-
vember last, made nine joint appoint
ments to address the people, commencing
at Tuscaloosa and swinging around from
west to east through south Alabama. We
regretted that our coming TO the state TO
address our constituents on the money
question brought down upon US severe
criticisms and caused US to be character
ICED as mischief makers and 'disorgan-
izers' who by our speeches were destroy
d ng the harmony of the party in its sup
Dort of the administration of the only
president it had had in over thirty years.
My colleague and myself were urged TO
stop spea king and cease to agitate the
people and leave the money question 70
the national convention of the democratic
party for settlement.
"The victory In Alabama for the free
coinage of silver and condemnation or
the single gold standard was the most
signal and important ever acnleVeo py
the democratic party of the state Inc
victory in the United States, by the ma"
nional democracy eliminating in the con-
vention at Chicago SURPRISES IN import
ance any known in our political history.
To deny that the Chicago convention was
not made up of good men selected py
morality and honesty to any people in the
world is to discredit the honesty of the
man who makes the denial. NO national
convention ever adopted a better plat
form or made better nomination, Inc
advocates and supporters of the Chicago
platform and nomination have no Tears
of the result in Alabama.
"There are but two elements of oppo-
sition. The few gentlemen VINO nave
gone out of the democratic party on their
H. rpnUintiOn and in defiance or
all obligation to abide by the organization
and action of their party, have Joined
few others in some other states and met
at Indianapolis in convention, represent
ing nobody but themselves, framed plat
form and named ticket of their own.
They have certainly furnished evidence
of the courage of their convictions IN the
fact that it is manifest that their plat
form and candidate VIII nor receive the
support of single county or single
state in the union. We would have heard
no complaint from any OF these gentie-
men and there never would nave peen
any indianapolis convention II the demo-
Gratis at Chicago had Endorsed the single
gold standard ana Presioeht CieFeiaho
"The other element of opposition de-
serves more consideration, because 1t IS
made up mostly of democrats VINO ieIt
their party on account Of their belief that
At had been betrayed on the money ques-
zion. and that the national democracy
would not continue its advocacy and sup.
mort of free coinage. With this belief
they Joined the populite party.
at seems to me that every fair-minded
populist ought to be willing to admit,
since the action of the chicago conven-
tion. that he was too hasty in leaving
the old party which he had always trust
ed. The first opportunity the democratic
party has enjoyed to assert itself and
take stand against the existing gold
standard and in favor of restoring silver
to coinage was at it's late national con-
vention, and no one can deny that any
national party ever vindicated ard made
clearer its principles and purposes than
the national democratic party in its con-
Nention al Chicago.
"By its action the restoration Of silver
was made the paramount question; that
should subordinate and overshadow all
other questions In the present presiden-