Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-11
WHY so IMPORTANT?


1t should be and really is evident to
everybody that the free coinage advo-
Gates have no hope of success at the polls
in the future unless they are right The
Issue has been Joined, and apparently a
majority of the voters of the United
States has disagreed with those who
believe that bimetallsm is the remedy
for falling prices, increased idleness, bus
mess stagnation and universal hard
times.
The peoples command that we hold on
to the gold standard four more years
has gone forth. Mr.. Bryan and his fol-
lowers are cheerfully acquiescing in that
verdict. They are hoping that the rene-
dies to be applied will bring prosperity
They do not know that good times will
follow in the wake of McKinley's cleo
tion. As patriotic American citizens
however. they earnestly hope that such
viii be the case.
There is nothing to indicate that the
supporters of and believers in the prn-
c!ples promulgated by the democratic
party at Chicago do not intend to make
the very best of the results and await
developments. This being the case, we
see absolutely no reason on earth for
the Mobile Register, and other journals,
occupying the attitude that it does to-
ward the regular democratic party to be
INDUCING in such threats as are con-
tanned in the following editorial article.
taken from that paper:
We desire 10 say TO the party which Is
now 10 come into power in this state by
virtue OF the election N August last that,
although there is no question of its per-
feet regularity and of it's absolute title
to the name records and seal of the dem
ocratic party, nevertheless it is by thous
ands in this state regarded as not true in
its democracy and as unworthy of their
support. Further, that there is now con-
tempated the formation of an opposing
party here, which viii embrace these
disaffected thousands, which will avow
principles which no one can deny are
those which democracy has always in
the past protested and which Will wage
war upon the party in power with the
determination to assume for itself the
government of the state.
This new party will have for its nu-
cleus the men who voted for Dick Clarke
in the primaries Very few If any of
these have departed from what they re-
gard as the true democratic faith, These
men and these others, who were with
Dick Clarke in principle but were pledged
to Capt Johnston, and who voted for
him and thus discharged their obliga-
ton to him, make up the bulk of the
fighting democracy OF the state. Back
ing them in this fight will be those men
who have since learned something of the
principles and history of democracy and
these are not few in number On that
side win be the men who are impressed
by the fact that 100000 voters of the
United States have solemnly declared
that the chief article of faith enunciated
by the regular democracy of Alabama in
its last convention is absolutely fallacy.
wrong and not to be endured. The re-
publican vote is on that side, also; and it
is a force that must be taken into ac-
count when the next political battle is
fought in Alabama.
We call upon the party now coming
into power, its leaders, Its executive COM
mittee and all who are for the time be-
ing enjoying or presently to enjoy the
fruits of the victory achieved by an al
lance with the boastfully undemocratic
populists, to think While and tell us
what to do about 1t. Are they going to
continue in the suicidal course which has
well nigh brought the name of demo-
crat into contempt in Alabama? Do they
intend 10 continue to cram the obnoxious
doctrines OF populsm down the Threats
of men whose patience is already tried to
the limit in the national contest just
closed? viii they ignore the handwrit-
ing on the wall-the warning the dimin-
ished party majority in this state gives
us? Is 1t their purpose to glorify the
recent tripncate candidate and prophesy
What great Things the campaign for free
and debased silver is to accomplish in
1900?
We hope not yet we fear while we
hope Heaven grant to Gov.-Elect John
ston sufficient wisdom to recognize the
significance of the situation, and put into
his mouth the words that will bring iiar-
moay and not further discord among the
conservative white men Of Alabama!
In its article the Register admits that
the party it assumes to address is the
regularly organized and duly consti-