Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-22

committee and it's distinguished chair man. If that be so, I am in most excel lent company. I do not forget that when it was attempted to stick knife into the back of John T. Morgan Knox stepped to the front and dealt blows worthy of the turgid blood of the Scotch martyrs that flows in his veins. l would infinitely rather shield myself behind John B. Knox than John Sherman. Loud ap- plause)
 Fighting for principles! That's a big word. isn't it? Principles! Principle is an eternal thing. Men change, gold dol lars change, but principle, crystalized truth, changes never. If my honorable friend is fighting for principle now, what was he fighting for from 1873 to 1893, when he was advocating free coinage? Was it interest? Are those of us who unfortu- nately do not agree with him unprinci- pied? (Applause)
 If 1t is the right doctrine that every democrat must yield an unconditional ap- proval to the administration and follow it blindly, I would like my honora ble friend to tell the people what he would do if MT. Cleveland should die and MT. Stevenson should succeed him and there upon advise congress to pass a free coin age bill? Would principle then change and would It be the duty of every demo- crat to at once adopt free coinage at 16 to as the correct doctrine and denounce all who did not do so as unworthy of of fee? (Applause).
 How was it when MT. Clarke called me in the fall of 1892 to help him in his district, where he was in danger because he had cast one vote against free silver. He had explanations to give, and I said that he was as good a free coinage man as I was, and they h@ eyed us and elect ed him. G.aughterl,1p .----4. --'--'
 N' nere were his principles then? He went to congress again and he tells you how at the time of the extra session he studied the money question, and rolled and travailed much Qaughter), and grew so pathetic in relating the story that even Kid Matthews is said to have wept. Great laughter). But he came through Gaughter). He left the old tablets of the law and was converted not like St. Paul. MT. Clarke's conversion was in the night time. He tells us of no book, pamphlet or anything that was in- strumental in it. The people would like to see what it was. Anything that can convert Dick Clarke ought to be power fully effective. Uaughte).
 What became of the principles issue in 1894, when MT. Clarke supported Sena- tor Morgan (applause) and explained that it was because he was for the Nicaragua canal? Laughter) So principles are to be put aside when man is ditcher Qaughter); but want it understood l am strongly in favor of the Nicaragua canal myself. Daughter and applause) There are other gentlemen around town who are in this great fight for principle. Gaughter) They are good fellows; but isn't this principle business recent dis covery? Where was it when they sup ported Oscar w. Underwood-they couldn't support better man (applause) whose financial principles differed from theirs? Are their principles to be made suitable to any purpose?
 'I like to see man going about with his philactery thanking God he is not iIra nfh md a11 hn ir1a men are thanking God they are not like him. Daughter and applause)
 Another objection MT. Clarke has to me is that I frighten away capital. We have heard this sort of talk before. MT. Cleveland told us that if we would repeal the purchasing clause of the Sherman act confidence and prosperity would at once return, and everything would be lovely. I doubt not he believed 1t, and yet since that time the public debt has been in- creased about $262, 100000 to maintain and sustain the gold standard and there is no general prosperity to be seen. (Applause) If I could frighten capital, I'd rather go and frighten it down this way. Uaughter)
 ''The values of property in Alabama have not increased to any appreciable extent, and the scarcity of money out side of the great centers Is well known of all men. l have within the past ten years been instrumental in bringing into Ala bama nearly 900 to develop our great resources. It has given employ ment to thousands of laborers and aided in meeting the burdens of taxation all over the state Can my honorable friend show better record? Capital goes where it can find most profitable employment. We find it stated that the English are withdrawing their investments from the United States,now practical gold stand ard federation, and investing it largely in Mexico and South America, where the silver standard alone prevails. Imagine usUSuH 10 s9YusH mo Jo quo emos friends sitting with his bag of gold and waiting for MT. Clarke to be nominated for governor to dump it into Alabama. Daughter and applause)
 My friend says, too, I am afraid to meet him. Well, that is too bad. In 1861 my father, who was an old line whig, did not believe the union ought to be dis solved. I was a boy and l agreed with him, but thought it my duty to go with my neighbors (applause), and l stayed four years. I was shot four times, each time assaulting the enemies lines of blue bristling with bayonets and cannon, and I don't think I would be terrified by fac ing a pair of blue eyes. Daughter and applause)
 My friend has been diligent in quot ing extracts from my speeches running over many years. stand by every word I have said. have nothing to take back. Every one of them are on the same side of the question. No revelation has come to me in the night time.
 "I confess that I have searched the rec ord to find the speeches of my distin- guished friend. He has been in congress a long time. I believe since 1888. I have not been able to find any I have heard that he made one or two, perhaps three, but it is singular that our friend should remain in congress so long and sit there and listen to denunciations of his party and president, and of the south. and hear charges of corruption and fraudulent elections and never lift his voice in de- fense. There might have been some ex- cuse for an humble man like myself who makes no pretenses of oratory but for this blue-eyed Demosthenes of destiny to remain silent when he could have an- initiated his enemies is marvel. Daughter and applause)
 Tn 1892 where were his great powers when we needed them here in the party? It is astonishing how exacting his duties in congress were then and how light they are now" Daughter and applause.)
 Coming to MT. Clarkes votes, Captain Johnston touched upon his appeal to the laboring men and his vote against the eight-hour law, and then had read ring t,.r I oIo routf f, fav af