Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-09
SENATORDONELSON CAFFERY
Explains His Situation and Re-
fuses to Resign
HIS SEAT IN CONGRESS
Says He Was Nominated and Elected BY Dem
ocrats-His Card in Full.

New Orleans Aug. 8.-Senator Donel-
son Caffery has recently been the subject
of much adverse criticism in certain
newspapers on account of his opposition
to the Chicago ticket and platform. An
effort has been made to bring sufficient
pressure to induce his resignation as
United States senator.
The following signed interview with
the senator appears in this evenings
States and fully explains his position:
ITO the Daily States: You have asked
what reply, if any, l wish to make to the
! criticisms of certain individuals and
newspapers on my attitude towards the
so-called democratic ticket nominated at
Chicago and to their suggestions that 1
surrender my commission as democratic
senator from louisiana.
1.-The invitation to resign my seat in the
United States senate because of my aban-
donment of the democratic party Involves
the question, What Is democracy
IF the late Chicago convention In its
platform has abjured the principles or
that party the call of these individuals
and newspapers has no significance.
whether the platform has abandoned
democracy or not is a matter or reason
and argument-not one to be settled by
the declaration of a convention COM
DOSe0 OF men formerly DeIoiSihb " tiiS
democratic party. If a set of men, tenn
porarily representing a political party,
violate in their platform the doctrines,
tenets and traditions of that party there
is not only no obligation on the members
of that party to support either the plat
form or its nominee, out IL Is tnelr uuty
to oppose both.
when the democratic party honored
me by electing me to seat In the united
States senate, 1t stood:
81. For sound money and the MAIN
tenance of the public faith and credit
So For the enforcement of law, both
state and federal, under all circum-
stances.
20. For the maintenance of the three
coordinate branches of the federal gov
eminent as they are.
a. For the freedom and inviolability
of all contracts, both public and private
'sThe Chicago platform assails sound
money and erects the standard OF inf1a-
ton. 1t threatens to dishonor the ma
tional honor by paying It's gold obiiga-
lions in deprecated silver. 1t denounces
government by injunction and the inter-
ference of the federal government IN
state affairs because President Cleve-
land prevented the Chicago strikers from
interfering and destroying railroad prop
erty in the custody of receivers, ap-
pointed by United States courts and car
rying United States mails. 1t threatens
the destruction of the supreme court or
the United States as presently organiz-
ed. and il threatens to invade the liberty
of the citizen, heretofore unlimited, to
contract for payment in any commodity
known to mankind and not OF charac-
ter to injure morals or threaten society.
1t is a matter, therefore, of serious con-
tention whether the Chicago platform
was a democratic utterance, deserving
the support and allegiance OF democrats
Every man must Judge this question for
himself. From my standpoint, with the
exercise of my Judgment and conscience,
1 cannot follow the new banner with
strange devices. The old flag of the de-
mocracy of sound money sound hon
esty, rigid enforcement of all law, main
tenance of our admirable system of gov
eminent in its full integrity and the Wild
est liberty of the citizen to contract for
payment in any legitimate commodity of
commerce, Is good enough for me. /
have followed it for many years, in de-
feat and in victory, in storm and In sun
shine, and propose to follow II to the
end of my days.
mo sudden ebulition of popular delu-
sion can swerve me one iota from the
convictions of my whole life. have no
ambition to subserve, no purpose to ac-
complish, outside the plain duty that lies
before me to keep unsullied and unim-
paired the democratic credentials that l
bear.
when such a party as elected me de-
mand my resignation 1T VIII be given.
Until such a party speaks it Is useless,
though it may serve to herald the exalted
patriotism of certain censors, who have
demanded my retirement, for any in
dividual to ask me to resign.
"DONELSON CAFFERY"