Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-10
OUR LETTER BOX.
How It Looks.


Every voter is a juror. The political
parties are the clients, and each candi-
date Is an attorney representing the po-
litical party to which he may belong.
Therefore, when the time comes to elect
officers each party goes on trial. Charges
and counter charges are brought against
each by the other The attorneyS-can-
didates-plead, and on election day the
jury-the people-retire to the polls and
make up their verdict. And whatever
that verdict, it ought to be held as sacred
as mothers love. In 1892 the jury
voterS-of Alabama were called to decide
the case of Jeffersonian democracy, as
represented by Hon. r. f. Kolb, and or
ganized democracy as represented by
Hon. Il. G.. Jones. The jury rendered a
verdict in favor of the plaintiff. But
here the will of the white people was
thwarted and Governor Jones, with the
remainder of his ticket, became the ruler
of the state.
In 1894 the jury was again called and
once more rendered q verdict for the
plaintiff. Again the defendant received
the reward of the plaintiff and Colonel
Oates became the governor of Alabama.
1 as a juror made my finding in each
case for the plaintiff. In the first case I
believed then, and still believe, that Cap
tain Kolb should have received the DEM
ocratic nomination instead of Governor
Jones. Having every right to believe
office after he was elected by tho white
voters, 1 again went with the Jeffer-
sinian party, and this time worked hard
for the success of the ticket. Again or
ganized democracy got not even a show
and the Jeffersoniafs came out ahead.
Once more they were bluffed I thought
then, and still think, the Jeffersonian
DEMOCRATIC party the white mans party
of Alabama. 1t was the Hon. w. H.
Skaggs. a Jeffersonian, that. declared
that If Bill Stevens was allowed to re-
main in the Winnie Davis wigwam that
he (Skaggs) would leave at once. Bill
Stevens left without stopping to say any
thing, but he carried memen (toe( with
him.
How different from that gathering of
patriotic men was the grand rata for
ka-shun" meeting last Wednesday night.
Here we saw not less than sixteen me-
groes to one white man. AS 1 stood and
listened to Mr.. Goodwin as he elucidated
the past conditions l wondered if these
men-these colored brothers-were to be
the redeemers of the old state Of Ala
bama. I wondered If they were to again
occupy places in the court houses, sit
on juries and become justices of the
peace and consta bles and city police
men. wondered If the days Of recon
Struction" were once more upon our
beautiful southland; when a white wo-
man could not walk the country high
way alone; when white men would re-
turn home to find wife, sister, old gray
haired mother or, perhaps, little 12-year-
old daughter ruined for life
l say 1 wondered If such would be.
Then 1 looked for the little giant popu-
list party. Where was Skaggs and the
noble-looking delegates who proclaimed
by their action two years ago that they
belonged to white mans party?
1 thought of Smalls, the negro ex-lieu-
tenant governor of the home of Calhoun;
thought of the negro Cheatham, ex-so-
licitor of one of the judicial districts of
North Carolina; thought of the mid
night providers, and I wondered If good
white men like Goodwin, Sam Adams,
Hobson and others would help bring
about such state in Alabama. I
thought of the dear, innocent little girl,
as she went through the woods to school,
of the DEAR patient wife alone at home
while her husband was away on jury,
thought of the poor, weeping sister,
whose brother was being tried by
negro jury, prosecuted-persecuted a.
negro solicitor, convicted, sentenced to
the mines, to be driven and whipped by
q negro boss. ~
1 know all this and much more oc-
CURED when the republican party was in
power before in the south. Not a single
southern state failed to feel the hand
of the despots. And then, as looked at
my friends with whom fought the last
three political fights in Alabama, and I
saw them-in my minds eye-leaving all
that is dear to them only to satisfy their
revenge, 1 felt compelled to apply po-
litically the following lines:
1 know we must part, but, oh, say not for
ever,
That it may be for years adds enough to
my pain;
But I'll cling to the hope that though now
we must sever,
In some brighter hour shall meet thee
again.