Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-23


my views on this subject and l cannot
change them.
Mr.. E. L. Russell (cries were made for
MIR. Russell to mount the platform be-
side the chairman)-I say to you, gentle
men of the convention, that you must
not attempt to elevate me above the po-
sition occupied by General Pettus when
he spoke General Pettus had spoken on
the floor of the convention). If you do l
won't accept it. [ will stand upon an
equality with him; l won't elevate my
self above him, nor will | allow you to
do it. | agree with General Pettus that a
man ought to speak as he believes on this
subject. | don't propose to discuss the
merits of the subject, but discuss my
proposition-that is, that this convention
ought to refer this matter to the national
democratic convention and have in sup
port of that some views expressed by
somebody in very high authority in your
own ranks. (I1ere Mr.. Russell read from
an editorial in the State Herald of the
2lst of April) l will quote from another
distinguished democrat, one of the clear
eSt-headed lawyers in this state, and
whose heart is in sympathy with the peo-
pie of Alabama whenever her prosperity
and welfare Is involved. He said to you:
Gentleman when that convention meets,
when that court of last resort acts, 1t Will
settle forever so far as every true, loyal
democrat is concerned, the policy of his
party upon the financial question:; 1t
would amount to nothing short of stulti-
fication for the party to come before the
people in one campaign advocating one
view of this question, and in the next
campaign reversing the declaration. II
it be true then that that convention is
to settle the policy of the party which
all of us must accept; if it be true that
the sentiment of the party in this state
is honestly and earnestly divided upon
the question, Is it unreasonable to ask
that the whole voice of the party should
be fairly represented before the court OF
final arbtrament. Fellow democrats, 1
have views on this subject and / say
your election occurs after the national
democrat tic convention convenes in Chi
eago and you don't want to court dis
sension in your state platform. We
might be overruled by declaration in
the national platform. / would not have
this convention to do anything that
would embarrass the democracy of the
state Of Alabama in the August election,
and my distinguished friend and honored
citizen, Capt. Joseph T. Johnston, who
has secured this nomination is entitled
to fair treatment at the hands of this
convention, and I say that to adopt
platform that would bind him on this
proposition and afterwards to have it re-
peaed by the national democratic con-
vention, and that convention has eXclu-
sive jurisdiction over this question, then
L say W you nOl 10 40 anything lndl
would embarrass the democracy of this
state and Captain Johnston's campaign,
and. therefore, I appeal to you, demo-
Gratis, to act wisely, so that we may all
march shoulder to shoulder in our fight
on the enemy. Let us all act wisely and
dscreetly and treat each other as
brothers.
Col John d. Roquemore-Mr. Presi-
dent and gentlemen of the convention,
when this momentous campaign began
two or three months ago and my friend
Captain Johnston came and asked me to
carry out a promise had made him tWO
years ago when he was defeated before
the democratic convention as the nomi-
nee for governor that l would support
him in this campaign. I inquired of him,
knowing his pronounced free silver
views, what his position would be in the
canvass and the support he would So
licit He informed me that he was a
sound money democrat. What is that?
Captain Johnston informed me that he
was as much in favor of sound money
as l was and I agreed to support him.
When l agreed to support him it was
because he appealed to me as a democrat
and not as a free silver man, and be-
cause he appealed to the people of the
sta tie of Alabama as a democrat and not
as free silver candidate. You all know
how herocally he acted in his refusal TO
discuss with Mr.. Clarke upon the stump,
and the democrats Of Alabama would
have been riven in twain upon that ques-
ton. When Mr.. Clarke sought the NOM
ination, / understand, he said in some
of his speeches that he did not want the
support of any democrat who did not
agree with him on the money question,
and that drew the line distinctly.
l know democrats in the county of Mont
gomery undertook to force that line and
force myself and hundreds of other John
SstH n,sfeta 4
money democrats because he was not a
sound money democrat. l know that
there were many who went so far as to
say that they did not understand how 1
could support him, entertaining the
views / did, but we were steering be-
tween Sylla and Charybds, and we gave
Captain Johnston a majority in this
county to the surprise of the state of
Alabama. We expected, when we came
into this convention, to be treated as
any other Johnston democrats. Speak
ing now to the resolution of instruction
for the delegates to Chicago, 1 am per-
fectly willing for Captain Johnston and
his silver friends to make a platform of
is to /, and no man would be ahead of
me In the fray against the enemy. /
would advise that they be moderate upon
that question, because we are divided
and We are expecting the support of ev-
cry democrat In the state of Alabama.
A gentleman told me this morning that
he had been on the other side and that
views contrary to his own had been
fammed down his throat, and now he
proposed to do some ramming himself
Gentlemen. you don't have to ram II
down my throat. l have a big swallow
that will accommodate itself to almost
anything, but tell you that speak 1t in
words of warning as a friend, that there
are people in Alabama who have not a
good swallow. We all want tn elect Cap
tain Johnston, and l consent that he
make his own platform as he has been
nominated: but l do protest that the
voice of the sound money men. who sup
ported Captain Johnston that they might
have some voice at the counsel table
should receive some recognition; and
where can they get it except at the ma
tional convention? If they are going to
be tried in court they ought TO have their
day in court, and be treated as any other
Johnston supporters. They ought not to
be prescribed in their opinions. l have
opposed the spirit of intolerance in the
party since the time it began, and oppose
it now, and say beware of the spirit of
intolerance. 1t will not do when you send
the delegates to Chicago. OF course, the
silver men are going to send large ma
iOrity. but WHY not give the sound money