Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-19

ever, the money question turns upon
very narrow grounds, A majority OF the
democrats of the United States have
said that If the federal government will
restore the free coinage of silver at the
government mintS at a ratio of 16 to l
it will result in bringing the price of sill
yer bullion up to a price equal to that
of gold bullion. Well, whenever 1t Is
tried and will produce this effect 1 will
say "amen." If it does not produce this
effect it can be adjusted by the demo-
cratic party upon some other basis Any
way when l became democrat
agreed, as long as l continued to be a
democratic, to be governed by the action
of a majority of the democratic party
A majority of the democrats of the
United States have, In national conven-
tion assembled, declared in favor of free
silver. l yield obedience to the will of
a majority of my democratic comrades
and retain my individual views and con-
victions. If l cannot yield obedience to
the will of a majority of my party then
I have but one course left me, and that Is
to withdraw from the democratic party,
and If / take this course, under the facts
and circumstances connected with the
action of the national democratic con-
vention at Chicago, cease to be demo-
crat. Such a course would deprive me
of the right of going through the state
and claiming that 1 am a democrat and
had left the democratic party.
A Clincher.
There has been an effort made in this
state in the last few days to make 1t ap-
pear that you are not the representatives
of the legally constituted and organized
democracy. Every democrat has the
choice of remaining in the regularly or
ganized democratic party with his old
comrades and with them to fight its bat
ties and achieve its victories, or he can
vote for Mckinley, the republican noml-
nee. On the other hand, If he thinks he
can do Mckinley more good and better
secure his election, as General Bragg of
Wisconsin insists he can do, then he can
vote for the ticket to be nominated In
few days in indianapolis. For one have
made my choice. l propose to remain
with the old democratic regulars and vet
Grams, with whom 1 have fought many
battles for the democratic party and not
one against it. You will remember that
by invitation last April in the theater
in your city l presented as best / could
the cause of Hon. r. H. Clarke and sound
money Suppose in that speech l should
have stated to that audience that we
proposed to submit the claims of Mr..
Clarke and sound money to the demo-
Gratis of this state at the primary cleo
ton on the 18th of April but If you re-
jeet both we do not propose to be bound
by your action. The sound money men
would have taken me off the platform
and Mr.. Clarke would have telegraphed:
Have physicians examine Russelfs
mind
1t is with sorrow and sadness that 1
witness some of our late distinguished
comrades leaving the old democratic col
umnS and begin firing into its ranks be-
fore they even enter the ranks of our
enemies. We treated them generously
while they were in cur ranks; we crown
ed them with honors and emoluments.
The facts and circumstances connected
with the third party movement compel
us to accept the conclusion that it is
made because 1t is thought to be the
most effective plan that can be employed
to defeat the election of Mr. Bryan and
Mr.. Sewall and to secure the election of
Major Mckinley. The northern papers
and democratic leaders of the north and
west while discussing this question have
insisted that ii Is the best way to weaken
the chances Of Bryan and to Increase the
chances of Mr.. Mckinley. Some of the
papers and democratic leaders have ta-
ken the other position and insisted that
to put third candidate in the field is a
mistake. as 1t will weaken MAJOR Nc
Kinley more than it will strengthen him.
Among this class notice that Mr.. Whit
hey insists upon this programme.
His Respects to Tom Jones.
In the state of Alabama we have the
right to assume that the grounds upon
which our democratic friends who have
left the party base their action have been
get forth in the speech delivered by the
distingu shed ex-governor of this state,
Thomas q. Jones. at Birmingham within
the last few days.
g. Governor Jones in his speech, among
other things, deciaI ed, THAT parties
have constitutions like states, and these
constitutions are none the less binding
and beyond the right OF impairment by
delegates because they are found and
live only In the history and practices of
the party. As democrats we respect
fully dissent from the doctrine set forth
in this proposition Our contention Is
thar the national democratic convention,
which Is composed of delega ates from the
various states of the union. Is the SUI
preme lawmaking power of the demo-
cratic party and has exclusive power
and jurisdiction over the principles and
policies of the national democratic par
ty The power cf the national demo-
cratic convention is as supreme and as
conclusive ovtl all federal doctrines and
policies as is the parliament of England
over all the laws and policies of the Eng
lish governmen The parliament of
England is not restrained by any written
constitution in the exercise of any power;
neither is the national democratic con-
vention limited In its power by any con-
stitution. This convention meets every
four years and adopts platform of prin-
ciples and policies to be carried into ef-
feet for the next ensuing four years. Is
1t not a fact that the national democratic
cept the validity of the amendments to
the constitution and the congressional
legislation that gathered up the fruits of
the war claiming that they were void
because they had been adopted by means