Birmingham state herald., 1896-08-20


 constituents who expressly instructed them to declare for the free and unlimit- ed coinage of silver. Those of them who were so instructed would have been apos- tates and traitors had they refused to discharge the commission with which they were instructed.
 When that convention spoke-that court of last resort-it settled for every true party man the policy of his party upon these great questions. Until re- versed or modified 1t is the party law. and the highest duty of every one of us is to stand and defend the principles there declared, no matter who may oppose.
 This is not a fit occasion to enter upon any elaborate discussion of the platform, but I am amazed to learn what a sud- den devotion these erstwhile friends of ours have developed for republican su- preme court and for the right of the fed eral government to interfere in the To- cal affairs of the state.
 The crime of 1876, the infamy of the eight to seven decision, in which the judges of this court participated,- has not altogether faded from the public mind. It is strange, too that in their solicitude for this court they would ally themselves with the republican party and seek to return to power the only po- litical party in the history of the country which has not merely protested against it's decisions, but has tempered with and deliberately packed the court to accom- plish its purposes. Since when, too, has it become undemocratic or anarchistic to denounce arbitrary interference by federal authorities in the local affairs of the state? This principle has ever been a cardinal doctrine of democracy. It was asserted in the Kentucky and Vir- ginia resolutions, our partys first great declaration of principles, and upon that issue MT. Jefferson accomplished the re- peal of the alien and sedition laws, drove he fpdar9 from a ed their entire destruction as party. I care not who may have been the author of this particular plank in the platform. The devil himself can quote scripture and it is none the less scripture
 Because He Quotes It
 But our friends who are in this move ment are not satisfied with bolting the action of the convention-they have vot- ed themselves to be the only elect, and now propose to take possession of the family homestead and expel it's former tenants altogether. According to the ad- dress issued by MT. Bynum and his com mittee the Chicago convention had no right to adopt or promulgate it's platform. Conceding the argument there submitted, the same would have been true, though the action of our party had been unani- mous It was, he says, a question not Of desire, but of power, and the conven- tion was without power to make this declaration of principles. I suppose un- der this view if the party had ever de- clared for slavery or secession there would be no escaping from such posi- tion when once assumed But this arro- gance is not confined to MT. Bynum and his committee. There are those in this movement in this state who have wield- ed political power so long and with so much intolerance that they have come to believe that they are the only repository of political wisdom and of true democ- racy.
 In their complacency they are not un- like an old gentleman up in Cherokee county who practiced law with unbroken success before the justice courts in that territory. His reputation before these tribunals was such that he had come to be regarded as somewhat of an oracle upon all questions. In the course of time when he came to make his first ap- pearaDce before a jury in the circuit court he himself seemed to apprehend that his reputation might exercise an un- due influence upon the jury, and so he opened his remarks with what might be called personal explanation. He said: Gentlemen of the jury, I am not the law. l am simply the oracle of the law the channel through which the law flows, and that d-d f1uently''
 But is it not strange that these gen tlemeE, who are so critical as to the terms of the Chicago platform, can swal- low bodily both the platform and the
 Nominees of the Republican Partyp In view of all the evils we have suffer- ed from republican rule-from republi- can hate and injustice toward our sec- tion and our people, am amazed to find that any of our people can be found who will cooperate in an effort to re- turn it to power Although more than a quarter of a century has passed this party has never come before the coun- try with any proposition for peace and reconciliation between the sections. To 1t we are indebted for the enfranchse- ment of the negro, for the civil rights bill, the federal election law and the force bill! It is the settled policy of this party to keep the treasury empty and increase fixed charges so that high taxes may be maintained. I have always re- garded excessive appropriations for pen sions as great misfortune to the people of the south l have not the figures be- fore me, but have been informed that the people of Indiana alone withdraw an- nuaily on this account from the national treasury almost as much as our entire state debt. If republican administra- tion is returned to power there is no tell ing to what extent these fixed charges may be increased. I am in favor of req sonable appropriations for pensions. but I must protest against the policy of loot ing the treasury to make pretext for further taxation of our people. In this
 
 representation, so far as we are concern ed, and no people can long prosper under such unequal burdens!
 It Is Time for Action.
 Events have transpired since the Chi cago convention, which should operate to draw every organized democrat closer together Let us put aside all former differences, and with greater confidence in each other labor together to defend the citadel of our fathers against all at tacks from without and the assaults from within. If we have entertained diff ferent views upon some of these ques- tions, let us remember that the party has spoken-the time for debate has passed the time for action is at hand!
 When I see those of our friends who, in the recent past, with such signal ability have defended these principles now, with ax in hand outstretched to strike at the root of democracy. I almost imagine can see in spirit the sage of Monticello, feeble with age, leaning on his staff, raising his hand in earnest protest:, -,
 "Woodman, spare that tree.
 Touch not a single bought fo
 In youth it sheltered me, 'F ~ And Fll protect 1t now!' si la
 Tott., uo p,rtu