Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-16
STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER Toe Johnston Opens His Canvass in South
 Alabama BATTLING REPLIES TO SCLARkE. Seems Entirely Unawed by Dicks
 Famous Blue Eyes THE CANDIDATE OF NO FACTION Manul and Memorable Deverance of a Great Democrat
 Which Friends Will
 Long Remember.
; Entirely Unawed by
 Famous Blue Eyes.


to say that many democrats who did
 not vote for repeal were defeated, too,
 but take 1t that the people were disap-
 pointed in what they expected and visited
 1t upon the party; the rain fell upon all
 alike!
 I said at the same time (Septembcr P,
 1893): Here in the south the friends of
 repeal say that they want congress to
 give us other and further and better leg
 ation. Those who object to
 unconditional repeal believe if 1t should
 be repealed 1t will be the end of all finan-
 cial legislation"
 That also seems to have been fulfilled
 to the letter.
 In all my speeches and letters I have
 engaged in no abuse of any democrat and
 I defy the production of a single line
 showing the contrary. Abuse and sneers
 are not my weapons. I concede to every
 democrat exactly the same right I claim for myself-the right to form and cx-
 press opinions on all public questions
 without having my motives assailed. Free Coinage. MT Clarke says in substance that should be defeated because I believe that free coinage of silver and gold will pro- mote the welfare of our country. If that is a correct proposition then I am doom- thing.
 am a sound money man. I would not have dollar floating as currency that was not as good as any other dollar. want no 50 cent dollar, and If believed that free coinage would give us that would not favor 1t. But on the contrary, believe free coinage would give us honest money and instil life and hope and vigor into thousands and hundreds
 of thousands of honest arms that are now idle.
 My honorable competitor agreed with
 me on this question until the fall of 1893. He was a valiant champion of free coin age at 16 to l, and the first joint debate l had with him was in Mobile in the fall of 1892 when he was present on the plat form and spoke, and by his authority assured the working men of that city that he was as good a free coinage man as was, and really thought that I was speaking the truth In his speech at Birmingham he told the people how he struggled night after night, in the dark ness of the great city of Washington, and wrestled with this mighty problem. His account of his 'travail'' was so pathetic as almost to draw tears from the eyes of his sympathetic friends. It is notable
 that his final conversion took place in the night time and under the shadow of the
 commander-in-chief. It was not like St. Paul on his way to Damascus, under the
 broad rays of an effulgent sun, and still
 further aided by a great light coming from heaven.
 T. his views, without being questioned, and
 1t was and is his duty to follow honest conviction wherever it leads. It is true that he has some aptitude for change, which is said to be an evidence of great minds. Allsof us remember that he has. experienced very great change in his opinion of the president of the United States.
 | I propose to notice some of his argu-
 ments in discussing the money question.
 One of the statements he made was that Japan was filling up with manufa cturies
 because labor was paid about 12R cents a
 day. I would like him to tell laboring
 men how much pay the Japs would get If silver was demonetized there and they had to be paid in gold? Would it in- crease wages? Will my friend tell what
 the wages of the laborers are in gold standard Turkey and Egypt and Siberia
 He ought to be fair.
 Then. when did any manufactures be- gin to spring up in Japan? Was 1t not after the characterization of silver by the great nations? Did 1t not commence
 about the time that distress commenced here and strikes began to occur? would also like the gentleman to tell us if there was a single nation on earth that demonetized silver that did not do it at a time when the silver dollar was worth as much as the gold dollar? Why was 1t done? Not to demonetize a 50- cent dollar, but manifestly to reduce the number of dollars and increase their value.
 There is not a single gold standard na- tion on the earth where the farmer or the manufacturer or the laborer has enjoyed any substantial prosperity since 1873. There is not one where land has in- creased in value.
 There is not one where there has not been a persistent cause of decrease in the value of labor and profits. Is it eonceiv- able that the men who have the money of the world are intent upon advancing the value of products and the wages of the working man? Is that reasonable? It is said we ought to do it. because the civilized nations use gold only. If that is correct then will ask Is it not also true that the gold standard nations generally have great standing armies. and state churches and royal families to support in idleness? Must we follow all their customs and laws?
 My honorable friend said that Jackson was goldbug, and lauded the act of 1887 that put the country on a gold basis I am exactly the sort of a goldbug that Jackson was and want to see the act of 1887 re-enacted without crossing or dotting an 1. The act of 1887 admitted gold and silver to the hints to be coined free at the ratio of 16 to l..
 They tell us that overproduction has caused the decline in cotton and other products, and admit that if the money remains stationary in amount. and these crops vary, that 1t will affect prices; but I would like for our friends to tell the people why there has been such a great reduction in the value of land and lum- ber Has there been any overproduc- tion of trees or land?
 I read recently an article by Chappell Cory, an able and accomplished etttzen