Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-24
"CUBA GRAY"~
 ON FUSION AND THAT SORT OF THING.

The state of political affairs now pre- sented in Alabama calls forcibly to my mind an old French proverb, "Coudre le peau de regnard celle du lion" (''To sew the fox's skin to the lion's') This prov erb, llberally translated, signifies that If the Hons skin cannot win, the fox's shall" apply that proverb to the action of our republican friends-the g. O. D. in reference to it's having recently con cluded to tack some portion of the foX's skin-aias the populist party-on to the original republican lions tough dntegu- ment in order to win a victory impossi- ble under other circumstances. Until the heated contest waged in behalf of Kolb's claim to the office of governor republican, ism had been forced to simmer modestly, not rising to the surface of Alabamas political pot. The fell enemy of our fair state had been vanquished by sternly united effort of high-spirlted white men who rallied under the flag of democracy Alabama drew free breaths after the black shade of republican misrule had been laid low, and even the negro popu- laton had entered upon peaceful steady-though slow-progress toward prosperity of the race. Some thoughtful negroes had discovered that they were merely made dupes of and used as tools by those republican schemers whose thirst for official emolument inspired their ''eection time affinity" with the dear colored brother Republican success had been rendered an impossibility so long as the true white men stood faithful to their state, their honor and even to the safety of their families. But tiny rift within the lute" of democracy made its glorious music mute."
 The rift was caused by a spirit of dis affection which became apparent after the faith of some democrats had been strained by difference of opinion on sub jects pertaining rather to individual fa- vorites for office than to any solid princi- pies. It was only their perception of this discord within the democratic household which ever emboldened the sorely defeat ed republicans to again lift their dimin- ished heads as an aspiring element in the political campaigns of Alabama. Staunch- ly had our white democracy ranked up, close to each other, and they won Victo- rles over fraud, injustice and federal force by presenting to alien influence that grand, heroic spectacle termed the solid south.' Yes, it was truly solid south solid in manly principle, the gallant sup porterS of which were men above the lures of base greed or of indulgence in petty revenge in consequence of some disappointment as to the attainment of individual preferment.
 Unaided by defection in democratic ranks, the poor, tottering old republican party would, perforce, have lapsed into a state of innocuous desuetude through out Alabama. Slight wonder, then, that, like the proverbial drowning man, sinking republicanism should eagerly clutch the slender straw of populism, and by that means seek to save the organization of an old obnoxious party by adding the se- ceding, discontented fragments of re- gently united, successful democracy unto the soiled body polite known as the re- publican party. Such division as had en- sued within formerly solid ranks of de- mocracy bade fair to open way for the long desired, but not easily effected, re- entrance of republican hordes into the green pasture of political arena. Swal- lowing greedily the regro ad libitum, those singularly constituted republicans still affected to demur and even revolt against fusion with populism." Dainty and truly epicurean were the political palates of those scrupulous republicans who nevertheless, concluded to be per suaded" to tolerate an admixture of pure white populsm in the recherche list of candidates presented for election in the coming election. The republicans only accepted "fusion with populists" as dernier resort--to be employed In the event that no amount of republican Suc- cess could be secured without the intoler- able ordeal of fusion was undergone. Fusion won the day, and some populists were placed upon the ticket, those willy republicans indorsing the doctrine de con venance-"he who cannot do as he would must do as he can." The republican party realized the fact that 1t could not stand solely upon it's own merits, so flu sion with inflamed populists presented the only wedge which might be calcu- lated to split successfully that grand old rock of democracy.
 We are not surprised that despairing republicans should grasp fusion as saV- ing straw, whereby the infamously cor rupt reign of republicanism might pos sib1y be renstated over Alabama. No disgrace attaches to the republican wing of the gloriously "fused' party, but, alas! what must be the emotions of once gal lant democrats and of later day honest populists when they reflect upon the ter 1ibly anomalous position In which their hasty indulgence of spleen has placed them? Today WIG may glance across the space dividing true democracy and hon. est populism and that space Is found to be no greater distance actually than could be readily spanned by friendly hands on both sides outstretched to meet in hearty token of honorable reconcilia- ton. But we see Goodwin and Kolb on the other side-both former Confederate soldiers-and their individual ambitions have prompted them to go astray, lead ing other conflding ones in their suicidal wake. In days agone Goodwin and kolb stood shoulder to shoulder with comrades who fought the battles of our threatened and finally devastated land.
 After encountering danger on many a bloody field those brave men returned home vanquished by numbers, but still honorably devoted to the highest inter ests of their beloved section. When dire shadows loomed above Alabama in the cruel days of reconstruction did not Goodwin Kolb and countless other now professed populsts rally beneath the stainless standard of democracy, there to oppose valiant, intrepidly barred front to our would-be destroyers the re- publcans? No dissension in ranks pre- vailed then, and so the democratic hosts planted their triumphant banner upon