Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-19

the full restoration of silver, it is of vital importance that the action of the Chi cago convention of 1896, which is in line with the old democratic creed, should be ratified by the votes of the people in November.
 will, therefore, give my earnest sup port to the ticket nominated by that con- yention, with no apprehension of making a mistake, or of encountering defeat. If MT. Bryan is defeated our cause will not die on that account. It will live until the people are restored to their consti- tutional rights. Such rights. with the American people. are immortal.
 But if we are defeated at the election by the minority of less than one-third of the democratic party, in coalition with the majority of the republican party, in hhe eastern states that have been always democratic when their policies and cam didates have ruled in our national con- yentions, that result will only lead to a repetition in the senate of the align ment of the friends of silver, that has been firmly established since the repeal, without condition, of the purchasing clause of the Sherman law of 1890.
 That unmovable phalanx will stand in the senate for the constitutional rights of the people, even more firmly than it stood in the last session of congress, when it demonstrated It's purpose and it's power to compel obedience to the oft repeated expression of the will of the people,. e fr71
 The noble and self-sacriflcing spirit of the five or more of the republican sena- tors, recently manifested at the St. Louis convention. and two other senators from Nevada, who had preceded them and anticipated their action, and the vote of majority of two-thirds of the conven- ton at Chicago, is, when taken as a whole, a decisive ratification of the votes piVpn in fhp sonata hu fiUn-givthe If democratic senators in the last session of congress. And this ratification and con- firmation will sustain the senate in the firm and unf1inching support of the con- stitutional rights of the people. This situation will never be changed until it has matured into solid victory.
 The election of MT. Bryan and MT Sewall in November will end this contro- versy in an earlier victory than may be otherwise obtained.
 Aside from this situation the democra- cy of the United States have the highest reasons for giving their confidence to these gentlemen, both from personal and political considerations
 In abilities, personal worth and the consistency of a pure and honorable life, in devotion to the standard creed of the old democracy there are none who have a better history.
 In the capacity to understand, in the faithful research to know, and in the moral courage to accomplish that which is safest and best for the government and the welfare of the people, no two Americans can be named, and certainly none are now nominated, who are better entitled to the respect and confidence of the American people
 It Is a very great and unusual fact that the only objection that is made to MT. Bryan is his youth. Is this objection valid? The constitution fixes the age at which a man is eligible to the office of president at 35 years. Such limitation could only be predicated on the well con- sidered fact that every American citizen, at the age therein prescribed, Is in the full possession of his highest abilities and qualifications, whatever they may be. After that age is reached the citizen is not required to pass postgraduate course in the school of political contro- versy of intrigue before the country can accept him into It's highest councils.
 It is not an unwise provision of the constitution that invites the service of youth and vigor, and its freedom from contamination and it's devotion to the right and it's courage in defense of jus tice and the truth, Into the highest exec utive office. The presidency is guarded on the one hand by congress, and es- pecially by the senate,so that the incum- bent can do no executive act that is con elusive on the country except in pursu- ance of the law, and all his discretionary action is under the constraint of constant observation and control
 On the other hand the supreme court stands to guide and rtstrain him in the performance of his high duties so that his acts shall conform to the constitu- tion. 2f. ;.
 This arrangement is wisely intended to prevent any evils that might otherwise result from the infirmities of mind or character, or from the untoward ambi tions of a person elected as president. That office has not always been filled by our greatest or most experienced men, yet the people have been content and the country has prospered whenever their right of self government under the constitution has been respected. i
 When this has not been done the ire quent recurrence of elections has correct ed the delinquency. The house of repre- sentatives, In certain powers, and the senate, in still broader range of powers, executive and legislative, stand above the presidential office in their control of all the action and policy of our govern ment In this department, as well as in the supreme court. the minimum qualifi- cation of age includes the fact that the safety of our institutions Is properly se- cured when competent men above that age are chosen to execute the highest powers of government.
 Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay were elected to the senate before they had at tained the constitutional age.
 That Is great office, to which no man should be elected who has not the infor- nation and ability to enable him to make a safe and respectable president. I have not heard that any state or the whole country has ever been alarmed at the youthfulness of senator. or of the head of one of the great departments of the government. do not count upon the development that expect this young American te make in coming time as a justification for my support of his cleo tion. take him as he IS, and firmly be- lieve that his character, his powers his firm self-control and his moral courage are equal to the great task we have laid upon him. That he will grow In wisdom and strength is as sure as that 1t is still possible for a young hickory to grow into a tough and unconquerable "Old Hickory" and I am satisfied that he will bring the ancient honors back to the true democracy. For the renewal of our con- fidence in the young democracy, who have done such noble work, always for the cause of the people. let us again study the rise and progress of one of our greatest democrats, whose greatness consisted chiefly In his courage. his hon. esty and his instinctive common sense. At 12 veers of age Andrew Jackson A n