Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-02
SORE, SOUR, SICK AND SORRY
Very Unhappy Speech at East
Lake of Congressman Clarke.
A MELANCHOLY FREE SHOW
Utterances Full of Egotism and differences
Pointed Out as to His Own Greatness and
the Smallness of His Adversary.

Congressional Richard II. Clarke spoke
at East Lake last night to an audience
of about 200 He was introduced by Mr..
III. H. Brown.
Mr.. Brown said: "You have all read
and heard of the 'blue-eyed boy of des-
tiny,' the all-round man on sound money,
and 1 now have the pleasure of intro
ducing you to the next governor of Ala
bama."
Mr.. Clarke said that he appreciated the
free coinage kindness with which he was
greeted by the audience, and also by the
kind people of Birmingham, and attribu-
ted his reception to the cause he repre-
sented He said that he acknowledged
that his coming into the county of his
opponent was without precedent, but
that he felt that he was acting from prin-
ciple and that ne was fulfilling his duty
to his party and to his country. He felt
that there is not county In the state, a
City or people more wrapped up in the
cause he repre- scented than those of Bir-
mingham and Jefferson county; that he
had sought a joint discussion with Cap
tain Johnston, and while he had refused
to meet him he had endeavored to an
Swer his arguments through his news
paper, the State Herald, but it has not
disturbed the party, nor the progress of
fhe city in which it is published. That
fnstead of arguments from the stump he
has been met by stale anecdotes.
IF there is any of the free silver men
I'm Jefferson county who are not candi-
dates for office, | hope to convince them
Tonight that we cannot have too much
sound money or too little unsound mon
by. desire to have just as much silver
money as can be kept upon an equal
value with gold. I want no silver dol
aar that is not worth as much as gold
dollar. The only difference between me
and my competitor is, he wants the free
coinage of silver and l want a limited
coinage of silver
Mr.. Clarke, in a bitter and egotistical
manner, said that if Captain Johnston
had not under the cloak of harmony re-
fused to meet him on the stump the peo-
pie would have been more properly adj
vised on this financial question, and
while Captain Johnston refused to meet
into my district and done that which 1
now dare to treat with silence" The
speaker said this was not a personal
fight on his part. "On the one side it is
the question of the personal ambition of
a citizen of your city, and on the other
side the future progress of your state
your county and your town. Would you
mot be paying too high price to satisfy
his personal ambition? If Captain john
Ston had four or five more races to run
The would be in better condition to see
and feel the demands of the people
when Johnston says he is a bimetallist
what does he mean? If he could be
brought in from the far-off corner
would like to tell him. Bimetallism sim
ply means a silver dollar worth a gold
dollar. You cannot have free coinage
unless the silver in the present dollar is
doubled If the purpose is to keep it on a
parity with gold.
1.-The whole argument of Captain john
ston Is that this is a period of hard times
And calamity. All over Alabama in 1884
1--WE had an abundance of money, but
few years thereafter there was hardly
amy at all in circulati ton. Was it because
fhere was no money? Not at all. The
agitation of this periodical question had
ereated a mistrust and the lack of con-
fidence, and 1t was withdrawn from the
channels of trade.
Alabama produced last year more coal
fhan Pennsylvania Our production of
Iron was greater than ever BEFORE And
In the face of these facts what have you
No say of your citizen who has nothing
TO proclaim to the world of your section
hnd state but misery?
81 told you, when not a candidate, that
"a steel plant was in store for you and
bay now it is coming in spite of free coin
Rge or the calamity bowling of your fell
Cow citizen. This is the age of steel
You have been making the raw material
and have reaped but little profit, and
when you come to make the steel the
result will be far beyond that of the most
6anguine dreamer. Yes, this steel plant
wi1l be built in spite of the free silver
demagogues who either have office or
want office, and capital from all over
Hhe world will be drawn here for the.
building up of manufactures"
The speaker said that he stands on the
bne side of this financial question and
Captain Johnston on the other, and that
AZ Captain Johnston had seen six years
ago the right road for the best interest
tOf this people he would not have block
hded his road for the governorship.
ST don't say ] will be nominated Is to 1.
q am not whistling to keep my courage
hp.
IT recollect two years ago Captain
pohnston's views on this money question
and he came near keeping my friend out
of the governors chair on that ISSUE
Speaking of Morgan county, Mr.. Clarke
said 1t was in a very peculiar condi-
lion; that he had rather have given
Johnston Morgan county than to have
had him take II as he did; that the meth
DDS practced in the Morgan county pri-
mares will not be allowed in other parts