Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-29

| in the News of the 9th says: "Mr
Clarke however, has been gaining
that Mr.. Clarke had been getting over
good deal of ground in the state, but
was not aware that he was gaining any
ground outside of the columns of the
Advertiser and the News. In Morgan
he was, according to the News, gaining
ground up to the very day the primary
was held, but when the votes were count
ed out, 10, Ben-Ahmed's name led all
the rest" and Clarke wasn't "in it, Ev-
er since then he has been "dissolving
memory dear" Again, the News says
edtorially, There's no Disgusting the
situation" That hits the bulls eye in
the center "A democrat who favors free
silver coinage at 16 to l should support
Captain Johnston. A democrat opposed
to free silver coinage will support Mr..
Clarke" The only recognized official ex-
ponent of the cardinal principles of de-
mocracy on the financial question Is the
platform of the party on which Mr..
Cleveland was elected That platform
"holds to the use of both gold and silver
as the standard money of the country,
and to the coinage of both gold and sill
yer without discrimination against either
metal or charge for mintage"
Which candidate stands on the national
democratic platform as to the financial
question? The national convention
party, and the News affirmed that 1t was
the only body of democrats that had au-
thority so 10 do Captain Johnston,
chewing to the line" marked out by the
national convention, is opposed by the
News, which supports fomentor of dis
cord in the party, who, ignoring the Of
ficially expressed policy OF his party,
seeks his own elevation at the fearful
cost of party disruption, Generalization
and defeat. Sounding the warning that
mo man is as great as the party, the
News subsequently wears the Cleveland
collar and tries to show that it's all of
the democratic harness that fits the pres
ent occasion. / turn from this picture OIL
the acrobatic political feats of the News,
in which char ges have been so frequent
that IL "has been everything by turns and
nothing long" to "An Object Lesson
editorial In its issue of the 9th, In which,
speaking of the action of leading Tennes-
see democrats, who maintain the express
ed policy of the party as Indicated by the
national convention, 1t says This is
certainly beautiful state of affairs The
national democratic convention is sure
to declare for sound money. In the face
of this declaration the nominees for state
officers in Tenr essee must go about over
the state denouncing the national plat
form, while eleotoral candidates will be
forced to speak for sound money and
against free silver Nothing short of
complete decentralization can result"
How tyividly this calamity Shrek"
brought to my mind Cast out first the
beam out of thine own eye; then thou
shalt see clearly to pull out the mote
that is in thy brothers eye" Isn't
"Clarke and those who stand with him.
doing the very thing that the News
gloomily forbodes will happen In Tennes-
see? But there is this difference between
the situation In Alabama and Tennessee.
The selected nominees in Alabama will
be named when the only expressed finan-
ciaI policy of the party is that recorded
by the last national convention, If Mr.
Clarkei should be nominated he is not In
accord with that policy and can't indorse
the national financial plank-which, ac-
cording to the News Is the only official
party financial declaration. In the
language of the News: This Is certain
Iy beautiful state of affairs" What
Is sauce for the goose is sauce for the
gander." What the next national con-
.yention may bring forth is yet In the
womb of time. No one but the News
knows that 1t will declare for sound
money. Announcing thatit will so de-
clare. 1T rears on its hind legs in declar-'
ing stentoriousIy that If the free silver
men oppose 1t nothing short Of complete
party Decentralization can result" That
'yawp" is for Tennessee. How II It in