Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-16

Thomasvi,le, Feb. 15.-(Specia1.)-Cant. Joseph F. Johnston arrived here this morning on the Selma train, and was met by number of friends and supporters. It was known that he would be here some days since, and friends from many pre- cincts in the county were here to meet him. It was not known until yesterday that he would speak. Notwithstanding this there was a large attendance. He was introduced by Ex-State Senator J. K. Cowan, and spoke about one hour and half. His speech was well received, and he was frequently interrupted by ap- plause There were quite a number of populites present, and the impression made on them was good. Two-thirds of the whole people of this county are for Johnston.
 The following is the text of his speech;
 am glad of this opportunity to ap- pear before an audience or democrats ol this county and to say to them that am here not as gold man or silver man, an administration or anti-adminis- tration man. but as a free, white demo- crat seeking a great office at their hands
 am not here to tell the democrats that If I am not nominated that there will be great sorrow in some other portion of the United States. am not here to tell them that in order to vindicate some other cause or individual it Is necessary to nominate me- I am not here to say that am making any personal Sacrifice to accept the greatest office within thelr gift. and one that should be considered the crowning glory of any man--an or fee rendered illustrious in Alabama by the many great democrats who have fill ed it. .
 am here to say that am seeking IL that I want it and will be proud to de- vote the best energies and most ioyai efforts of head and heart to promoting the welfare and happiness of the people with whom have lived and suffered ana struggled so long. -
 My honorable competitor. in his speeches so far, has stated in substance, or insinuated in his amiable way that should not be nomina ted because:
 II am a chronic candidate and want the office.
 ?. That I have abused the administra- tion.
 4 That am afraid to meet him in de- bate.
 D. By inuendo that the state committee did not act fairly.
 I shall give some consideration 10 these several propositions, and what have to say I shall endeavor to say with good taste and temper, notwithstanding provo cation to the contrary.
 Chronic Office Seeker.
 am over 50 years old; have served my party from the ballot box to char manship of the state committee: l nave given more time and made more speeches for the party than any man in Alaoama' who never held office. have been can didate for one office twice in thirty years: The first time I was candidate l hdu 117 delegates, the last time I had 234, ex- actly double I am not without reason able hope that the third time will witness a like gain. The present governor was ,s, candidate for that office three times. Did he become a chronic office seeker? My honorable competitor probably forgets that he commenced running about 1872, before the beard was visible on ms race, and that he has been largely engaged m that business ever since. He has held fat offices for about sixteen years, ana has one now, and is running for at least one more am not ashamed or my rec ord as an office seeker compared win ms. If my running twice makes a "chronic case" his running some ten or tWelNe times I suppose relieves 1t from cr1ti- cism. He has exercised discretion how ever for he never ran for an office that didn't have good pay behind it until this year. It is not chronic to get one Ia. paving place, hold on to il for years ana years and run for one or two more That is mild and gentle and entirely com mendable.
 Abusing the Administration.
 When Mr. Cleveland sent his message
  neal of the purchas.ng clause or the Sherman act as a free white democrat expressed my dissent from that docu- ment I did not abuse or villify him. l did not reflect upon the integrity of his motives I believed that it was not in accord with the platform and knew It was not in accord with what MT. Clarke and myself and every democrat who was on the stump in Alabama in 1892 told thet people the platform meant.
 Ina uk God, this Is free country and that no man is the keeper of the con- scisncc of any other, and that every dem ocrat has the same right to express his honest opinions, whether he holds office or not One thing can say and IL is that never at any time have said Of the pres ident that "he was d-m mugwump and no democrat"
 MT. Clarke says that I predicted that the democrats who took the presidents advice would feel the scourge Of the people" Let us see whether that was correct prophecy. We had in that con- gross Gin ,1S93) 219 democrats, l27 repub- licans and 10 populists The next con- gross elected--the present one--has l04 democrats, 244 republicans and popu- lisrs. More than one-half the democrats were defeated. It looks like some one felt the scourge of the people. The dis favor of the people fell upon our party. The republicans gained no strength at the polls, but there werF nearly 1,60o.0O0 democrats who remained away and rs- fused to vote. Tn Alabama there were about 75. 600 votes cast for our congress- men out of nearly s00,000 voters. It is fair