Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-27
EDITORS LETTER BOX.
Montgomery, Ala, Feb. 25, 1896.

Montgomery, Ala, Feb. 25, 1S96
 To the State Herald. .,
 "E,verything points to the fact tnal
 the democratic party has spleholu
 chance to win national Vlctory neAe
 November upon sound money piatloih Ill
 and with a sound money candidate.
 Why help the free silver mine owners oL
 the west with their high protective tdliil
 notions. and throw away chance ol suc
 cess in New York, New Jersey anu Co.i- %
 necticut? That is exactly what Vo.e
 for Captain Johnstoh hie""'
 gomery Advertiser. ,no
 Neither of the above propositions are
 correct statements Of the politlcai ol.o
 tion. Everything points to the oelea. oi
 the democratic party next NoVenlpel ,,t ut
 on sound money or Tree as sia. af req
 form It is a strange process ol
 soning the conclusion is reached tna.
 democratic sound money platform, Wnlch
 ignores the free silver element, auiiie'
 ly strong, can win natlonal Victoiy ,,Na m
 November To expect the Tree eiE ,ot
 democrats to Loyalty supporl .,,,,a seu that
 form and nominees Is to assume tnos
 tbav are more patriotic than the souho
 noonev men. If a sound money piatlorii
 and nominee are essential to hoio . e
 sound money democrats to the suppolI o
 the marty, why are not free slirei P .h,
 form and nominee necessary .u nnnrt of
 free silver democrats to the suppol. oa
 tta nartv9 If is reasonable to assulls
 tha+ inc republican platform VIII tahe
 care of the sound money repupn.Iin9 ia9
 hence the democratic sound money Pia. tao
 form could only be eXpected to iloiu 'l e
 sound money democrats 10 the supp'i'
 the party. e +ha frae silver
 aemocrats? What provision IS proPos..u 2.
 to hold them in the party Aie faaItv to
 rely upon their past iea''{ yhoir
 inc party? Does iit' iot +han, to | pas darations and concessions rom tne
 ,,ad money men? Are there ehous
 sd sound rooney democrats in Alabama or
 ir Inc nation to elect a democratic tlch- etp If not. the demand TOT souhu '"0i ev platform had best cease. a,,,;da no- ut;oaI narties. but to unite them. :, lney ore worded to catch votes as wen "s ,at e oa,nciate principles, ana more 'o x,otes than to enunclate pilncipttee nn., forms recognize divisions III 'ie ae, p ana ,y.a,, leading questions or the uay, anu t,l",, upoi ore framed with the view to satlsly .a sn barmonize those divisions. some a.e ao naav to say this is dishonest. It ID nu' ,; e,eSyes+ .sauy hut toleration. practlcal poii- t,cs and more votes. factioI ol ps ean,., is entitled to recognition III l.e pand n,,- nommensurate with it's influence anu adrs, irs .,.anical strength All platforms are coi,i- I..,;sas necessarily so when they are ax nected to be supported py inuist.u r,ta,',, of voters over vast extent ol eeni a. ,,ots I,ha nlatform that secures the mos. Nosus 'ss,
 for the party is the best .,,ia ai,e the hnsness ms not settle questions affecting the pusn tha,, ho. ioterests of this great country, ana tney ha,-a hut little influence upon the iesis five branch of the government. M ev,, ,,,;l, The national democratic platform VII WI. he "a straddle' upon finance. Ine o eaa to oS damocrats attach less importance ao .hn nlatform than the man put upon u. 1ut t than, name the man and you may
 .1oi,e the platform. It Is the man With the,n and not the platform. oou'neln ii demncrats especially have always s,at peen great sticklers for the piatIofIh "a aiu S',o tt,e econstructionists, believing It 10 De tue
 eO,nciation of principles of their party, e,.tirsiv too much so for success Tn the eiactinns. If we would look more to re s,,lsr and less sticklers for the wording ol | inc platform we would succeed pel'ei III | the election. na tha reaIing of 1t will impress broad, liberal minded man as being narrow. contracteo and intolerant, and those who support IL | as unsafe to intrust this great govern ment with. They might legfsiate Tor small district but this government, with l its diversified interests, is too big for their | brains and comprehensions.
 A broad liberal, comprehensive plat | form, harmonizing divisions in the party, recognizing conflicting interests, IS the l platform to adopt. and place upon II men l in sympathy with it, and we have a chance Of winning in the election. A one l sided platform with a one-sided nominee appealing to one faction in the party is | not the kind of platform or nominee the 1 democratid party needs this year, and we l cannot win in the election with such. l | have not doubt but what the platform | of the sta@e convention. If not in word. l will In spirit accord with the platform of l the next national democratic convention. l It win be platform harmonizing and | uniting both factions to insure success In l the August election. If we proceed In g