Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-07
HE IS STILL A POPUL|ST But Must Vote the Ticket Head
 ed by Johnston. PROF. HENRY PAGE BuRRUSS Sums Up the Situation in Alabama in Mas terIy Manner-But One Way to the
 White Man.
PROF. HENRY PAGE BuRRUSS
To the State Herald:

am an Omaha platform populist. What shall do in the approaching state election? There is no opportunity for me to support this platform directly in its entirety in the present state election. must choose if I support anybody for governor between the democratic candi- date and the cooperation candidate for governor. In my judgment the CO., operation ticket, in it's state sup port, in its national associations, sympathies and expectations is essen tially republican. It was created and Is dominated by republican influence. It is and will continue to be throughou its career under political mortgage to the republican party, state and national. It is, so far as Alabama is concerned, re- organization and reyivification of the re- publican party to all practical purposes and in its practical influence. The pop ulist uniform is all of popursm that is left to the organization in Alabama claiming to represent populist principles. It is populist in name only. The boa con- strictor of republicanism has compressed and swallowed the infant Hercules. I be- lieve that sooner or later a genuine, true and faithful populist party will be ganized and established in Alabama, but 1t will require time and further experi- ence on the part of the people to de- velop It. The reckless suicide of the or ganization claiming to represent popu- lists in this state is the best preparation for such an event, in view of the fact that the republican party has a mort gage on it, whose periodic threat of fore closure ever and anon stamps more and more indelibly upon it the character and purposes of the republican party. The absorption of the men controlling the populist organization into the republi- can party in Alabama, however sad to many individual populists throughout the state, is one of the startling incl dents and misfortunes of the revolution ary conditions in our state and country. The adoption of cooperation or fusion with the republican party, and the norn- ination of republicans on the state ticket who do not renounce their allegiance to the republican party, absolves all pop lists from any obligation of party law to support the ticket. Every individual populist Is left at liberty to exercise his personal judgment and inclination as to what candidates he will or will not sup port. Let him consider the matter fully, take his political bearings carefully, as- certain his political latitude and longi- tude as exactly as possible, select his course and move along that line for the best interests of Alabama as he conceives those interests to be,
 Since the action of the populist organi- zation in the state convention on the 18th Of April l have reflected long, carefully and sadly on the political situation in All abama. I am populist of deep and abid- ing convictions. I have diligently sought to discover what an individual populst citizen ought to do in the present compli- cation of state politics. mean populst who cannot accept cooperation or fusion with the republican party as his political duty. I have been strongly inclined to take the negative course and support neither candidate for governor, as did in the congressional election of 1894. have been disposed to indulge the fond hope that my party organization had gone on a brief political excursion. from which it would soon return to its normal political moorings; but further observa- tion and reflection thoroughly convince me that the crew who man this fusion vessel will never reverse her brow, and that I shall look in vain for her return to populistic waters. The siren song of cooperation and the sweet notes of fu- sion have swept the too willing craft up- on the fatal breakers of republican com plication and entanglement. Would that Ulysses had been in command of the bark to fill the ears of the crew and lash himself to the mast. As populist and an arti-fusionist, we are left upon the strand to ruminate upon the arduous task of padding our own canoe across the dark and stormy sea of Alabama pol itics. Upon comparison of the views of Senator Goodwin and Captain Johnston I find the following correspondence and difference of political profess:on:
 Goodwin favors honest elections.
 Johnston favors honest elections.
 Goodwin favors free, unlimited and in- dependent coinage of silver at 16 to 1.
 Johnston favors free, unlimited and in- dependent coinage of silver at 16 to l.
 Goodwin favors extension of public schools
 Johnston favors extension of public schools.
 Goodwin favors protection of the states credit.
 Johnston favors protection of the states credit
 So far the professions are parallel, but now arise the divergencies:
 Goodwyn declares for protection to American industries. With him, as with the republican party, the tariff is to be made a leading issue in this year of our Lord 1896. Johnston does not present this issue. Johnston declares for state government fair to all under the control of the white men of Alabama. Goodwin favors universal manhood suffrage with out qualification and forms combination with the republican party for the sake of securing the large negro vote of the state. upon which he will depend in a large measure for his election. Senator Goodwin, if elected, would be under great obligations to pr. Moseley, MT. Parsons, the republican leaders, state and national, and the negroes of the state for his election. His appreciation would be due mainly to republicans and his election would be republican tri- umph rather than populist victory. My observation and experience with the influence of MT. Parsons, Dr. Moseley and the negroes in the conference meet ings of the republicans and populists has not yet filled me with an abiding de- sire to elevate them to position of tn- fuence in the administration of our state government. 1n view of these facts and conditions I shall support Captain John ston for the gubernatorial chair in pref erence to Senator Goodwin. have reached this conclusion with the highest personal regard for Senator Goodwin. I met no gentleman or patriot In the state campaign of 1894 for whose culture of head and heart. knightly qualities and