Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-31
GOV. OATES AT FAST LAKE
Six Hundred People Gathered
 to Hear Him.
DEMOCRACY IS EXP0UNDED
A Feeling Tribute to MT. 0'Brien, Who Fol- lowed Him-Capt. Ward Also EulogIzed
 the Nominee for Sheriff.

A representative gathering of fully 600 people assembled at East Lake pavilion,
 among them being many ladies, to greet Gov. William c. Oates, Hon. Frank P. O'Brien and Capt. w. c. Ward, who were announced as speakers for the evening"
 pr. c. c. Jones presided and in few well chosen words introduced Alabama's chief executive.
 Governor Oates was accorded royal welcome by the audience.
 In slow, deliberate manner the gov ernor gave a vivid portrayal of true de- mocracy, its history, origin and tradi- tions. He spoke of the war and its re- suits, the division of southern white men on political lines, the advent of carpet bagger and birth of the scallawag; the heel of oppression with which they ground out the very vitals of the Ala bamians and other southern people, who were left impoverished after four years struggle unparalleled in the history of the world.
 He referred to fraudulent votes and the occasion for them and spoke of the days when the carpet baggers, scallawags and negroes voted as early and as often as they saw fit and then told how, goaded by the oppressors, democracy sprung into existence and that great leader, Houston, was named as it's stand ard bearer and bore it to a triumphant victory.
 Governor Oates then spoke of the pres idential nominee, William J. Bryan, and the platform adopted at Chicago. While it was true, he said, that he did not coincide with everything embodied in that platform he was democrat and abided by the voice of the majority and was heart and soul for the nominees and the platform as his party had dictated. He referred to Mr. Bryan, said he was intimately acquainted with him and knew him as perfect gentleman, true to his people and a man destined to rank high in the party. He referred to MT. McKinley's extreme protective measures, and said they would not do for the agri- culturist. He predicted triumphant victory in November.
 Passing from national politics he took up the state ticket, and one by one from Capt. Joseph F. Johnston on down the line he paid glowing and worthy tribute to each of them. He said Captain John ston was an able financier true dem ocrat and a man emnently fitted to guide Alabama's ship of state into a safe har- bor. Then, with ungloved hand, he took up the rep-pop ticket and diSsected the men named thereon. He paid his re- spects to MT. Goodwin and scored him in unmeasured terms.
 As he was about to close his remarks he turned and facing MT. Frank F. O O'Brien, the democratic nominee for sheriff, he pointed his finger at him and said that there was man, an Irish man. whom he had known for twenty-six years. He was democrat and patriot, a man who had, when a lad IF years old, shouldered a musket and marched forth to battle for the southern cause. He paid MT. O'Bren tribute which, as he said, was worthily bestowed
 After reviewing the history of his ad- ministration, both from financial and other standpoint, he thanked his audi ence for their patient hearing and closed. The speech was punctuated throughout with liberal applause and when he paid his tribute to the state democratic ticket and to MT. O'Brien the applause was great.
 MT. O'Brien.
 Chairman Jones then in few timely words introduced the democratic nom- inee for sheriff. MT. O'Brien was cheered for fully a minute, and then prefaced his remarks by saying he wished to de- nounce an organization which presum- ably was fighting him, but actually at- tempting to disrupt the democratic par ty by spreading discord in it's ranks. He referred to the American Protective as- sociation organization and held some of its leaders up to the light and showed wherein they were not only slanderlng him but the other men in the county. and especially that learned and distinguished citizen, Rev. Dr. A. w. MoGaha. This gentleman was accused of having re- ceived $500 from him as a bribe to secure the Baptist vote of Jefferson county. He denounced the man on the rostrum to his face at the time and again in his own bailiwick (East Lake) MT. O'Brien then reviewed his record in the war, his residence of forty and odd years in the state and twenty-six years residence in Jefferson county and said he defed any man to point his finger at one single act of his for which he should hide his head and blush.
 He thanked his hearers and sat down amid great applause.
 Capt. w. O. Ward.
 Chairman Jones then introduced Capt. w. c. Ward who said he was not only i'd dem9eaat, eaat,st Dnb oburcb His speech was in the main devoted to manly defense of MT O'Brien, who he said, was being fought by men claiming to be democrats because he was Roman Catholic. He knew MT. O'Brien twenty six years ago, and has known him ever since as true-blue democrat and rep resentative, progressive citizen.
 Captain Ward then spoke of MT. O'Brien's war record, and turning from him paid magnificent and touching tribute to the Catholic sisterhood, who, on every southern battlefield, went among the wounded and dying, giving
 water, bread and consolation. He re-
 ferred to the Catholic church as having built more founding asylums than all the churches of the civilized world, more hospitals for aged, infirm and helpless people than any other religious denomi- nation, and said he was proud to know that Mr. O'Brien was manly enough to declare his allegiance to the Roman
 @aaaaaaaaaa9a2eaaaeaaea@