The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-17
THE RESULT IN ALABAMA.
Comparison With the Contest in North
Carolina in 1872.

To the Editor: -From returns of the
result of the contest in Alabama, given
ia the Washington Post, Independent,
it appears that the silver candidate for
Governor has carried 40 counties out of
81 heard from, having $50 delegates
out of 470, the total number of dele
gates being 405. So that, in round num-
bers. silver polled about four-ffths Of
the entire vote, against one-fifth rep
resentings the strength of the gold
standard idea, and that, too, after the
whole power of the Federal and State
administrations had been thrown into
the scales in favor of gold.
1t is significant because it was the
first ski1nish before the great battle
to be fought at Chicago, and resulted
favorably to silver
TT means that the sentiment of the
South is overwhelmingly in favor of
the white metal, and it's moral effect
will be to encourage silver men from
California to Maine and from Texas to
Michigan. and TO stiffen their back
homes, while the attitude who have
been sitting ION the fence" will drop
down on the side of bi-metallism.
The result of the Alabama contes twill
have much the effect that the State
election i'm North Carolina in August,
1872 had on the Presidential contest,
and is just as good a STRAW to show
which way the wind is blowing.
Augustus Shell, of New York, was
then a member of the National Demo
cratic committee, Daniel M. Barringer
was chairman of the Democratic State
Executive committee of North Caro-
lima Greedy was candidate for Presi-
dent, and the Democrats Of North Car
Dina nominated Judge4A. S. MeTrimon
for Governor, against T. r.. Caldwell,
the Republican nominee. 1t was
thought that the Southern Democracy
would support Greedy on account of his
lfberality towards the South, the fact
that he had gone on Jefferson Davis
bond, etc. The North Carolina election
being the first one before the Presiden-
tial election las Alabama's isl, it was
felt that it was all important to carry
it, so that $4,000 was sent from New
York by two good and lawful men,
both of whom your correspondent
knows well, to carry the State Demo-
cratic.
Fifteen Thousand dollars of the money
was spent, or placed" and So, 900 was
returned to New York by the same men
who brought it to North Carolina, to be
spent IN the approaching Maine cleo
ton. The Democrats lost North Caro-
lima. Tn twenty -four hours after the
result was known, the clerks of the
New York committee were discharged,
the lights were turned out, and the
committee room was closed.
Why? Because when North Carolina
had gone Republican, it was seen that
there was no earthly hope of carrying
the South for Greedy, and his cam
paign was then, practically closed, and
the result was already known.
In regard to the prospects of silver,
the analogy is complete.
History Is repeating and will repeat
itself. If, with money spent, and the
prestige of two administrations State
aud misunderstanding the colors OF
gold, Mr. Clarke, the gold candidate,
could not win in Alabama, with all it's
foundries, factories and influx of
Northern men, but could only poll one
fifth of the Democratic vote at a pri-
mary-held during hours at which
thousands of farmers and mechanics
could not vote at abby what process
conclusion that amy Of the Southern
States can be carried for gold?
And with the entire Southern vote at
Chicago for silver, together with that
Of the West-look at Missouri, and the
vote even In the cities of SkLouis and
Kansas Cify-fayorable to rs TO /, will
not this element of Democracy easily
dominate at Chicago and write the plat
form?
And III the Democrats nominate d sill
yer man, on a silver platform, and the
Populist convention endorses the ticket,
as 1 think they viii, with the Al. 2. As
lighting Mckinley; and Teller, Du-
bois, Mantle, Cameron. Stewart, Jones.
and Carter, the Republican chairman,
fighting for silver III the West, why
viii not Democracy sweep the country 2
j. M. LEACH
Washington, d. G., April 16, 1896.