Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-12
THE PASSING OF THOMAS q.

After all that the democratic party has
done and sacrificed and suffered for
Thomas G. Jones it was presumed and
hoped that he would from a sense of
gratitude for past favors, If not from de-
votion to The principles of democracy and
fidelity to the party that has honored him,
bow to it's expressed will and remain
steadfast to his duty as democrat. He
has done and said many unwise and fool
ish things in his public and political ca
reer; but it was believed that he would
not commit himself to the consummate
folly and weakness of joining himself to
the enemies of the people and attempting
to plunge the dagger of party treaehery
to the vltals of the only political organi-
zation which stands for the rights of the
people against the aggressions and exac-
lions of the trusts, combines and monop-
oles, the shylocks and gold conspirators
and financial bunco steerers of New York
and London.
When it was advertised in flaming
headlines that he, would be the chief at
traction and address the REPUBLICAN
AID SOCIETY at Lakeview Monday
night, those who knew him well and had
supported him in his political aspirations
were unwilling to credit the announce
ment and believe that he had deserted his
party and become the open advocate of
republican Observation-Disclosures that have
been repudiated by the greatest and most
representative political convention ever
held on this continent and abhorred and
denounced by the vast ma jority of the in
teligent and pa triotic white voters, not
only of Alabama, but of the United States
and indirectly the supporter and de-
fender of the most disreputable and per-
nicious party that ever cursed and blight
ed the people and the country. His
former political associates and support
ers-and they constitute the brain and
Drawn and patriotism of the democratic
| party and continue true to it's traditions
| and principles-when they stood like a
| stone wall for democratic principles and
party organiza ton, although Thomas
| Goode Jones was then their leader never
| for one moment imagined that he would
| be among the first, after twice .aceiying
| the honors and emoluments Of the high
est office in their gift. to desert theif
ranks and align himself in open antagoI
nism to them and their interests. But
such is the fact; such the record.
Mr.. Jones has deliberately read himself
out of the democratic party, and with his
bag and baggage gone into the camps of
it's enemies. The party can do quite as
we'll without as with him. Perhaps ii
would have Jared better without the bur-
den of his leadership from 1890 to 1894. 1t
certainly loses nothing now by his volun-
tary departure to political fellowship and
doctrines which he would not have sought
and embraced had they not been more
| comfortable and congenial to him than
| those of the democratic party.
The passing of Jones from the great
| party of the honest masses of the common
people to its enemies, the boodlers, the
corporations, bond syndicates and con-
spirators against the peoples prosperity
and liberties and the nations honor and
credit is regretabl not for any possible
damage to result to democracy and Its
principles, but because of conspicuous
exhibition of fragrant party infidelity and
gross political ingratitude.