Birmingham state herald., 1896-04-28
 THE ALABAMA DEMOCRACY Will Toe the Mark Whether the Party Declares FOR GOLD OR SILVER SatIated With Republicanism-Mr. I. C. De- Leon of Mobile Reviews the Situation. Forming in,Sod PhaIanx.
Louisyille. courler-Journal, April 24.

Louisville Courier-Journal, April 24.
 MT. T. c. DeLeon of Mobile, Ala, is in the city and was yesterday interviewed by Courier-Journai representative as to the political outlook in his state. MT. De- Leon is an old Alabama editor, having conducted the Mobile Register for many years, during the struggle which finally freed his state from republican rule. He has never been personal politician and has never run for or held any office, claim ing that he could be more independent and look more clearly at the political field through unofficial spectacles. He said yesterday:
 "I believe that you may surely put Ala bama in the democratic list of sure states in the national election. She will vote for the nominee of the party if he carries the white or the yellow flag; for she Is demo- cratic to the core and she has just proved it. The late election was the hottest and most closely contested I have known in the state, since we drove out the carpet baggers and squelched the scalawags In many counties lifelong friends were ar raysd against each other under the John ston and Clarke flags. The result was not surprise to some of us; but even the oldest heads wagged uneasily over the outcome of the convention. If hot-headed or unwise couRsels had prevailed the de- mocracy would have split into fragments, and the state would have fallen an easy prey to the republicans in the November election. In view of this contingency far more than in any hope of beating an un- divided democracy the republicans have organized all over Alabama, have perfect ed their county alignment and have chosen their best men as candidates. In some cases these are exceptionally good and strong men. Gen J. w. Burke, who is freely named as their candidate for governor is man of brains, a progress sive and sterling citizen and one who has strong business connections.
 Morris D. Wickersham, candidate for congress in the First district Dick Clarke's), is a longtime citizen of Mobile, ex-district attorney and personally popu- lar with his political opponents.
 "These are samples and 1t Is note worthy that this class of men have not put themselves prominently forward for office so long as the loaves were sure to stay in the democratic oven and the fishes to swim in that pool. But the chance of the split in the late .convention-and the certainty of result did 1t come-proved too tempting a chance; and the republi- can training went on to good perfection. Now the splits are beginning to show good democratic daylight through them Why? Because the Montgom- cry convention did it's party duty by de- claring that democracy was bigger man than successful Joe Johnston or beaten Dick Clarke and because those two staunch-if widely differing-demo- cratic warhorses 'sniffed the battle from afar off, and dashed up to the front side by side to meet It.
 .Dick Clarke spoke from the shoulder in that convention. pledging his support to the nominee of the Alabama democra- cy, and calling upon every man who had him to pledge Johnston the same support. The convention that met 'discordant and almost bellig- arent, turned into a lovefeast; the con- mon party love cemented it once more to meet the common enemy, and the strongest supporter of Dick Clarke in his nome county was made preside ntial elect or by the Johnston majority.
 "Hence I say you may put Alabama in the sure column for the presidential nom- inee, whatever the color of his flag may be, and whatever plank may be wedged into the platform under his feet. The state is largely divided on the money question. Whether the personal consid- erations that came into the late hot can vass left the real issue decided l cannot say. That many gold men voted for Captain Johnston I am sure. That as many silver men voted for Clarke Is probable The division of belief on this question is still wide, but do not believe for one instant that it is wide enough or deep enough to risk throwing the state into the lap of republicanism once more. We have had toe. much of that and had 1t too long to dream of admit ting negro and alien domination once more, if the vote of Alabama can save herself and the south from it.
 "The situation with us down there is widely different from that in states be- yond the black belt. When 1t comes to test between democrat and republican victory 1t ceases to be question of sen- timent with us and becomes one of life and death. We grow hot in our family
 quarrels, perhaps, within the party. When the bugle sounds for the national alignment you will find the Alabama de- mocracy standing shoulder to shoulder
 at the front and ready to fight republi- canism and populism today as they were ready to fight radicalism in the days of reconstruction. Joe Johnston's red head
 will flame at the front of the old legions
 as clearly as did the white plume of Navarro, and the gulf state will vote for the democratic standard bearer next No
 vember, be he the nominee of a gold or a silver convention at Chicago"