Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-23

been both for Johnston and Clarke. l
want to say that l insisted that IL ma
jority of this convention was controlled
by Captain Johnston they could not al
ford not to recognize the minority of the
democrats in this state; and afterwards
when supporting Mr. Clarke daily and
hourly urged, in public and private, that
IL Mr. Clarke controlled the convention
he could not afford not to recognize the
minority of the democratic party In Ala
bama. Great God, gentlemen, we want
to poll the largest possible ballot in Au-
gust, and while / have no right to APP
peal to Johnston, while the majority of
this convention has no right to regard
any appeal from mel am on the other
side--but you can't make any medicine so
strong that when you give 1t l cannot
swallow.
Hon. r. M. Cunningham of Jefferson
Mr.. President l shall detain the con-
vention but a moment. 1t was perhaps
the nstrumentality OF your humble SER
want that brought the last change or con-
version upon my distinguished friend
the editor of the News. A better DEM
ocrat a more honorable, patriotic citl-
zen does not live today than Rufus ~
Rhodes, and l want to say to you that a
more loyal supporter of the nominees of
this convention will not be found than
the leaders of the SO-called sound money
policy in the state of Alabama. Boys,
you can't bluff us; you can't do 1t. The
boys in the trenches have won the victo-
ry, and 1t Is fer the free coinage of silver
at 16 to |. / know something about this
issue i'm Jefferson | know that was the
issue there. The Issue was made, the
silver men met it, and they won the VIC
tory. Now, fellow citizens, to surrender
the victory after it Is won, and aafter you
.have made such fight-after a fight
such as the Hon. Mr.. Clarke made in
Alabama, to quietly submit is begging
the question Free coinage of silver has
won, the time honored principles of de-
mocracy have won, and the views Of our
senators and the majority of our con-
gressmen stand indicated today. Just
one word and | am done. Where does
the national convention get its authority
if the state conventions do not speak to
let the national know how to speak out.
] am opposed, Mr.. President, to candi-
dates that are equivocal l want plat
form where a man before the election
does not have to say his prayers in
whisper and after the election from the
house tops. Let us be plain and victory
will be won In the great state of Ala
bama, and I, as the humble nominee of
the democratic party In the state, am
satisfied l viii have the support of the
gold standard democrats in the banner
county of Jefferson. I tell you. boys.
they are just trying to bluff you. They
are democrats and have made an honest
fight and we have whipped them--just
like we whipped Moseley--but it is a lit
tie family affair and the boys from the
trenches are on top.
Gen Pettus-Mr. chairman: After all
that has been said here this morning In
this family council 1t would be unseemly
for me to attempt an argument or discus
sion of this question on the coinage OF
money in the United States. This Is
family council, and although we hold our
family councils always in different way
from which they ought-tn- he held, yet
they are family counciIs y III the peo-
pie will hear. / wan ,'e'' .aese gentle