Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-26
JOHNSTON IN THE HILLS
RoyaIly Received by the Yeo-
manry of Etowah.
A GREAT DAY AT GADSDEN
One Time Democrats Return Again to the
Old Faith.
FIVE HUNDRED VOTERS ADDRESSED
Fairness and Loyalty Strengthened the
Party and Made Many Friends for
Jeffersoh's Favored Son
yesterday.
A GREAT DAY AT GADSDEN
FIVE HUNDRED VOTERS ADDRESSED

Gadsden, March 25.-(Staff Correspond
ence) 1.-The largest political gathering of
the campaign greeted Capt. Joseph F.
Johnston in his address at the county
court house here today.
His audience was composed of about
500 of the sturdy yeomanry of
Etowah county, and they greeted him
with a degree of cordiality which mani
tested their faith in the time-honored
principles of which he is an advocate.
His address was mastery, and in point
of dignity and fairness attracted the at
tention and admiration of even those who
do not agree with him in policy When
the meeting adjourned many expressions
were made indicating that he had
strengthened the cause of organized de-
mocracy.
Among the prominent democrats who
were seated within the bar were Messrs.
j. p. Rails, W. III. Wilson, Major L. w.
Dean, Rev. Mr. Leath, DR.. Sampler, w.
HI. Gardner, Rev. Mr.. Dickinson, Rev.
Mr.. Boyston, N. G. Canning, r. R. Jelks,
Col. w. H. benson, John c. Pugh. o. r.
Hood, S. M. Crook and Prof. ]. W. Du-
Bose.
After eloquent Introductory remarks
by DR.. ]. p. Rails of this city Captain
Johnston addressed his audience for two
hours on the leading political issues be-
fore the people in the coming election,
devoting most of that time to a lucid dis
cussion of the money question At the
opening of his remarks he said
Ladies and Fellow Citizens: l thank
you for your presence here today; espe-
cially the ladies, for when they are with
me | know am right. The ladies might
not be concerned in the coinage of money,
but no people on earth can beat them
when 1t comes to circulation. / come be-
fore you as candidate for governor,
and am here because l want the office.
/ do not consider that am making any
personal sacrifice, either. l consider 1T
the greatest honor that the people of
Alabama can bestow upon one of her
citizens My opponent has offered many
objections to me. but think his princi-
pal objection is that will get too many
votes Gaughter) / am not prancing
around over the state for the purpose of
showing myself Off l am not a fancy
race horse that is proud of his style and
mien; / am a family horse. Gaughter.)
The ladies can drive me and the chill
dren can ride men. Fellow citizens, am
a plain, old-time democrat, without any
frills or furs, singing out Of the old-time
hymn book and taking my text from the
old-time democratic bible. l do not pro-
pose to say anything unkind about my
opponent am not here for that pur-
pose. After the 21st day of April he will
have to go over the state and tell the
people to vote for me, and say that 1 am
one of the best democrats they ever voted
for. (Applause).
"Mr Clarke's first objection to me is
that am a chronic officeseeker. I have
been a candidate for the same office
twice, and Mr.. Clarke has been running
ever since he was beardless youth He
has held public office for more than
twenty years and now objects to me ask
ing for the first term. While in congress
he quoted literally from speeches that 1
had made for the cause of democracy.
/. 416 fx.1xx -
was on the same side of the question;
but after searching his record in con-
gress I find that all his debates were
with democrats with two exceptions.
They were not against the enemy OF the
democratic party.
Another objection Is that have been
abusing theepresident and his admins
tration. Now this charge only lacks one
element of being good one, and that is
that it is not true. l have differed from
Mr. Cleveland in his policy, but have
never abused him. Every man has the
right to his honest convictions. and 1
have only exercised this right. l believe
in democrats being on a parity. Gap
plause) They say l have abused the ad-
ministration, but they do not name the
time and place. Mr. Cleveland has made
mistakes, as all men do. If there is
man in this audience who will say that
he never made a mistake would like to
have his photograph to exhibit from the
stump all over Alabama--not as an in
fallible man, but as the biggest liar in
E.towah county. Gaghter)
II have advocated the free coinage of
silver all my life, and my democracy has
never been questioned after the conven-
ton. They always. call on me to sup
port the nominee, and those who ques-
ton my loyalty do so before the conven-
ton meets. Never after Mr.. Clarke's
financial views are the result of much
tribulation and uneasness. He has lain
awake at night and tossed upon his bed.
He was in this state for three days and
nights-about as long as Jonah was in
the whales belly. But he decided the
question finally in the darkness of night
there was no light from Heaven to as
sist him."
The~speaker's address was punctuated
with applause, and when he had occa-
sion to refer to John I. Morgan as the
grandest of democrats the audience
went wild with enthusiasm.
.They accuse me of having brought the
money question into state politics.
When / announced as candidate for
governor announced as a democrat, and
not as "a gold or silver man. l did not
bring the currency question into this
campaign. The people have asked for
my views and / have not hesitated to
give them. l think the people are capa-
BILE of self-government and do not need
to be dictated to by any candidate"
Here the speaker entered into clear
and unimpassioned discussion of the
money question. Among other things
he stated that the property of the world
is measured by the amount of the
worlds money; that If gold should be
accepted by all governments as the stand
ard there would be less than $l00, 1000. 600
as basis for the circulation of the
world, after excluding the bullion used
in the arts. This would give the United
States government a proportionate
share of about $4,000. 900. Talk of max
ing $10.OO0,000 the basis of our currency?
That would not buy the Easter bonnets
for our wives and daughters much less
supply thesg great arteries of American
commerce. They tell us that silver doll