Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-23
Birmingham, Ala, Sept. %. /


In looking over the political situation;
preparatory to commencing active work
in behalf of the democratic ticket, I think
see dangers, which, if not averted will
be of more serious injury to the people of
Alabama than can be accurately esti-
mated. 1 am impressed with the fact
that If angry and acrimonious epithets
are INDUCED in, In waging this battle,
the victory which we hope to gain will
be at the expense of interests much
dearer than those involved i'm this cam
vass. We cannot hope to promote sue
cess for our cause by indulging in abuse
and vituperation. Abuse cannot promote
the interests of any party, nor can 1t In
Jure the cause which we are opposing.
1T will not do to substitute harsh and Bit
ter language for argument and reason
In this country every man Is accus-
toned to feeling that he has as many
rights and as many privileges as any
other man. He has been taught that car-
tain rights are inherent, and no one has
right to interfere with them. He claims
for himself equality, not only before the
law. but in every other sphere of life.
Because he differs from his fellows is not
sufficient excuse to charge him with dis
honesty.
If we hope to succeed in this contest
without injury to our local interests we
must abstain from all kinds of abuse and
depend upon the righteousness of our
cause and the principles we advocate for
success. I honestly believe that those
democrats who have withdrawn thsir
support from the democratic ticket have
made serious and dangerous mistake,
but they are the keepers of their own
consciences, and with them rests the re-
sponsiblity. A family fight is always
more serious and productive of graver
results than contest with our neigh
bors. Therefore we should avoid giving
offense and conduct this campaign upon
the merits Of our cause.
So convinced am I of the imperative
necessity of adopting this policy, in or
der that we may come out of the contest
with sufficient power to protect and pro-
mote our local interests, I feel that any
man who (having his attention called to
i) would persist in prosecuting such
policy is very indiscreet at least. I be-
lieve we can safely rely on the patriotism
and devotion of the people of Alabama
to our institutions, to induce them to alb
stain from such course as will bring un-
told evils on our local interests. There
can be nothing gained to our cause, as
have said, by indulglng in elimination
and recrimination Nothing can justify
any public speaker or newspaper in d.
verting the minds of the people from the
interests we are trying to promote, by
exciting their passions and arousing
their resentments towards those who are
constraine to differ with them on the
questions involved in this controversy.
think / have right to insist that the
people who belong to the democratic
party shall refrain from that character
of discussion, which must result in fu-
ture injury to the white people of Ala
bama. And I appeal with some conf
dence to those who belong to other par
ties to abstain from such practices, and
Tt,1r.A
can be nothing gained from bitter, angry
contention; even If we should succeed by
such means we could not enjoy the vic
tory half so much as IL we could feel that
we had gained it by addressing ourselves
to the reason and honest Judgment of the
people.
The questions involved in this cam
paign are national But If we should so
conduct ourselves as to destroy the peace
and harmony and pleasant relations or
our people we would be in such condi-
ton that the local interests, upon which
we all depend, involving the preservation
of our social and moral conditions, would
be seriously injured We must not for
get that the man controlled by prejudice
is an unsafe leader. Tt is not possible to
secure q Just Judgment of the merits OF
the issues If we abandon reason and re-
sort to other methods of prosecuting the
canvass. Every patriot who has In
f1uence over the people should abandon
prejudice and passion in the discussion
Of questions that effect the public veal.
No man is justified in assailing the mo-
tives and exciting the passions OF an
audience because they happen not to
agree with his views of the policies to be
pursued in dealing with the economic in
terests of our government.
I deem the course suggested by me IN
this letter necessary to bring success to
our people without danger to our future
interests.
This contest is one that WILL not and
CANNOT last long.
These differences must be settled with
in a short time, and when they are settled
other questions and other considerations
will engage our attention which could be
easily solved but for the estrangement
growing out of this struggle. II the re-
suit of this canvass is to build up wall
of prejudice and stir up feeling OF Dit
terness and animosity, we will not be In
a position to come together in consider
ing the new questions affecting our local
interests. "
I therefore appeal to every citizen of
Alabama, whether he be democrat, sup
porting the Chicago platform, or a sup
porter of the Palmer -Buckner ticket, or
whether he be populist or supporter or
McKinley-I appeal to all to abstain from
anything that tends to bitterness and
strife. / am willing, having faith In the
merits of our political creed as set forth
in the Chicago platform, TO submit 1t to
the calm and dispassionate judgment of
the people. do nor believe we have any
thing to fear from the results: do not
believe we have anything TO fear, howev
er we conduct the campo ign from the
immediate results; but our future and To-