Birmingham state herald., 1896-04-26
A AUTHORIZATION.

The editor of the State Herald objects to the impertinence of the correspondent of the Atlanta Constitution, who has gone out of his way to misrepresent the editorial which appeared in this paper the day the convention met. The facts as stated by him are not true. They are entirely imaginary or the result of mis- information The policy outlined in that article is the cool, deliberate judgment of the editor, written with regard solely to the welfare of the democratic party and to the healing of all breaches that might obstruct the election of Captain John ston. We asked the convention to con- tent itself with a simple resolution de- clarins for free coinage of gold and sil- yer. That is what the convention did. That wise leader of the people, Gen. E. W. Pettus, knew exactly what to say and he said it so well that no democrat could take offense. He began at the right place and stopped at the right place. Our fear was that in the heat and en- thusiasm of great victory the conven- ton might be led into indiscreet denun- citations, such as have appeared so ire quently in the public press and been so often sounded from the hustings.
 On the 10th of March last the State Her aid, in objecting to spirit of ostracism on the part of many gold standard men, used the following language, which was received with pleasure by the entire press of both factions:
 "From the outset it has been under stood that there is a difference in the party upon the money question. The last state convention recognized that differ and pprppd fO tOnrafa fhp 0iffpr- ence in order to keep the party together for purposes of graver moment than are now connected with the currency. Why, then, at this stage of the game, should our friend prescribe Captain Johnston for entertaining views which he has all along entertained and pronounced and which the state convention tolerated? Are bimetallists to be ostracised for hon. est opinions which pretty much all the world are now coming to acknowledge as correct? Our friend appears to think that the candidacy of bimetallists for To- cal offices is a breach of faith, or some- thing of that kind. This idea is simply absurd. Who can keep man from of fering for an office and who can stop his mouth as to any question affecting currency or anything else? The ques- tion of currency is here, and it is here to stay until 1t is settled and it will stay until it is settled right. Every intelligent man understands that there Is differ enCe OL OplflloD Oi lllG QutStioIl, pul llOl such wide difference as should destroy the democratic party. We must protect and preserve the democratic party, be- cause upon that party depends the se- curity of the liberties of the people of these southern states. To preserve that party we must stand by the catholic an nouncement of the last democratic con- vention of this state. We must recognize the fact that we differ on the matter of currency. We must let the candidates for office take such position on that ques- tion as they prefer. No one has a right to say that any man is not good demo- crat who takes this or that position as to currency.
 No objection was ever made to this arr ticle. It was complimented on all sides and received the plaudits of all the silver orators. It was written in the right spir- it and it set the pace which secured for Captain Johnston a large following