Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-03
.
ALABAMA POLITICS.

Under this caption the New Orleans
| Times-Democrat of Monday has a tele
graphic correspondence from Montgom-
cry which challenges our attention and is
worthy of the consideration of every
man who has at heart the welfare of his
party and his state. This special CORE
spondent says:
"A great many friends of both candi-
dates are attempting to compare the APP
preaching contest, and base their pre-
diction of the result upon the Oates-John-
ston campaign of two years ago. This
cannot be done with any degree of accu-
racy. The race is in no wise similar. Mr..
Clarke does not occupy the same posi-
ton that Mr.. Oates did, nor is Captain
Johnston looked upon in the same way.
Mr.. Clarke is equally as popular as was
Mr.. Oates and. in fact, occupies a posi-
| ton in the politics of Alabama far more
| enViable. He is known to be a man of
ability, an honest and upright citizen,
| and Withal very popular He has the
courage of his convictions, and upon the
currency issue (Which is the chief one)
| all know where he stands, and those who
| differ with him respect his convictions
and believe that with him 1t is a matter
| of principle and not trimming. Notwth-
| standing all this, he is beaten in this
| race already, and pity It's that such a
man should be; but he is handicapped,
| and his friends are his political assassins.
| No, not his friends but those who pose
| as such; those who loved him much, but
| hated Johnston more 1t was attempted
| to herald Mr. Clarkes announcement as
| being his consent to answer the cry of
| democracy for a leader. He would have
us believe he was unWlllngly the stand
| ard-bearer of his party, but that duty
called and he was never known to falter.
This sounds very nicely, but we all
| know how and from where this wall
| m w
| love the party, for the partys sake, did
| not want Mr.. Clarke to come into this
| race. and the same people, though they
| may desire to support the administration,
| and though they may be for sound mon
| ey, and though they admire Mr.. Clarke
| personally. will not be hoodwinked and
| swallow the doctrine in this fight that
| the end justifies the means Mr. Clarke's
| promotion-to the gubernatorial chair in
itself would be nothing less than a fit
ting compllment-but the means. How
| these spontaneous demands for Mr..
| Clarke came forth is well known. This
| is reacting-it has the elements about it
| of ring, and the sound thereof I'm
| fortunately some of Mr.. Clarkes friends
believe that he has allowed his friends(D
| to sdetrack him in his race for senator,
and he Is now in the fight for governor,
and these same friends(O are shouting
for him and at the same time grooming
| their choice for United States senator,
| mans way for senator
| MIR. Clarke is preaching administra-
| ton strongly. This is bold but not poll
| tic. Many. many good democrats differ
| with Mr.. Cleveland on the currency ques-
ton and bond issues, but Mr.. Clarke and
his newspaper friends will not allow
| these people to vote for him. There are
thousands of good, honest people who
have followed the course of Senator Nor
| gan on the silver question for years.
| have always found him on the side of free
| silver, and have remembered that his
| chief opponent was Mr.. Sherman. who
has equally as long time preached SIN
gle standard gold. These people remem-
Der that Alabama democracy has here
tofore been unanimous practically, in OPP
posing John Shermans currency views.
He has been considered the mouthpiece of
| Wall street and the spokesman of fatted
corporations. Mr.. Morgan is still in the
| same position and so Is Mr.. Sherman.
but where is Mr.. Clarke? He is advo-
eating the views that Mr.. Morgan has
taught these same good honest people
to oppose and while it Is possible Mr..
| Morgan may be wrong, still Mr.. Clarke
has the heaviest load to carry he ever at
| tempted The people listen to him, but
they cannot help thinking that 1t is
strange doctrine; not the gods of Ala
bama democracy that the true and tried
leaders of the past have preached about.
He tells them his views and those of
Mr.. Cleveland are based upon the ex-
preston in the Chicago platform of 1892,
and that 1t is surprising that a man of
ordinary intelligence could translate any
other construction from this democratic
source.
ut will be remembered that at the
head of the Alabama delegation In the
Chicago convention was that monarch of
democracy, Gen. E. w. Pettus of Dali
las, a man of wisdom, of power, of integ-
rity. When he voted for that plank sure
ly he did not think he was voting to re-
peal the coinage of silver and for it's
death. Nor did the others who with him
ably represented the state. Still, for
sooth, the word has been sent, the hour
is come, and we could not construe plain
English.
MANY more good, honest people will
vote for Mr.. Johnston because they be-
lieve that our state government is In dan
ger; that such unseemly wrangling but
tends to weaken our forces and leave
a divided front to meet the enemy. The
nominee, whoever he be, will have a hard
fight We must be ready to make this
fight Whoever persuades himself that
we can win without effort is thought
less. Is it the part of prudence to wage
such a war among ourselves in advance
of the real battle? Why then bring in
this question of national import when it
might be kept out? If we bring it In
then we must discuss 1t as friends and
not try to drive out of the party those
who differ with us. The Chicago conven-
ton of 1896 will settle this matter, and
| by August we cannot differ on it. Ala
bama's vote in Chicago cannot alone es-
tablish democratic principles. Then shall
we go without the walls of the city, leav-
ing it unprotected, and fight among our
selves, and when we are almost worn out
with the discussions and strife we have
created return and find that the dearest
thing to all of us is no longer ours? We
are in chains In disgrace, defeated by
the common enemy.
II am for sound money, and will vote
for Johnston, for in my opinion he can be
elected easier than Mr.. Clarke Mr..
| Johnston has always been true to the
party, Is man of determination, of abil-
ity, honesty and integrity. He is true to
his friends. and will be our next govern
or"
FRAUDULENT USE OF MAILS.