Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-16

| been jealous of the rights of the states. | We have battled against federal interfer- | ence; but now, according to my friend, | we must pretermit all state issues and de- | termine who Is to hold office in the state | with respect solely as to whether he sup | ports and indorses internationally every | act of the administration. It makes no difference. how true and loyal a man has been to his party; how much of his time and talents or substance he has given; | if he shall so much as fail to swallow one dogma or theory or recommendation Of | the federal administration he Is to be cast Into outer darkness. know there are honest differences amongst the demo- | crats of Alabama on this currency ques- ton We cannot afford to allow these diff | ferences to separate us into hostile camps. There has been no overproduc- l tion of democrats. We need evrry one Il gold and silver. administration and anti | administration-to meet the common en- | emy and to hold our great state in the hands of the white democracy. That is a bigger issue than Clarke or Johnston or Cleveland, or a thousand Clarkes and | Johnstons or Clevelands.
 Frightening Capital.
 My honorable friend says that my cleo ton will frighten capital away from Ala bama. We have heard this sort of talk | before, MT Cleveland told us that if we would repeal the purchasing clause or the Sherman act confidence and prosperl- | ty would at once return, and everything would be lovely l doubt not he believed it. and yet since that time the public debt has been increased about $262 900 00o to maintain confidence and sustain the gold standard, and there is no general prosperity to be-seen.
 When this bond issue is to cease no man knows. It has averaged about $lO,- 900, 900 a month.
 have not increased to any appreciabe extent, and the scarcity of money out side of the great centers IS well known of all men. I have within the past ten years been Instrumental In bringing into Alabama nearly $3 900, 900 to develop our great resources. It has given employ ment to thousands of laborers and aided in meeting the burdens of taxation' all over the state. Can my honorable tfienn show a better record? Capitai, goes where it can find most profitable employment. We find it stated that the English are withdra wing their investments from the United States now practical gcld stand ard federation, and investing 1t largeiy in Mexico and South America, wnere tne silver standard alone prevails. Imagine some, one of our Yankee or Eng glisn friends sitting with his bag of gold and waiting for MT. Clarke to be nominated for governor to dump it into Alabama
 Afraid to Meet Him.
 My distinguished friend insinuates that my refusal to meet him was because was afraid of him. Fellow. citizens, l went into the Confederate army when a youth as a private soldier. l went to the front with my musket and remained there during the four bloody years that immortalized southern valor. looked there upon lines of blue bristling with musketry and cannon, and at least dld not discredit my comrades and my nag I fell wounded four times, once was left for deed. on the field of battle. rose from the ranks to be captain of my com- pany I had the confidence of my own comrades, those glorious heroes whose undying deeds are the richest legacy !ett to the youth of the south. don't think | | shoulr be greatly terrified to look into a nsir of blue eyes I think the blue lines of she enemy were somewhat more dangerous.
 I don't; doubt the courage of my dis tinguished competitor. His organ says he is a bold and courageous man. and that ought to be sufficient. If 1t Is not, my friend himself has intimated that he :, is and certainly leaves no doupting Thomas My friend has been diligent in quoting extracts from my speeches rnn- ming over many years. stand by every word I have said. I have nothing to take back. Every, one of them are on the | same side of the question. No reVeia- tion has come to me in the night tune.
 I confess that have searched the re. rec guished friend. He has been in congress a long time I believe since 1888. have not been able to find any. l have heard that he made one or two, perhaps three, but if is singular that out friend should remain in congress so long and sit there and listen to denunciations of his party and president. and of the south, and hear charges of corruption and fraudulent elections and never lift his voice In de- fense There might have been some ex- cuse for an humble man like myself. who makes nos pretences of oratory, but Tor this blue-eyed Demosthenes of destiny to remain silent when he could have an initiated his enmies Is marvel. Great talents are bestowed by the omipotent I God for use and should not be hid in napkin. H- 1 Then when I come to hunt the killed and Wounded in debate I find that MT. Clarke has been principally engaged in debating with democrats. He has met Stallings and Bankhead and he has hon. ored me with his presence, and I have heard of an engagement with gentle man from, Nebraska. I have not heard of any Waterloo on his side and if seems that if he has won honors in these great debates that the blood upon his blade came from democratic veins. remember in 1892 how hard we were pressed by Kolb. when Governor Jones carried the flag of our party and all of us were in the fight and the issue trembled in doubtful scales, and we appealed to all Q. democra ts for help. Where was our dis tingilished- friend then? Even the voice of the Advertiser could not secure from him fsSt great speeches to overwhelm the enemy One blast upon his bugle horn then were worth 1000 men, but there was no blast. I presume that his duties in congress were too pressing and urgent to permit of his return then.
 There bas never been joint debate in Ala bamag between candidates for govern or There was never any stump speak ing by any candidate for governor, so far as I know, until my friend Governor Jones led off in, 1s9o and I hardly think that was fruitful in getting delegates or harmoDizing democrats. We have no large ma jority in Alabama. We must not allow dernscrats to get go aroused or bit ter in their partsanship that they cannot give a shearty support to the nominee. There is great tension now in the party. A spark often creats havoc. and for my part shall say nothing of my honorable competitors that will prevent my giving him heartyssupport If by unforeseen acci- dent he should be nominated, nor prevent him from employing his great oratorical abilities i'm demonstrating the necessity for my election.