Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-13
A NoN.PARrIsAN QUESTION.

The Mobile Register, while it ever and anon goes astray in its ideas of what constitutes democratic principles, and sometimes is troubled and more or lass ennbarra ssed in its endeayor to pull it's feet out of the republican bog without Ioosing it's boots, shows the right dis position in the following editorial to ac- cept things al they ars in Alabama poii- tics and to acknowledge the uselessness of kicking against them:
 'Some of the state papers argue in fa- vor of ths elimination of national issues in the next state campaign, saying that prolongation of differences will endanSer the success of the reform movement, which has for it's object the making of new constitution for the state. 1t will be observed that the editors who prcp Sc the Elimination of national issues are precisely those whose association " tn the party is such that their opinion CT argument would be of little effect In facr, the mere making of the proposition to avoid national issues has subjected the makers to the charge of lukewarmness in the cause The silver wing of the par ty completely dominates the party and controls the party machinery in this state; and it's organ has time and again announced that the campaign will turn on national issues. There is no doubt whatever that this will be the case. and,
 
 good reason why it should not be the case. Of course. if the state party has changed it's belief since the national con- vention was held, that would be another matter, but there is no admission of any such change of belief The silver men and the managers of the party are pro- nounced,y in favor of the doctrines de clared in 1896 in Chicago. Of course they will redecfare their allegiance, and they ought to do so.
 "NaVprthp hp1e.$ pltho1Ip~h m rti-s,p c,,os, tions ca nnct be kept out of the state ca m- paign there is no req son why the uues- tdon of a constitutional convention should be made partisan one. That is a state issue solely. and all kinds of men can and do join hands in helping to push it along. Silver men as well as gold men favor ii. The Birmingham State Herald advocates 1, not whit less warmly than the Mo bile Register does, and democrats of all Shades of belief on national issu S can De relied upon 10 cast their votes for itha candidates who, other things being equal will pledge themselves to vote for the calling of constitutional conv sntion Tt would be better for the movement tf the party were in harmony on all na- dional issues, bup we must take things as we find them and try to make the best possible out of them. What W. can do is to make the question of a constitutional convention a purely state question. ask ing ehe supnort of all lovers of state progress This is the only method which promises any sort of success We hope to see it followed"
 When the Admission Hot Blast first sue gested than national matters be eliminat cd from state issues the State Herald could but believe that paper was jest ing, for the Hot Blast was cognizant of the ahove facts printed by the Register bsfore it made its suggestion
 While the democratic party as a party. is willing 10 do any and everything in reason to harmonize factional differences and build up the party. it does not pro- pose do throw down its guns and sur render to any faction or come to a parads rest and yield one jot or tittle to the the orists who a.tempt to teach tha' democ- racy means o-her than the principles adopted by ;he founders of the party and upheld by the majority of its members.
 Our opinion now is, and was at the be- ganning of the controversy over the elin- inauion of lthe money question from state politics, that our contemporary ahe Hot Blast, had got the cart before the horse, if it's purpose was to secure change in the organic law of the state The oues- ton of constitutional convention can very easily be eliminated, as it is a ques- tion on which large majority of the vot- tlS agree, aIlu D1t WHICH IL IS not nece'S- sary that an issue be made further than ao discuss the question in order that the voter may be able to vote in; ;elligently and iiot ignore tlls matter as has been done in the past. ITO make new consti- dution political issue for the campaign would naturally create prejudice against bs among many who now favor it, and, in our opinion. would defeat it.
 The lines. as the Register intimates, are already drawn, and if the members of the Palmer and Buckner party desire to or ganize into a party of '5heir own, they lla ve the right to do so, and if they think by Introducing the cons s.ftutional conven- dlon question will frighten democrats and make them yield their views on free coinage or even subordinate them to ob- tain a new constitution, sfpsy are mis- taken We have managed to live. and