The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-01

CuIlman, October 31.-(Special )-Con- gressman J Thomas Heflin spoke to a large audience of Cullman county voters here today. His speech was in the form of a reply to Vim. H. Taft's effort to break the solid south. He spoke in part as follows:
 The democratic party has been in pow CT in the southern states for several years, and when we consider the devas- tated condition in which the war left the south and the gigantic evils that were here as the result of republican rule all will admit that the south has prospered marvelously In spite of the republican party she has protected and improved her Anglo-Saxon civilization. In spite of the republican party she has established and maintained separate schools for white and negro children and restored the government of the white man. In spite of the republican party she has kept out undesirable foreigners and pre- served the south for the everlasting hab- itation for our children and our chil- drens children. What of the south s progress along material lines? Our wealth is greater now than that Of the whole country in 1870. We have more
 
 the whole United States had in lSSO Our cotton mills consume nearly twice as much cotton now as all the mills of the country consumed 2S years ago, and southern mills consume more cotton now than do northern mills There are more miles of railroads in the south today than there were in the United States in 1880 and there is twice as much coal and iron mined in the south now than was mined in the whole country 30 years ago. And the south produces 80 per cent of the worlds cotton crop.
 You tell Us, MT. Taft, that we must quit the democratic party and break the solid south if we would have favor with the republican president and occupy seats at the pie counter of the republican par- ty I would remind you, MT. Taft, ot the long suffering, the affiictions and per secutions that we have endured at the hands of the republican party and how the democratic party has delivered us out of them all MT Taft, it was your porty that tried to destroy the eiviliza- ton of the white man in the south, your party that broke Grants agreement with Lee-violated the sacred terms of the sur render at Appomattox. It's cruel agents who plundered our people and filled dun geons with the bravest and best men in the land. because they dared to defend their property against the thieves and their homes from the lust and carnality of the brutes in our midst. It was your party that destroyed local self govern ment in the south and generously off, fered our people choice between military rule and negro domination-your party that sent from the north the basest and vilest of the white race to encourage the negro in impotence and crime Your par ty that tried to bring about the amalga- nation of the white and black races In the south-your party that openly advo- cated marriage between the races; and your party that countenanced conditions in the south that forced our fathers to do picket duty in those dark and troub- lous' times-and these men stood guard through the long and dreary nights about the homes of our people and they pro- tected from outrage and insult the wid- ows and daughters of our dear dead Con federate soldiers It was your party that gave us reconstruction mantled in d saturnala of crime that shocked and as founded the civilized wirld. Shall we