The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-05

| At noon, July %. 1874, the state con-
vention of the democratic and conser-
vative party assembled in the hall of
the representatives at the capitol The
two things ready fixed in the expeeta-
! tion of the delegates were, to make
James l.. Pugh chairman of the meet
ing and to nominate George s. Houston
for governor. The county conventions
them unparalleled. The delegates se-
lected to meet at Montgomery were
of the most worthy men available.
| Mr.. Pugh. in early manhood, was a
whig or unionist He was district
elector on the Taylor and Fillmore
whig ticket of 1913, and was defeated.
The next year he was the state rights
candidate for Congress In opposition
to Hilliard, whg and unionist, and was
defeated. He was elected to the Con-
gress of the United states as a demo-
crat of the Yancey school in 1859. He
volunteered as private in the COM
pany of state troops that went from
Eufaula to Pensacola in January. 1851.
to assist Florida in the secession move
ment He served as representative In
the Confederate congress through the
whole life of that body.
| A practical unaninity of demand for
white supremacy possessed the conven-
tion, but individual delegates appeared
with temporizing views that only
served to give emphasis to the more
virile tone of the body. In the lobbies
1t was whispered that President Grant
should be advised in advance of the
| loyalty of the state, even amidst its
| struggle to FREQ itself from the ten
tacles of the Presidents policies. Del
| egate Pickett from Lauderdale was
proposed as permanent chairman be
cause he had been unionist." Robert
| +. Ligon's name was suggested for
| the nomination for lieutenant governor
| because he had been an "old line whig."
| Mr. Pugh took the chair as chairman
| with the delivery CT a most animating
and eloquent address. mo convention .
he said, mo convention has ever as
sembled In Alabama having more
weighty duties upon it than this con-
vention and none has brought together
as much of the ability of the state In
public affairs as this one.
while we deprecate the inevitable
bitterness which the campaign before
us must necessarily assume and while
we must not permit violence to arise,
we mu fHrate e1t'rc aaH
opinion 1at sHt5
low ev
measur 81 - fishI Haas e
law ar Hshaa M 1fttaE ttt
status Ez@ ..S ~J...Snu...e ia.vs, IL
becomes our plain duty to declare un-
deniable truths and, like men who
know their rights, to meet the great
lquestions forced upon us by our en-
Femies.
"The civil rights legislation of Con-
gress just enacted was demanded by
no sound policy and by no public ne
cessity whatever. II had its origin In
fanaticism and ignorance. The nature
and wants of the negro did not call for
II. In that narrow, wanton and vim
dictlve partisan spirit which animates
the republican party against the white
people of the south, that Legislation
had its birth.
"Is the constituency of the repub-
lcan party in Alabama possessed of
Intelligence and capability to be held
to responsibility for its conduct of pub
lie affairs? While the republican party
in Alabama must be admitted to be
Incompetent. no man will deny that
the average intelligence of the demo-
cratic masses Is equal IL not superior
to the men they put in the offices
Look upon this convention. The heart
OF everp patriot iH filled with pride
, at this superb exhibition of latent
power In the Caucasian democracy of
Alabama
But let the man OF doubt return To this
hall on the twentieth day of next month.
How marvellous the spectacle then! The
collected character of the republican party
will be here. White and black may be-
hold the scene.
rs this really race issue. that is thrust
upon us? This convention insists that
white people must govern. Why Onls'
because they are capable of determining
what government is and Of executing the
theories of government.
I'VE hear the roar of the black wave
| that had it's rise In the Overflow of the
| bounty of the federal government. IL
surges its mad power against the barrier
| of nature. But this barrier Is the white
cliffs of white supremacy, Illuminated by
eternal sunshine. Against ii the mud sea
! will rage In vain until In despair 1t sub
sides forever, leading this lovely land,
1 now threatened with its desolatlng an
| ger, to the control OF the rightful author
| ity the God ordained white supremacy"
( platform which embodied the spirit
and meaning of the county resolutions
preceding was adopted. The phraseology
was noticeable The preamble read. 1.-THE
democratic and conservative people tsc)
of Alabama do resolve and declare" etc.
People and party were convertible terms.
! Houston received the nomination for
governor without opposition and by ac-
clamation. without the formality of a
ballot The nominee then delivered an
animating speech of acceptance. which
left a pleasing impression on the con-
vention.
The nomination for lieutenant governor
was sharply contested. Modawell OF Per-
nv. Powell Of Bullock. Martin OF conecnh.
Woolsey of Dallas David Clopton of
MONTGOMERY we're the contestants until
adjournment of the first day. On Thurs
day, the second day, with the seventh
ballot, r. r. Lyon OF Macon appeared