The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-26

The democratic and conservative party
campaign of the spring and summer OF
1874 for the election of a state govern
ment had a substructure in the collapse
of the element in possession and its
1gnoble impotency to maintain even the
forms Of law and order any longer. Re
tur nto military rule was the alternative
of return of the state to its natural con-
stituency.
The attorney generals legislature, for
its second and last sessions, assembled the
middle of November and adjourned final
ly for want of funds to pay the per diem.
the middle of the next month. The clos
ing year had left long list of disasters
in its course. The fields everywhere had
failed of their accustomed harvests. The
most successful farmers were in despair.
The yellow fever epidemic had prevailed
with extreme virulence in Mobile and
abated nothing in its ravages at Mont
gomery. At the moment when the short
cotton crop was reaching the market the
price in a day fell from Is to eight cents.
The Jay Gould panic BLACK Friday
lad stricken Wall street. Depositors in
banks could not draw United states
a
them in limited amounts at good
round discount. Governor Lewis informed
the legislature that he had been unable
to sell for money any of the state bonds
during the present administration In
a word, the state credit was lost Fifteen
millions of interest bearing debt was in
Cured by state indorsement of railroad
bonds and the roads in no case paid
the interest. Nothing was doing we'll
the insane.
The accomplished gentleman and ardent
patriot, Robert Tyler, editor OF the Mont
gomery Advertiser, was in the place OF
leader left by Clanton, dead. The state
election was in November On February
&c he issued a call for the meeting in
Montgomery of the state executive conn
mittee. Every member answered to the
call-Thomas j. Judge, Watts, John d.
Phelan, Bethea, Sommerville Clayton,
James Crook, Price Williams. Jr.. I4igon,
William M. Lowe and all the others.
Every voice was exultant in the glorious
unity of Alabama. In the November pre-
ceding a very successful agricultural
state fair had been held at Selma. 1t
was the first general public gathering
since the war. The number of people
from all over the state was a surprise.
Many hundreds of Confederate veterans
yet in the strength of manhood we're
there.
Gen. T. McIver Law, Gen. George d
Johnston, Gen. John T. Morgan, Gems
Pettus, Shelley, Herbert and many others
Mingling with these were young men and
women who had reached adolescence since
the war. The vast throng wore new
clothes and were happy. After the day
was spent General Morgan invited a hall
dozen of his friends to join him in ar
hour of good cheer. Recalling some of
the incidents of the day and remarkine
upon the fine spirit of the people, he lift
ed gracefully his glass exclaiming: Gen.
tlemen, this Is the resurrection morn oi
Alabama
The committee without moments hes
itation, prepared An Address to the Peo
pie OF Alabama" Rich in argument, SOU
stirring in it's ardor, the address badt
d "All men of conservative instincts and
sentiments TO rally in one determined and
gallant effort for social and political sal
vation,"
A few men of intelligence and good
repute in Alabama and in all the south
ern states under the ban, consorted with
the revolutionists at the expense of theil
own mental conclusions that condemned
their conduct. Judge Rice was the rank