Birmingham state herald., November 13, 1895, Page 4, Image 4

About Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897

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Entered at the postofflce at Birmingham,
A la.. aB^c^cond-claaa rnatter.
Eastern Business Office, 48 Tribune Build
ing New York; Western Business Office, 509
“The Rookery,’’ Chicago. S. C. Beckwith,
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news reports of neighborhood happenings
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ter or length, should be written on only one
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sent to the Editorial Rooms.
THE THIRD AND FATAL STEP.
In writing of the meeting of populists
in Greensboro last Saturday for the pur
pose of selecting delegates to attend the
meeting which holds forth here today, the
Greensboro correspondent of the State
Herald had the following to say of the
Hon. Thomas K. Jones:
“Hon. Thomas K. Jones, who was twice
a candidate for state treasurer on the
populist ticket, was present, and In a
short address severed his connection with
the populist party and announced his de
termination In the future to support the
nominees of the democratic party. We
learn that in the course of his remarks
he stated in substance that the populite
party had run its race; that the Issue was
now between the white man and the ne
gro, and that he proposed to stand by the
tvhlte man. Mr. Jones is Intellectually a
strong young man and has had a large
and devoted following among the popu
lists of this county.”
The State Herald desires to call the at
tention of every man who will attend the
meeting here today, and every man in
Alabama who saw lit to abandon the reg
ular organized deunocratfc party in this
state and join what was in 1892 named
the Jeffersonian democratic party, es
pecially to the action of Mr. Jones, be
cause his action Is Important. He was
one of your trusted leaders and his course
should have a good deal of bearing with
those of you who will be called upon after
the adjournment of the meeting here to
day to again make choice of parties.
In 1892 when the split came the party
nominating Captain Kolb took the name
of Jeffersonian democracy, and under
that banner the campaign of 1892 was
fought; so also was the contest of 1894
waged under the name of Jeffersonian
democracy; but after the contest was over
there came about a meeting of the lead
ers of the Jeffersonian party which re
sulted In the taking of still another step,
leading directly away from the well
beaten paths of true democracy and
straight on towards the republican camp.
That meeting merged the Jeffersonian
democratic party into the populist party.
Having gotten thousands of men who
were born democrats, rocked in the
cradles of democracy and nurtured by
the milk from the breasts of true demo
cratic mothers, to fight two campaigns
under the name of Jeffersonian democ
racy, the leaders became sufficiently bold
to try the plan of pasturing them during
the inactive season in the barren fields
of populism.
What do we find the next step to be ?
It Is to pass on from the populist pastures
Into the republican camps. That step will
be taken here today. After the work of
today shall have been concluded there
will remain In Alabama only two political
parties—the regular democratic and the
regular republican parties. Those who
have conducted the effort to destroy the
democratic party In Alabama have done
their work gradually and deliberately,
and we must say with some degree of
generalship. They were entirely too
shrewd to attempt to take life-long dem
ocrats Into the folds of republicanism at
one step; so step by step they have done
their work, going first under the name of
Jeffersonian democracy, then under the
name of populism, and now they come to
take the third and last step, landing
themselves and those who follow them
further in the outstretched arms of R. A.
Moseley and his crowd. Thomas K. Jones
lias seen the point and declines to go fur
ther. Thomas K. Jones at heart Is no
better democrat than thousands of other
men In Alabama who went off In the Kolb
revolt, but he happens to see and realize
a little earlier than many others where
the road he has been traveling leads.
To all those former democrats who
went off after Kolb who have made up
their minds for good and always that
they prefer going to the republican party
to returning to the house of their fathers
the State Herald has nothing to say fur
ther than that they have gone In haste
and can repent at leisure. We have no
harsh criticisms for them. This is a
free country and every man has the free
born right to choose his church and Ills
political associates. To those who have
not yet so determined, and we are glad
the class whom we address constitute a
large majority of the Kolb following, the
State Herald would say In all candor and
seriousness, stop! Think! nnd take your
bearings before taking this third, last
and fatal step. You are advocates of the>
free coinage of gold and silver,
a free ballot and a fair count.
None of these can you expect
at the hands of the republican party.
Naturally, no man dare say that the re
publican party is not the father of gold
buglsm in this country and locally you all
know them. They have been In control
in Alabama nnd one of the acts passed
by them looking to fair (?) elections made
the challenging of a voter a felony. The
fair (?) election laws given Alabama by
the party you will be expected to pin
your faith to after today are absolutely
the feuntaln head of the election frauds
of which you complain now. The populist
party as a national organization Is gone.
The proposition of the leaders of the pop
ulist party here In Alabama is to deliver
< over to the republican party the voters
who have only been populists in Ala
bama since the last election; really, we
might say just during the grazing sea
son. It you are a democrat and believe in
democratic principles return to the dem
ocratic party like the Hon. Thomas IC.
Jones has dona, and let's keep Alabama
In the hands of the party that has made
It the grand state that It Is today.
Some are mad, some want power* and
place, but the honest yoemanry of this
country want true democratic principles
to prevail and desire that the govern
mental affairs of this state shall remain
In the hands of the men who have the
best Interests of the people and the state
at heart, and that class of the Kolb fol
lowing will not be slow In making choice
of parties after the populist party shall
have, today, been merged into the repub
lican party.
VIEWS OP DANIEL WEBSTER.
The recognition of the Cubans as bel
ligerents is a matter which the ap
proaching session of congress must .meet
fairly and boldly. It Is In order that this
republic should express Its sympathy for
a people struggling to establish a govern
ment similar to that of this country. It
Is not so long ago that the United States
received Kossuth wlth*warmth and uni
versal applause. The Austrian govern
ment protested against our expression of
sympathy for the Hungarians. In 1850,
at the close of the attempt at freedom of
the Hungarian patriots under Kossuth.
Mr. Hulsemann, the Austrian charge
d’affairs, had communicated to Daniel
Webster, then secretary of state, a note
emanating from his government protest
ing against the steps taken by the presi
dent of the United States to ascertain
the progress and probable result of the
revolutionary movements in Hungary
and complaining of some expressions in
the instructions of the former secretary
of state to Mr. A. Dudley Mann, a con
fidential agent of the United States, as
communicated by President Taylor to
the senate on the 28th of March of that
year. Mr. Webster in reply to Mr.
Hulsemann said that as the events which
had occurred in Hungary "appeared to
have their origin in those great ideas of
responsible and popular governments,
on which the American constitutions
themselves ure wholly founded, they
could not but command the warm sym
pathy of the people of this country."
Similarly the events occurlng in Cuba
command and Justly command the warm
sympathy of the people of this country.
Mr. Webster very truly said:
“Certainly, the United States may be
pardoned, even by those who profess ad
herence to the principles of absolute gov
ernments, if they entertain an ardent
affection for those popular forms of polit
ical organization which have so rapidly
advanced their own prosperity and hap
piness, and enabled them, in so short a
period, to bring their country and the
hemisphere to which it belongs, to the
notice and respectful regard, not to say
the admiration of the civilized world.
Nevertheless, the United States have ab
stained, at all times, from acts of Inter
ference with the political changes of
Europe. They cannot, however, fail to
cherish always a lively interest in the
fortunes of nations struggling for insti
tutions like their own. But this sympa
thy, so far from being necessarily a hos
tile feeling toward any of the parties to
these great national struggles, is quite
consistent with amicable relations with
them all.”
As to the recognition or new powers ny
a neutral power, Mr. Webster proceeded
to say in unmistakable terms, such terms
us we trust Mr. Cleveland will use as
respects the Cubans:
"Of course, questions of prudence nat
urally arise In reference to now states,
brought by successful revolutions into
the family of nations; but it is not re
quired of neutral powers that theyshould
await the recognition ef the new govern
ment by the parent state. No principle
of public law has been more frequently
acted upon, within the last thirty years,
by the great powers of the world, than
this. Within that period eight or ten new
states have established Independent gov
ernments within the limits of the colonial
dominions of Spain, on this continent,
and in Europe, the same thing has been
done by Belgium and Greece. The exist
ence of all these governments was rec
ognized by some of the leading powers
of Europe as well as by the United States,
before It was acknowledged by the states
from which they had separated them
selves. If, therefore.the United States had
gone so far as formally to acknowledge
the Independence of Hungary, although,
as the result has proved, it would have
been a preeiphate step, and one from
which no benefit would have resulted to
either party. It would not, nevertheless,
have been an act against the law of na
tions, provided they took no part In her
contests with Austria.”
And further, answering the remark of
Mr. Hulsemann that ”lf the government
of the United States were to think it
proper to take an indirect part in the po
litical movements of Europe, American
policy would be exposed to acts of retalia
tion,” the great American answers In this
forcible and dignified language:
‘•As to tills possible fortufie, this hypo
thetical retaliation, the government and
people of the United States are uuite will
ing to take their chances and abide their
destiny. Taking neither a direct nor in
direct part In the domestic or intestine
movements of Europe, they have no fear
of events of the nature alluded to by Mr,
Hulsemann. It would b« Idle to discuss
with Mr Hulsemann those acts of retal
iation which lie Imagines may possibly
take place at some indefinite time here
after Those questions will be discussed
when they arrive, and Mr. Hulsemann
and the cabinet at Vienna may rest as
sured that, in the meantime, while per
forming with strict and exact flinty all
their neutral duties, nothing will deter
either the government or the people of
the United States from exercising,at their
own discretion, the rights belonging to
them as an independent nation, and of
forming and expressing their own opin
ions freely and at all time* upon the
great political events \*htch may trans
pire among the civilized nations of the
earth.” _ _ ,, .
If such was the attitude of President
Taylor's cabinet towards a people strug
gling against fearful odds In the Interior
of Europe, distant from us thousands of
miles, with no seaport to receive our
commerce and with ideas of government
very distantly allied to our own, what
will be the attitude of President Cleve
land and his cabinet towards a people
distant only a few miles from our shore
who are struggling to remove the flag of
despotlo Spain from the gateway of the
American Republics and to elevate in its
place the flag of a free Cuban republic?
Are we to keep our lips sealed and our
sympathy hushed under a repressive in
fluence and system which was unknown
to Henry Clay when he spoke for Greece
and the South and Central American re
publics, and to Daniel Webster when he
spoke for bleeding Hungary? We hope
that Mr. Cleveland and his attorney-gen
eral, Mr. Harmon, will read and ponder
over the following words from the great
expounder of the constitution, one of the
ablest lawyers ever born to mould the
minds of mankind:
"It (free speeoh) Is a home-bred right—
a fireside privilege. It has ever been en
joyed in every house, cottage and cabin
In the nation. It Is not to be drowned In
controveisy. It is as undoubted as the
right of breathing the air and walking
on the earth. It Is u right to be main
tained In peace and in, war. It Is a right;
which cannot be Invaded without de
stroying constitutional liberty. Hence
this right should be guarded and pro
tected by the freemen of this country
with a jealous care, unless they are pre
pared for chains and anarchy."
Glorious Webster! It Is doubtful
whether he would have supressed Cuban
day at an exposition as a mark of sym
pathy for a people struggling for repub
lican government.
THE SITUATION CLEARING UP.
The Atlanta Constitution of yesterday
published the following Interesting inter
view with air. John VV. Tomlinson, mem
ber of the national free coinage demo
cratic campaign committee:
"The political situation is clearing up
and assuming definite shape in Alabama,
with good prospects of democratic har
mony and success. Yes, Joseph F. John
ston, in response to urgent demands from
democrats from all parts of the state,
has authorized the announcement that
he would be a candidate for the demo
cratic nomination for governor, and the
democrats of Alabama are almost unan
imous In the belief that Johnston is the
man to lead the democracy of Alabama
In unbroken ranks to victory next year.
In fact ever since the last state conven
tion the nomination has been conceded to
him."
'Is Governor Oates a candidate for re
nomination?"
“No, Gov.Oates is not a candidate. He
has said repeatedly, both before and since
his nomination, that he would not be a
candidate for renomination, but is u can
didate for the United States senate. I
was in the convention that nominated
Oates for governor and heard him say in
a speech that It was 'In the third race
he had won the nomination, and who
could tell but that the same thing would
be true of Joe J^nston.' That night the
Oates delegates mingled freely with the
Johnaton delegates, assuring them ‘We
are for your man the next time.’ The
next time has come and they are true to
their word. Johnston, as was his duty
as a democrat, took the stump for Oates
and democracy triumphed."
"Will there be any one to contest with
Johnston for the nomination?"
“It looks now as If there will not. The
democrats of Alabama realize that an
other hot contest like the one two years
ago would not tend to strengthen the
party.”
"Is there any danger of Alabama going
like Kentucky?”
"No, Alabama lying along side of Mis
sissippi and the same conditions exist
ing, will go as Mississippi w ent. The de
feat of the democratic party, for many
well known reasons, would be more dis
astrous in Alabama than in Kentucky-,
and the people of Alabama thoroughly
recognize this fact."
"How about the financial question in
Alabama?" , , .
"In will he fought out on a high and
dignified plan, without personal abuse,
and (lie views of the majority will pre
vail and the minority will, I am sure, like
good democrats, acquiesce and give a
hearty support to the nominee. Thc
democrats favoring the free and unlim
ited coinage of both gold and silver are
thoroughly organized in Alabama, hav
ing a reliable committeeman in every
beat in every county In the state. These
report the advocates of (he single gold
standard and currency contraction in a
hopeless minority.” . •
WEAKNESS OF THE POPULISTS.
Uuder the above head the New Orleans
Times-Democrat baa the following to
say:
“One of the surprises of last Tuesday’s
election has been the almost complete dis
appearance of the populist party. That
party being basedso largely on hard times
and depreciated prices, and being com
posed mainly of calamity howlers, it was
natural to expect that It would very ma
terially increase Us votes with business
still more or less uncertain.
"The democratic losses arc largely
attributable to the hard times; and it
was expected that these Iohscs would re
sult to the benefit of the populists. It
was natural to suppose that a dissatis
fied voter who believes that the demo
cratic party which he has hitherto sup
ported is responsible for the present de
pression, and who wishes to give it a
warning, would vote the populist ticket
instead of the republican ticket; especial
ly as the platform of the populists prom
ises to restore better times.
“When It came to the voting, however,
these explanations were doomed to dis
appointment. The republicans received
all wandering votes; and the populists
have not only gained nothing„from the
depression, but they seem to have actual
ly lost votes. In Mississippi, they are de
cidedly weaker than they were a year
ago, and this result is not attributed to
the improvement In the price of cotton,
but rather to the disintegration and in
herent weakness of the new party. It
shows Signs of early dissolution in a
number of the states. In Indiana, for in
stance, where, at one time, the party wad
strong, It will disband at once. The lead
ers have deetded that there is no future
for populism in Indiana, and that it is
a mere waste of time, money and energy
for them to carry on the campaign there.
The secretary of the state central com
mittee has resigned, and the other mem
bers promise to follow his example. The
Indiana populists declare that there is a
probability that the populist national
committee will also give up the fight.
This story Is doubtful, and is probably
presented to excuse their own action;
but even if the national committee holds
on it is evident that the populist party Is
not as strong as it was a year ago, and is
on the decline; and it must be recognized
by all that if the party grows weaker, irt
the present condtton, of affairs, which
ought to be favorable to its growth and
to help it politically, it will have a very
poor outlook in times of prosperity.
“The explanation of the failure of the
populists to increase their vote seems to
be that the American citizen does not
like what the politicians call firing
•blank cartridge votes.’ He does not
want to throw his vote away, and if he
will not cast it for the democratic ticket
he prefers to vote the republican ticket
Instead. Moreover, the changes and re
forms which the populists promise, are
not sufficiently attractive to the discon
tented voter, and do not strike him as
practicable. It can be predicted with the
greatest certainty, from the result of last
Tuesday’s elections, that no matter what
the political situation may be next year,
the populists will poll a smaller vote than
in 1892.”
THE LAND OP PROMISE.
In summing up what Mr. Edward At
kinson tells the.-north he found on his re
cent trip to the Atlanta exposition the St.
Louis Post-Dispatch says:
"Mr. Atkinson found In Charlotte, N.
C., all the processes of cotton production,
from the picking of the bolls In the field
to the spinning of yarn and the manufac
turing of cotton seed oil and oil cake. In
connection with the oil mill were huge
sheds whore oattle Were fattened on the
remnants of the cotton seed for the north
ern market. One mill last year fattened
2000 Texas oattle and for future fattening
a better grade of oattle are being bred In
the mountain districts.
“In another place he saw a complete
cotton mill of the latest type, glazed with
fine ribbed glass and run by electrlolty
supplied by water power. He saw the
gradual development of the negro into a
necessary factor In southern Industry,
and under conditions which promise a
satisfactory future for the race. This
view of the case was emphasized by a
visit to the negro building It} the exposi
tion and by conversations with leading
negroes.
“Mr. Atkinson also found evidence of a
great advance in farming in the south.
He, found a realization of the value of
renovating plants for enriching waste
and sterile soil and an opportunity
through their use of adding to the re
sources of the south. He states that
sheep can be raised In the uplands with
such economy of expenditure as to make
the value of the wool clips net profit.
“When it Is considered that the fac
tories. the utilization of cotton products
formerly regarded as waste and the im
provement in methods are the results of
less than fifteen years of work, one may
grasp the possibilities of the new south
within a generation. It is a land of glow
ing promise."
DEMOCRATIC HOPE.
A democratic jubilee was held In Ohll
licothe, Mo., last Friday. Hon. William
J. Bryan of Nebraska was the orator of
the occasion, and the eloquent young ad
vocate of the true principles of democra
cy* had the following to say regarding the
recent elections:
“Some of our opponents think it re
quires a, great deal of nerve for us to asV
sert that the principles of democracy will
triumph after last Tuesday's defeat. I
am not one of those. That which is right
will always triumph. There is a division
in the democratic parly on one great
.question. The papers which advocate
the gold standard point to Kentucky and
the Eighteenth Illinois district and say it
is a rebuke to the free coinage of silver,
but they do not say anything about the
defeats in those states where the demo
crats indorsed the gold standard were de
feated. The Kentucky platform was a
revision of the Chicago platform, while
Mr. Hardin construed the platform to
mean free coinage of silver at 16 to 1.
Since Mr. Hardin was defeated the oppo
nents of silver say it was a rebuke to sil
ver. if Air. Hardin hnd been elected they
would have said it was a victory for Mr.
Cleveland and Mr. Carlisle.
• In the Eighteenth Illinois district Mr.
Dane ran on a free coinage platform and
Mr. Hadley, the republican, on an ambig
uous straddle. Mr. Hadley had all the
money lie needed, and yet he ran 1100
short of the vote received by the republi
can candidate in that district last year.
This does not show any affirmative gain
in that district and affords no occasion
for the administration's rejoicing.”
“He Ihc-n spoke for two hours in behalf
of the free coinage of silver, giving argu
ments that were undeniable and which
found favor with his hearers.
“Ill closing he used these significant
words: 'When. I tell you the democratic
party cannot live unless It deserves to
live. I tell you what no man can deny,
and if it does not deserve to live it should
not live. If the democratic party is gov
erned by plutocracy it means death to it.
If it lives it must advocate equal rights
to all and special privileges to none. Let
plutocracy control the republican party,
but If democracy lives It must favor the
free coinage of silver.’ ”_
There should be no doubting Thomases
now. The recent elections should settle
the question. The people are not with
the administration._
The eyes of yie country are on Birming
ham. Important inquiries about the city
and Its natural advantages are received
daily. _
A question for the populists to decide:
Where was the populist parly when the
cyclone passed last week?
How to keep other southern states from
going like Maryland and Kentucky—ap
ply the Mississippi plan._
Birmingham is full of visitors today.
This is growing to be quite a convention
city. ___
Mississippi and the states that held no
elections last week remain democratic.
The final round-up will take place in
Birmingham today.
Birmingham keeps growing.
Now for the next congress.
Business continues good.
PUBLIC OPINION.
With a little Imagination it may be
possible to construe the democratic vic
tory in' Mississippi as an indorsement of
the administration's foreign policy.—Mil
waukee Sentinel, Rep.
Even Canada threatening us—on the
Alaska boundary! If you want to fight,
John, why don’t you say so?—New York
Journal, Dem.
True democracy did not suffer Tues
day, Cleveland suffered. Rings and boss
es suffered. Gorman, Brice and Hill suf
fered. But these men and men like these
do not represnt democracy. These men
must be disowned and driven out by dem
ocrats, who must henceforth fight under
new leaders for principles and not for
spoils. This is the lesson taught by Tues
day's elections.—Monroe Bulletin.
The Tammany victory is one more ob
ject lesson to reformers, not to divide
their forces on minor issues. Had there
been unity in the reform ranks in New
York city, even at the cost of some con
cession of opinion, Tammany would have
been defeated and another term of decent
oity government assured. As it is, the
battle Is all to be fought over again at
the next election, for it may be assumed
that the people of New York city, having
had a taste of good government, are not
likely to relapse helplessly into Tam
many abuses without a desperate strug
gle, _st. Paul Pioneer Press, Rep.
The federal government is very careful
In this matter, and has a system of bank
inspection which renders the swindling
of depositors or stockholders in national
banks almost Impossible. Louisiana can
not afford to be any less careful. Its
duty Is to protect its people from loss
and lnjufy. Under the present system,
however, there Is no such protection.
Banks can be established here with the
greatest ease, without those safeguards
that are absolutely necessary, xand the
people are left to protect themselves as
best they can. New Orleans made a nar
row escape some time ago, when the Phil
lips J. Greene bank was established. For-,
tunately there were warnings against
that concern, and even the most unwarv
were suspicious of it. New Orleans, in
consequence of these suspicions, escaped
all loss, but it is by no means certain
that it will always be as lucky if it leaves
such opportunities open for sharpers.—
flew Orleans TliheS-Democrat.
With the Introduction of white prima
ries to nominate candidates for office or
the selection of delegates who will repre
sent the voice of the people, there Is a re
turn of power to Its original source—the
people. Thus an opportunity Is afforded
the very fountain head, the basis of this
free government, absolutely to select
their local rulers and legislators, either
from those who offer or by choice, of their
own volition. With this mighty lever of
unhampered freedom and uncontrolled
power, the people become the arbiters of
their own government. Through this
channel of primaries, where every voter
can express his individual preference,
the opportunity is afforded to inaugurate
needed reforms and to select pure, honest,
capable and intelligent men for position.
There is also given tihe marked and prom
inent occasion to see that such vote is
absolutely fair and honestly counted.
Uuder this system, if the people do not
securq the acme of their desires in honest
government honestly administered, then
the blame attaches to no one but them
selves.—Shreveport Times,
Young gentlemen having ambition to
play orchestral or band instruments, of
any kind should consult Professor Weber
at the Birmingham College of Mualo.
| Spies'?] d opportunity. «-28-tt
ALABAMA EDITORS,
Death o 1 Homer Robb: as.
The editors throughout the state will
sympathize with Editor Robbins of the
Brewton Hauge in the recent death of his
little son, Homer.
Unite for the Big Battle.
Says the Prattville Progress:
“United we stand: divided we fall. The
democratic party should take warning
from last Tuesday s elections and unite
for the big battle of next year.”
Can Still Live and Advocate Silver.
The Headland Sun Is tha/nkful:
"Thansgivtng day will soon be on hand,
and we should all render thanks to the
Mighty power at Washington that we are
still permitted to live and advocate free
silver.”
"J.'is Troubling Them.
Says the Headland Sun:
“The Heats that Senators Morgan and
Pugh occupy In the senate are giving
their gold bug enemies more trouble In
studying how to dispossess them than, it
is them In losing their coveted treasure.’'
Useless Motto.
The Huntsville Tribune says:
“We so often see the uselesR mottoes,
‘God Bless Our Home,’ ’The Lord Will
Pr ovide,’ 'Nearer, My God, to Thee,’ upon
the walls of our people where rudeness
and discourtesy Is taught to the children,
where the parents are shiftless and where
their hearts are never centered upon the
glory of God, which la His goodness.”
Broadsides Again.
Another edition of "broadsides" was
published last week and sent out as sup
plements by the little papers that have
given themselves up to be used In that
way, imagining no doubt, that their sub
scribers will think it newspaper progress,
and will exclaim: “Our editor! Big In
jun, heap!”
The Editor Apologizes.
The Centerville Press sends out a sup
plement of "broadsides” this week, but
the editor being ashamed of the act thus
apologizes:
"The last tlwee Issues of the Press have
been gotten out under difficulties. The
rolling was done with a job roller 9 inches
long. We ordered a new one", but it has
not arrived."
Democrats Had Better Unite.
The Leighton News serves this timely
warning:
“The solid south is broken, and no won
der. Democrats and democratic papers
helped to do it. If the different species of
democrats of these latter days do not
unite and become democrats as in the
days of tribulation and sore trial, when
there were no bickerings in the party,
look out for a republican president in
1896."
An Easy Question.
Will somebody stop the procession long
enough to tell us where we democrats
are at? We seem to have been lost In the
shuffle.—Montgomery Evening News.
Your sort of ‘'we" democrats are In
the clutches of the republican party.
Real democrats of the Jefferson and
Jackson stripe are right where they have
always been, standing squarely by the
people’s interest and carrying the flag of
freedom.
From the Governor’s Homo and Fig Tree.
We have been shown a letter from
Governor Oates to a friend in Clayton, In
which he states that he would ba here
during court, and if the people desired to
hear him, he would make a Rpeech on the
political issues of the day. The people
are not exceedingly anxious to hear him.
They believe that he has become one
among the few political demagogues in
the state.—Clayton Courier.
We are not that way down here, broth
er. While we don’t agree with the gov
ernor in his monetary views and we
know that he has changed from what
he preached a few years ago, yet we ac
cord every man the right to change, and
accept it as honest until he has been
proven to be a demagogue. If the gov
ernor can make a better showing againBt
silver now than he did for It, We would
like to hear from him. Our people would
welcome the governor to speak for them
at any time.—Headland Sun.
FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE VINDICATED.
To the State lierata:
In a short editorial in your columns
last week mention was made between the
Seventh Day Adventists and the Sunday
law of Tennessee. As I have seen nothing
later in regard to the outcome of the tri
als I will be happy to place before your
readers some facts concerning that point
and the real situation of affairs. This is
something that should interest all, for
the religious liberty of upright, indus
trious American citizens has been In
volved, and whenever the sacred rlgljts
of conscience, even of one individual, are
invaded every true lover of liberty should
protest and stand In noble defense.
Between forty and fifty Adventists
have been Interested this year in sev
eral different states, not for committing
any act of violence, dishonesty or dis
orderly conduct, but for performing quiet,
honorable labor upon the first day of the
week, after having rested and observed
the seventh day, according to his con
scientious convictions.
Chief Interest has centered in Rhea
county, Tennessee, where almost one-half
of these prosecutions have occurred. At
Dayton, during three terms of the circuit
court in succession, the Adventist cases
have overshadowed everything else, and
ha-ve attracted national attention.
In March eight parties were convicted,
and, not paying their fines, were impris
oned. Their cases came to the notice of
Governor Turney and he i>ardoned five,
whose terms had not expired. In July
another contest took place and eight par
ties were again sentenced to fine or im
prisonment. They chose the latter al
ternative, which Included work on the
public roads with the county criminals.
Since then it seems that public sentiment
has undergone a decided change, for last
week when court convened four cases
were tried and every one were acquitted
without the jury leaving their seats. They
were defended by Judge Shepherd of
Chattanooga and Ex-Congressman Snod
grass of Dayton, who volunteered their
services from pure devotion to religious
liberty, as the Adventists are accustomed
to make their own defense without em
ploying counsel.
Judge Parke also In his charge advised
the dismissal of the cases and commended
the character of the defendants. In all
matters except the disregard of the Sun
day law they are acknowledged to be
law-abiding citizens, and possessing char
acters that are above reproach. They
maintain that civil government has no
right to enforce any religious matter,
qnd when it does no one Is under any ob
ligations to obey such requirements, for
In matters of conscience no individual is
accountable to ?he state,but to God alone.
They have conscientious reasons also for,
refusing to honor Sunday more than any.
other of the "six working days.” With
them it would be a denial of their faith,
for they regard Sunday as a rlvg.1 Sab
bath, established by the papacy, and the
mark or sign of her power, and that to
receive her mark and yield to her require
ments would be disloyal to God. Hence
the enforcement of Sunday laws upon
them Is not only unjuat, but It Is also re
ligious D«riHQUtlao. all sbaujd rslalu
In the triumph of right principles In thl*
struggle.
The TimeB-Democrat of New Orleans In
an editorial entitled "Religious Freedom
In Tennessee" of November 8 says: "We
are heartily glad to see that an end ia
at hand for this religious persecution, at
least In the state of Tennessee.” After
expressing the hope that Mississippi and -
Georgia would follow Tennessee's exam
ple It further says: “If the lafw In these
states be against the stopping of the
persecution, as Is contended, then let the
law be altered at the earliest opportunity
Into a kinship with modern religious tol
eiatlon. Such persecution Is an ugly sur
viva! of mediaeval barbarism." It will
be cheering to see the press In general
take a like noble stand. Yours for the
right, E. D. HASKELL.
He Wxb Sleeping.
Huntsville Democrat.
When we hear a smart Aleck get up
and say the silver craze is dead it re
minds us of an occurrence which took
place In thejsuburbs of our city down on
Dry creek during the latter days of the
war. Dead mules were very common In
those war days, hence when a party of
urchins walked up on a large gray mule
stretched out on the common, It was a
matter of no surprise. Do you see that
mule, said Andy, our colored companion,
well that mule is dead, and I Intends to
have the pleasure of twisting one mule's
tail before I dies, so here goes. There
upon Andy gave the reclining mule's
tall a twist. No rifle ever went off
quicker when you pulled the hair trig
ger than did that dead mule. It was
all over in a second, the mule was quietly
looking back, and the littK? negro was
falling through the branches of a neigh
boring tree. That mule was not dead,
but sleeping. This is the present condi
tion of the silver sentiment. We farmers
are busy marketing our crops right now.
but if the gold bugs think we are dead
all they have to do Is to twist our pollt 1
oal extremities. When they do It if they
don’t get back to the mother earth by a
tree or telephone pole rout we will give up
lhat we don’t understand the patriotic
nature of the determined mountain billies
of north Alabama, who believe in main
taining the principles of sound democ
racy.
AL WA VS
SOMETHING
New and stylish to select
from our establishment. If
you want to look well
dressed and to be perfectly
in the style, look over our
goods and the prices will
enable you to buy.
ROGAN.
OUR LETTER BOX.
To the State Herald:
It gave me so much pleasure when I
read Governor Oates' speech at Chick
amauga, as printed In the dally papers,
that I could not forego re-reading It in
the pamphlet form, In which it now ap
pears, It is difficult for any but a practi
cal critic to give reasons in detail for
what pleases him, but there Is evidence
of. manhood in the speaker and truth in
his statements which appeals with pecu
liar force to us all. There is less than
the susual appeal to rhetoric in the sen
tences. There is also a lack of that beau
tiful word painting, which is so attract
ive to women, especially of the Cuba
Grey order. The speech is short, not a
word too much, none to spare, but there
is a pithiness in It, added to courage in
the speaker, who, while so many were en
deavoring to oonceal the truth, pro
claimed it. The part taken by Colonel
Oates in the battle Itself is plainly told
and without varnish, neither does he
spare Polk for his delay in making his
attack at an earlier hour. Interesting as
this account Is, it is in his causes of the
war that the colonel rises to a plane of
dignity unique and seldom heard on fra
ternal occasions. He attributes the
causes to that pernicious spirit in the
Puritan character whloh “assumed to
think for others, who In a pharasalcal
spirit thanked God that they were not
as other men.” They undertook to med
dle with the affairs of the Cavaliers, who
were a “generous, brave people and dis
posed to mind their own business." It
was “an aggressive fanaticism meeting a
brave and reckless defiance.” In which
shorthand way of comparing these two
characters, if the colonel is not precisely
correct, he has certainly struck the south
ern notion of it.
The colonel does not believe that the
freedom of the slave was the slogan
which fired the northern heart, for he
cites the act of congress, which said:
“The restoration to the union of the se
ceded states, with all their rights, digni
ties and Institutions,” and as slavery rvas
the peculiar Institution of the seceding
states he states a fact that cannot be
blotted out. Neither did Mr. Lincoln con
sider that freeing the slaves was to fol
low the restoration of the union, for “he
suspended General Schenck in Maryland
because he undertook the emancipation
of the slaves" as "in violation of the con
stitution." He referred to the canoniza
tion of John Brown “as a martyr,” and
when in stating that southern people re
sented this intermeddling with their pe
culiar state of affairs by the abolitionists
of the north some of his audience ex
pressed surprise and dissent, said in re
ply: “I will tell you the truth and gife
you nothing but facts. He further states
that it cost to subjugate the seceding
states. “Including pensions, up to last
year $8,250,000,000." The speech is well
worthy of reading and does Governor
Oates great credit.
NOTICE.
The committee appointed by the Com
mercial club to receive and welcome the
Cook county democracy, and all others
who wish to participate in the welcome
of the Chleag-oans, are requested to meet
at the city hall at 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning for a few moments only to
adopt plans In the premises.
J. A. VANHOOSE.
, Chairman.
Awarded
Highest Honors—World’s Fair.
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