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POLITICS OF ALABAMA

by

J. C. MANNING







Published by the Author

Copyright, 1893, BY J. C. Manning.
All Rights Reserved.




DEDICATION.


To the patriotic people of Alabama who demand "a free ballot and a fair
count," and believe in honest government, this little book is
fraternally dedicated by the author.




[Illustration: J. C. Manning]




CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I. THE FAMOUS KOLB-JONES GUBERNATORIAL CONTEST.

CHAPTER II. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ONE OF PREJUDICE.

CHAPTER III. DIFFERENT KINDS OF "PARTY LASH" CRACKERS.

CHAPTER IV. THE TROUBLE OF THE SIXTIES.

CHAPTER V. WANT PRODUCES THINKERS.

CHAPTER VI. "BOURBON" CAMPAIGN INTOLERANCE.

CHAPTER VII. ELECTION METHODS OF THE DEMOCRATS.

CHAPTER VIII. SUCCESS OF THE POPULISTS ASSURED.




POLITICS OF ALABAMA.




CHAPTER I.

THE FAMOUS KOLB-JONES GUBERNATORIAL CONTEST.


Until recently, embracing the past several months, almost national
attention has been centered upon the politics of Alabama.

Notice was first attracted by the famous Kolb-Jones gubernatorial
contest. This campaign was something novel in the South, for until then,
there had not been, for years, any probability of defeat to the
organized Democracy in Alabama.

However, during the Kolb-Jones political fight, astute "organized"
Democratic leaders soon expressed such grave apprehensions of the
success of their ticket that, only a few weeks before the time had come
for the state election (Aug. 1, 1892), Alabama was in the throes of such
political excitement as had probably never before been known in the
history of that commonwealth. This fervor increased up to the day of
election, when, as is known to the entire country, Capt. R. F. Kolb
swept the state with cyclonic victory, notwithstanding the fact that he
was defrauded by the manipulations of the ballot-box stuffers,
unscrupulous returning-officers and unprincipled members of
canvassing-boards. Another man is to-day occupying the seat to which
Captain Kolb is entitled, with the absolute acquaintance of the
certainty of this statement, and with the perfect knowledge that a vast
majority of the people of Alabama are fully aware that, inasmuch as he
has assumed it wrongfully, he is unworthy of the trust. What a shameful
and revolting spectacle!

President Hayes was never more despised by the people of Alabama, than
is Governor Jones by the common people of his own state.

No better or more interesting recital could be given of the rightful
claims of Captain Kolb, than is made in his open letter, written
December 15, 1892, and addressed to the General Assembly and people of
Alabama. In this letter Captain Kolb makes a demand for justice, gives
well-known facts that are susceptible of proof, makes statements of
particular frauds, and asks why an investigation of the matter is not
permitted and the people allowed to choose their own public servants.
The letter is as follows:

     "TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, AND THE PEOPLE
     OF ALABAMA:

     "As I have so far been denied the official rights conferred upon me
     by a sovereign people, I deem it my duty to address this open
     letter to the members of the Legislature and people of Alabama, and
     respectfully ask for an impartial hearing. 'Let justice be done,
     though the heavens fall.' On the 1st of December, 1892, a
     conscienceless and corrupt oligarchy overturned the republican form
     of government in Alabama, and installed as the _de facto_ governor,
     a man who was not elected to the office. I feel that I am airing no
     mere private or personal grievance in thus protesting against and
     denouncing this great crime against law, order and civil liberty. I
     would be an unfaithful steward and unworthy of the sacred trust
     confided to me by the people of Alabama at the polls in August
     last, if I remained silent under the circumstances. Two years ago
     the Democratic party, in convention assembled, refused to nominate
     for governor the acknowledged choice of a majority of the party.
     For the sake of harmony, I bided my time for another two years,
     believing that the people would then rise in their majesty and
     throw off the tyrannous yoke of party bosses. On the 8th of June
     last, the Democratic party again assembled in state convention, to
     nominate candidates for governor and other state officers, and for
     a second time, the rights and wishes of the people were over-ridden
     by fraud and the unfair use of party machinery in the election of
     delegates thereto. My friends did everything in their power to
     bring about a fair and honorable settlement of all differences
     existing between the two factions of the Democratic party in the
     state. All overtures in this direction were treated with scorn and
     derision by the so-called 'organized' Democracy, and we were forced
     to organize our own state convention, which was composed
     exclusively of life-long Democrats. This convention nominated a
     full