Politics of AlabamaManning, Joseph C. (Joseph Columbus)
History
Politics of Alabama
Manning, Joseph C. (Joseph Columbus)
Alabama -- Politics and government
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 state ticket and appealed to the justice-loving hearts of the
true, sovereign people of Alabama, for their verdict on the first
Monday in August. The issues between the two factions of the party
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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