The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-18

this problem for themselves, we
have a right to ask whether they
are at work upon It. Do they sug-
gest any solution? When and un-
der what conditions Is the black
man to have tree ballot? When
is he, in fact, to have those full civil
rights which have 80 long been his
in law? When is that equality of
influence which our form of govern
ment has intended to secure to the
electors, to be restored? This gen.
Grafton should cOurageOusly face
these grave questions, and not leave
them as a heritage of woe the next.
The consultation should proceed
with candor, calmness and great
patience; upon the lines of justice
ana humanity, not Of prejudice
and cruelty. No question in our
country can be at rest except upon
the firm basis of justice and of the
law.
earnestly INVOICE the attention
of Congress to the consideration of
such measures within its Well-de-
fined constitutional powers, as will
secure to all our people free exer-
else of the right Of suffrage and
every other civil right under the
Constitution and laws Of the United
States.
No evil, however deplOrable, can
justify the assertion either on the
part Of the Executive or of Con-
gress, of powers not granted; but
both will lie highly blamable ii I'LL
the powers granted were not WISE
ly but firmly used to correct these
evils. The power to take the whole
direction and control Of the election
of members Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives is clearly given to the
General Government. A partial
and qualified supervision of these
elections is now provided for by
law, and In my opinion this law
may be so strengthened and extern
ded rs to secure on the whole better
results than can be attained by q
law taking all the processes Of such
election into Federal control. The
cOlored man should be protected in
all Of his relations to the Federal
Government, whether Y litigant,
juror, or witness In our courts, as
an elector for members Of Congress,
or as a peaceful traveller upon our
interstate railways.
| OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
u There is nothing more justly hu-
initiating to the National pride,
and nothing more hurtful to the
, National prosperity than the inferi-
GRITTY of our merchant marine com.
pared with that Of other nations
whose general resources, wealth.
and sea-cOast lines do not suggest
any reason for their supremacy on
the sea. 1t was not always 50, and
our people are agreed ! think, thai
1t shall not continue to be 80. 1t Is
not possible in this communication
, to discuss the causes Of The decay
of our shipping interests or the dit.
. fering methods by which it is pro-
posed to restore them. The state.
. ment of few Observation-Disclosures
facts and some general suggestions
as to legislation is all that is practi
cable. That the great steamship
, lines sailing under the flags of Eng.
T land, France, Germany, Spain and
!, Italy, and engaged in foreign com
, merce, were promoted and have
since been and now are Literally
aided by grants of public money il
one form or another is generally
known. III q the Amt r can lines o.
steamships nave been abandoned
!, by US To an unequal contest with
the aided lines OF other nations un
, til they have been withdrawn, or
In the few cases where they art
: still maintained, are subject to Sc
, riOus disadvantages, is matter o.
common knowledge.
The present situation is such thai
: travellers and merchandise find
Liverpool often necessary inter
: mediate port between New YOrl
, and some Of the south American
capitals. The fact that some o.
the delegates from South American
states to the conference of Ameri
, can nations now In session Al
Washington reached our shores b,
> reversing that line of travel is very
= conclusive Of the need of such !,
!, conference and very suggestive al
, to the first and most necessary stel
|. In the direction of fuller and mOr1
beneficial intercourse with nation,
that are now our neighbOrs upol
|, the lines Of latitude, but not upOl
' the lines Of established Commercial
intercourse.
4 recommend that such appropri
8 atoms be made for ocean mail ser
Y vice In American steamships be
9 tween our ports and those Of Cen
). trail and South America, China
Q Japan and the islands in both Q
: the great oceans as will be LIBERAL,
T remunerative for the service rend
e cred, and as will encourage the es
J. Establishment, and in some fai
1 degree equalize the chances, Q
v American steamship lines in tn
i competitions which they mus
r meet. That the American state
A lying south of US will cordially &C
z operate in establishing and main
= tanning such lines Of steamships t
r their principal ports do not doub,
= We should also make u provision
U for a naval reserve, to consist Q