Huntsville gazette., 1889-02-23
DECATUR.
Numerous Office Seekers. Fav-
ors the Proposed Election
Law EX- Senator Spen-
Ger. Locals.
Decatur. Ala, Feb, q, 80

Dear Gozette.
Speculation respecting President
elect Harrison's Cabinet his given
way to consideration Of petitions fer
appointment to Office that have been
cireu ating here for the past tors
night. Applicants like mushrooms
are springing up every night. There
are legion for U. s. marshall,
Post masters etc. For Post master
here there are some five or six, all
very worthy men. 1t is matter
for regret that they can't all get it.
| don't endorse the custom of circus
lating petitions before the Inaugur-
alton and announcements Of the cabi
net; doubt the propriety Of it. Be
sides politics in this day is practi>
cal business and the construction of
the next Cabin alone will deter
mine who are the lucky ones in this
state Of one thing all may rest
assured, that if Blaine happens to
be Premier Of the next Administra
ton, then petitions from men who
have been inimical to his interests in
the past will not be so potent as if
they ntained the names Of his
friends So perhaps many petitions
will have to be recast.
Don't be alarmed dear GAZETTE!
The democratic Legislature will
never enact the Australian ballot
system; it dare not. 1t would oper-
ate like boomerang and cut them
going and coming. They will have
to answer the 'moss backs" Of their
own party for placing qualification
or restraint upon the right to vote
that, practically, does not now exist,
and the first election under the sys..
TEN would be the most sensational
surprise at the democrats Of the
south had ever experienced. In.
deed, large number Of those with
whom | have discussed the measure
believe that it is the solution of the
Southern problem. They say that
it will be no more an educational
qualifica ion than now the oretically
exists: that under the present law
! the man who is unable to read his
ballot can not be said to vote, but
only to carry out the Instructions of
some one who has tol him the con-
tents Of the ballot.
2. That the Republ can party
having absolutely not ing t. ose
must be the gamers.
3. That outside of the refining
influence Of the citi the ignorance
among the white people is greater
than among the Negroes.
f. That the North Alabama
counties would quick y fal into the
Republican line on an exclsive white
vote, because it is intelligence alone
that prompts whi'e man in the
south at this time to be a Republi
can, and that not ten per cent Of
the white Republican vote is unable
to read.
5. That the colored voter is far
Il ore advanced than he is credited.
That in south Alabama there are
more colored men able to read than
white men.
6, That with such $, stem in
operation the Democratic shibboleth,
Ignorant Negroes" could never be
again pronounced, and those white
men who have been driven from the
Republican party by the fear Of
Negro domination could conscien
tiously unite with the republicans.
Lastly and best reason ofall, there
does not live colored man who
would not be so stimulated by such
a recruitment that he would acquii
the necessary learning in six months.
You are mistaken in the opinion
expressed in your last issue that
there would be more chance for fraud
than at present. There is minim-
um of opportunity for fraud under
the Australian System.
Ex . S. Senator Geo. E. Spen-
Ger is in the city, as magnificent a
picture Of health as one can wish to
see. Your correspondent never was
a Spencer man" but he can not but
admit that Senator Spencer is the