Huntsville gazette., 1890-06-28

same resu is in Alabama. Let us
hope that our Democratic friends in
Mississippi will stop in their revolu
1 ionary program. They are sowing
the seed Of a fearful and bloody rev-
luton.
This proposition to disfranchise the
poor and illiterate springs from Il de-
sire to defeat the operation Of pro-
posed national election laws, declared
by the late Democratic State Coz,
vention in Alabama to De Gun usur-
patton Of power uawarran ed by the
constitution. Whether it is good
policy to pass a national election law
is another question. taink it cons
stitutional and ought to be obeyed if
passed 1t may be said that the re-
striction Of suffrage is not now "a
question in Alabama. 1t is clear to
all thoughtful men of the South that
the leading and paramount question
now is to accept in good faith or re-
sist the enforcement of a national
election law If defeated by the
present Congress, like Banquo's
ghost, it will not down, but will come
again. Republicans will accept in
good faith and abide by the law
Dem cracy as now organized is
not so well defined. The new Mis-
sissippi plan is device to evade the
effect of national election law how
ever hardly it may affect the poor
and uneducsted.
If the elections have been fair in
Southern states for the last fifteen
years, there is no DANCE of so-called
negro. domination" because when
negroes are largely in the ascendency
there we find the largest Democratic
majorities If a national election
law, fairly enforced. gives Republ
cans control n some portions of the
south, will that justify a large dis
t'ranchisement, thereb, enabling a
favored few to control, to the detri~
ment of the many?
There are good reasons for ieliev
ing that at the next session of the
Legislature Of Alabama an etfor,
will be made to pass an act looking
to the change Of the Constitution
FOR the purpose of disfranchising un
educated and the poor | therefor
suggest that no man be voted for for
Senator or Representative who ia
vors any change in the laws regulat'
ing the elective franchise.
l favor the passage by the Legisl;.
ture of as liberal appropriations for
comm n schools as the pecuniary
condition Of our people will allow.
Our people are too poor TO bear the
taxation necessary to inaugurate an
deficient system of common schools
in Alabama. Hence | regard as a
great political crime the late defeat
of the Blair bill, which would have
given Alabama about six million
dollars for common schools.
We should, if possible, put within
the reach of all our poor children to
acquire at least common education,
especially since it is proposed to dis
franchise the less fortunate Of our
children.
Heartily indorse the plank in our
platform in relation to convict labor
and am "unalterab'e opposed to the
convict system which brings convict
labor into competition with the free la
Dor of our State, and | favor the
working Of convicts upon the public
| roads, except in case of life and long
term convicts, who should be con
fined in the State Penitentiary.
While it is true that in State elec-
tions we ought not to be confined
strictly to party lines yet we know
that usually our people vote as they
do in national elections, therefore a
brief reference to national issues. |
think, Is not out o. place
On the tariff issue the Democratic
party in their late State Convention
adopted unanimously this resolutions:
"That they are unalterably oppo ed
to tn. present high tariff and favor a
sub tantial reduction etc. The Re-
publican party is responsible for and
favor substantially the protection at,
forded by the present tariff, as well
as the Mckinley bill now in the Sen
ate. The difference between the tN o
great parties on this important ques
ton is plain and easily understood.
Why is it that in the entire South, or
Gulf States especially, except around
Birmingham, Anniston and O. her
manufacturing towns agriculture is
not prsfable, and generally our peo
pie are not prosperous and depen-
dent! Is it because there have been
successive failures i'll crops? Is it
because kind Providence has with
held his choicest gifts firm our much
loved Southland? No. We have
country the most favored ofany on
rtb. a fertile soil. susceptible of be