Huntsville gazette., 1890-06-28
LONG ACCEPTS.
Freedom Of the Ballot, AL E'ec'
ti0n Law,
The Primary Question in Alaba
ma Politics.


The following is Col. B.M. Longs
letter accepting the Republican nom
ination for Governor:
CoRDOvA, Ala, June %, 1890.
Nessrs K. A. Noseley, Jr.. w. C. Hanlau. A.
johnson. Committee:
GENTlEAEN-YOur letter Of the
18th, informing me that | had been
nominated by the Republican State
Committee for Governor, has been
received. In accepting the nomina
ton, allow me to say that l high y
appreciate the honor. and trust that
if no mere is accomplished, that the
nomination Of a State ticket, on the
platform adopted by the Republican
State Convention on June 4th, 1890,
will preserve intact the Republican
organization in Aab ina, and there
by maintained a nucleus, around
which the friends of the poor as well
as the rich, the illiterate as we'll as
the educated. and all who favor the
protection OF labor and the industrial
interests Of the country can rally in
defence Of human rights and liberty
now 50 alarminly threatened. In
Mississippi their constitutional con-
vention will meet in August, the
svowed object Of which is to"disfran-
chise enough Republicans to make
Mississippi surely Democratic" Va
rious plans have been proposed. One
that seems to be almost universally
endorsed by Democratic leaders is
that an actual residence of three
years in beats Cor some other unrea-
sonable time) will be required before
voting. If this is adopted it will
practically disfranchise all wage wor>
kers, all renters and all whose voca
tions required frequent changes Of
residence in order to find employ
ment. A reasonable time Of resi-
dence should be required to entitle
person to vote. but to j crease the
time unreasonably becomes "class
legislation" and operates unjustly
against laborers and in favor of prop
erty holders, contrary to the genius
of American institutions.
Then in addition to residence, etc !,
a property and an educational qua'i
fication for voters and to allow land
owners an increased vote up to five
for every 40 or 80 acres of land owned
by the voter or he'd by his wife. as
proposed by Chief Justice Campbell,
an able and influential citizen ofthat
tate, is al ming, especially as lead
ing Democratic editors in Alabama
publish such editorials as these:
ANY man who can read Auently the
Constitution of the United States,
ought to be allowed to vote; provi
ded, he has the qualifications of resi-
dence, etc. And any man VIII" pays
taxes, say on 5000 worth Of property
ought to be allowed to vote whether
he can read or not. But man who
canAot read and who lays no taxes,
is in a majority Of instansces totally
irresponsible character and has no
right to ask voice in State affairs,
whether he be white or black"
1--WE have yet to see a good reason
why our plan ofrequiring property
qualification for illitelates wouldn't
be the proper regulation Of the suf-
fra, e in Mississippi and other States
of similarly constituted popula
ton"
mo man without either property
or education is responsible citizen,
and such man ought not to be al
lowed to vote, etc.
fits right to restrict suffrage in
Mississippi. it is in Alabama and
other States. If the plan succeeds
in Mississippi. as it viii unquestiona-
bly, without speedy change OF
opision, by the Democratic leaders
of that State, We may expect the