The Brookhaven leader., 1890-03-13
CONVENTION TALK.
HON. II. CASSIDY ON THE CoNsTITU-
TIoNAL CONVENTION.
White Supremacy by Correct
Methods.
Property and Educational Qualifications
Believed ImpraCticabIe, but Legiti-
mate Means Remain To Reach the End
Sought. Comparison to Prove the
Proposition.

Sought. A Comparison to Prove the
Proposition.
From the jackson Bureau nf the Men,
phis Daily COMMERCIAL
Hon. III. Cassidy of BrOokhaven, q
leading member of the bar of South
Mississippi, worthy son of an illus
trious sire, who did much toward
shaping the legislation of the State.
in common with such compeers as
Hurst, Smylie and Pray, is in the
city in attendance upon the Supreme
Court. Asked 10y the Commercial
correspondent what he had to say
concerning the Constitutional Con-
vention, he expressed himself as fol-
lows:
81 favored Constitutional Con-
vention because | thought an effort
ought to be made to secure and per-
petuate white supremacy in Missis-
sippi without resort to questionable
methods, demoralizing to the white
people and calculated not only to low
er the standard of public and private
morals, but impairing that respect for
government based on popular Anglo
Saxon suffrage, indispensable to the
perpetuity of our institutions.
:" l fully appreciate the difficulties
from abroad and at home that embar-
rass proper solution of the problem,
but am firm believer in the ag-
gregate common sense and patriotism
of the AnglO-SaxOn race, and have
thought and still think that the end
sought is worthy of an honest effort,
and | believe when the convention
meets, it will be found that merely To-
cal and private interests will be fully
surrendered to subserve the public
welfare.
" In my judgment neither proper
ty or educational limitation of suf-
frage is practicable. But without Ell
ther and without infringing the Fed
eral Constitution, a scheme perfectly
legitimate, sustained by precedent
and sanctioned by age, may be adopt
ed by which white supremacy in the
State government can be secured. An
apportionment of representation in
the Legislature can be made that will
i'll any and all contingencies secure a
large majority of white men in the
law making branch of the government.
All State officers could be made cleo
tive by the Legislature and thus
white supremacy secured in this de-
partment.
"The judges of the courts could
remain appOintive as now, or the Leg
lslature could be vested with the pow
Ell to provide for them-appointive in
some districts and elective in others
with Il similar provision as to county
officers.
"lf it We're not for peculiar and
threatening surroundings of our peo-
ple,and the absence of any otherrem
edy would not faver the radical chan
ges here suggested. With an Anglo
Saxon people | would favor the cleo
ton of all officers and the appointment
of none,for | believe religiOusly in the
doctrine of the people ruling.
"lf the plan suggested could be
adopted judges and county officers
could be elective in white districts and
counties and appOintive in black dis
tricts and counties. There could be a
provision made for primary elections
to be held by the respective political
parties for county and judicial officers
required to be appointed, and the APP
pointing power, deriving as it would
its commission from n white Legisia-
ture, would generally, if not univer-
sally, be governed by majority of
the white voters, as indicated
by the result of the primary cleo
tons.
81 do mean to say that the plan
suggested would perpetuate Demo
cratic rule in Mississippi, but it would
secure white supremacy, which is par
to mere partisan or political
success.
"The constant menace of negro
domination is as the hoops of bar
rel to hold together the white men of
the South, and if this be removed it
will he permissible for our white peo-
pie to differ on national questions;
and the solution of the negro problem
in the manner indicated may lead to
a ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the solid
South
"Solid only for white supremacy
and honest government.
"Our people are loyal to the Con-
stitution and Union of their fathers,
and while differing on the tariff and
other national questions, must and
will sink such differences until they
are perfectly secured from the dangers
by negro domination"