The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1891-02-27
DIsFRANCHfSBMENT OF TAX
PAYERS,

good men and white Democra
|. have been disiranchised by the
failure to pay their taxes by Eel
lst., and many Of our coiempor;
ries, and one among them 30 prom
inent as The Clarion Ledger, tn
State organ, so-called, are con
demEing the new constitution 70
bringing about such a disaster
We are not at all IN accord will
such sentiment. The enlir,
franchise scheme of The new con
stiiution proceeds np0n The ideS
that The best element in the State
presumably the white people
should rule, and among The tests
Of superiority provided for was
that The voter should not only be
ia xpayer, but reasonably prompt
in makirg his contribution To the
support OF the government, without
force or the apprehension of force,
and then we read between the
lines "Sambo is ignorant and mon
sirous careless about paying taxes
and We will catch him mapping"
Sequel: White mans mighty sick
because he forgot to pay his taxes
and can't vote, but Sambo "heerd
about ii" and has his receipt for
his little dollar put away in the
"chist" ready for next Election"
Now wlrat are we TO do about IT ?
Let every son of a white man who
careles,lv fails to keep his head
above The dead line be di>fran-
chised. Let the race that can out.
strip us in the qualifications we
have fixed, especially those thai
are so reasonable and rational. in
crease in relative strength until
The black cloud begins to threaten
the thunders roar and The tighten
ingS flash; till the political slug
gard is aroused TO apatriotic wake
fulness.
Furthermore, we fail 10 see any
thing IN that clause that is harsh !
or unreasonable, so far as white |
people are concerned, but if there |
is anything harsh about it, it is in
The matter of taking snap judg !
ment on the unwary darkey. Bat |
It Is not even open TO that Office
ion. For the man who neglects
o pay his taxes until the officer
1Ourishes The warrant for lhe sale
If his propertyln his face des erves
10 credit as a patriotic and volun-
eer taxpayer. and 1t is well known
hat very ,Onn after The first OF
February the officers begin 10 ad.
'ertise their March sales of lands
or taxes. Under the revenue law
is it now stands, taxes are due and
,ayable for Two months and over
he with a penalty for one month
nd a half before lhe first Of Feb
uary. That is ample grace before
'rotest, and much more than men
i've each other in their individual
ealings.
But even to concede that The !
ew constitution is not just as |
ood or as effective for remedying v
he evils it was intended to RENE
Y, as matter of theory, is il a ?
ise pOllcylor the press OF theStale O
riddle it with adverse criticism i,
ecause Of apparent defects9 The Y
eat evils anticipated from The q
loptiOn of a new constitution
ON the beginning, was that of
satisfaction IN The part Of the
'ople with Whatever new plan
at might be devised. The mem.
RS Of the convention themselves ;,
uld not agree, and except for the =, -
le OF majority 1t is doubtful if 1
, should have ever had new "
Institution completed. And u
ere is not an important clause in NJ
e constitution upon all the ciii- b
ms OF the Slate will agree. But HI
will hardly be denied that the V,
invention represented the best NJ
.elligence of The State as fully in
could be expected; that The q,
ute people of the dominant (lhe n,
party were well rep
'ented, and every sagacious poll.
ian and citizen will agree that b,
will rebound 10 the best interest ty
the party and people tor harmo- W
10 be preserved in the ranks Of p
. dominant white element until .,
, new scheme has at least been :,
ted. Ii that is not the case 10 =,
arge extent we may expec, 10
caught in our own trap, and
ng disaster to ourselves and The