San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-11
SHORT STOPS.

SHORT STOPS.
: What the People are Saying.
When our only morning daily runs
short of ideas, or becomes anxious about
: it's own political consistency, 1t falls
into some senseless drivel about the
repu blican party; an article headed
Let the Negro Have Justice" is lis
latest effort.
But for the negro" says the Elk
press, There would be no repu blicsn
party under Mason and Dixon's line "
1t would he nearer the truth to say,
but for the negro there would be no
solid south; but for the negro there
would be no necessity for q force
bill"
1t seems to trouble the conscience
of the Express that there are any
white repu blicans in Texas, and that
ii Is doing the negro injustice for
white republicans TO make an effort
10 shake loose from the odium of
negro politics; yet this same paper
announces its support to the demo-,
cratic ticket because of the race ques-
ton and the force bill.
| Things are changing; the negro will
have political justice, and 1t will come
through the fluctuations of his politi-
cal enemy, the democratic party.
| Upon the negro will depend the eX-
istence OF "old massasn democratic
party; the day Is dawnipg in the
south when even the democratic party
will forget the race issue and appeal
to Ssmbo for help.
Let the negro show his capacity for
freedom and citizenship by making |
his choice of political parties inde- |
pendent of race considerations. The |
movement of the white republicans
is bearing fruit; and the negro will
not fail to see through the rnisrepres-
entatiOns that have been heaped
upon the patriotic repu bIicans, who
are seeking TO build up q strong
party, that will contend for the equal
rights, and equal privileges OF all
men, and break the chains of politi-
cal prejudice that have bound the
y |
slavery and disgrace.
The action of our county commits.
sioners in granting by unanimous
vote the petition of citizens to put in
operation the registration and new
ballot law, is generally commended
by the people.
This new law is an entire change in
the system OF voting as heretofore
prscticed in this city, and naturally
will come little awkward at first;
but every good citizen will see that il
is long step in the direction of hon.
est voting.
There will be some con fusion in car
rying out the law, being q new
method, and because the provisions
of the act do not give as minute de-
tails IS generally embraced in this
Australian ballot law as used in other
cities.
1t will require that the officers of
the election be intelligent men and
that they instruct themselves perfect.
ly with the main features of the law.
1t will also be good idea for the
voters to scqusint themselves with
the new method of voting in advance
of the election. This has oeen done
in other cities with satisfactory re-
suits.
The form of the ticket must be def
nitely decided and other particulars
as to manner of voting in plenty of
time to enable candidates and politI.
oGl parties TO comply with the law.
The first essential and necessary
thing for every citizen to do. is to
register. If not registered you can
not vote.
An honest registration is the foun-
dation of an honest election. None
but residents and bona fide citizens
can register, and the registration Of
ticer should be a man of such stand
ing as to be above the temptation of
making the office profitable at the
expense of the people The registra-
ton of tramp, an alien, or a person
without any fixed RESIDENCES a crime
under the law.
The people are anxious for reform
now they have the opportunity to
put in force the first great reform
measure ever placed before them; let
every good citizen come forward
and cheerfully comply with the law.