Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-03

POSING FOIL TAX QuniihchtiOu.
Austin. Tex. March 2.-Col. s. p.
Burns. representative from Brown
county, In discussing the ONeal Joint
resolution proposing n poll tax voting
qualification, said
81 stand upon the floor of this house
as n Democrat, proclalmlng the doc
trlne OF universal suffrage TO the peo-
pie whether they be rich or poor. and
as one believing in the theory OF Demo-
cratic government, / stand here today
to enter my solemn protest against the
passage OF this resolution. l would like
for the advocates OF this measure TO
tell us what is to be gained in the way
of advancing republican institutions
by the adoption of a measure which
will disfranchise thousands OF our peo-
pie and bring reproach upon us as
being opposed to popular suffrage. /
believe that a government that does
not guarantee to the humblest OF Its
citizens the right TO take part In the
administration Of public AFFAIRS is IN
worthy OF the respect of the greatest Of
Its citizens
"This seems to me TO be measure
to disfranchlse the poor and helpless
and place all power in the hands Of a
certain or privileged class, and l can
not see how free institutions can live
when we dlsfranchlse a part Of our
people. II Is true the advocates Of the
measure may say, that man can cast
his vote by the payment TO the state
and county OF Sl.75. Then why not say
that man may vote when he pays
IS or $50? ask, In the name Of com
mon sense. II the principle is not the
same, and II the whole theory involved
Is not that the citizen must pay forthe
rirht to exercise his suffrage? The
theory Is wrong in principle, and is
contrary to every theory of popular
government
"rhe state Of Arkansas has just
passed such law, which will disfran-
chise at least $4,000 of her citizens. /
say now that Arkansas is trcading
upon dangerous ground and has laid
the foundation for the dlsintegration
OF popular government. When l think
OF old Confederate soldiers who fought
for 1--WE years for what they believed
to be right. and who returned TO their
homes broken in health and fortune,
who are to he dlsfranchised because
they cannot pay Sl.75. my very nature
revolts against such measure; ana
shall we deprive those old men or
vote whose lives have been spent IA
huilding up this great commonwealth
because misfortune and poverty nave
oyertaken them? | say no. and stand
here to enter my solemn protest. we
cannot AFFORD to commit such polit-
cal crime In the name OF Democracy
at is the poor people who are to be
dIsfranchlsed. and It Will be DARK
day for The Democratic party Wheh
the poor are disfranchised, and you
will hear the thundcrings OF the multi
tude not many days hence.
I'm some portions OF this state the
neonia have been placed in the imam
c,ol cruclble. and they already feel
tbat The burden OF taxation is more
tbon they are able TO bear. Inese
neonie IN most Instances, are wealth
produrers. and while with them TINS
worlds goods is limited, they sun ieei
that they should he recognized as ci'l-
zens. You disfranchise these psop'e
take away from them me rlght 70 par
.sIt',aaa IN ,he eIectinns--and their pa
tr,atIsm will die. and they Will soon
49,, y, despise the government under
which tbev live. which will be the be-
,",a,,tn@ N the tlislntegrailon OF Demo-
cratic institutions. -, ..o,. :,
MANY OF the men whom you seek 70
dlsfranchlse prodree Weaiih upon
which taxes are paid, WINE they ehe
out a miserable existence IN poNettf,,
80 ~ them work on my farm ana
ooli,s FORTY bales OF cotton, and
~. shall these men be dlsfranchised:
= say no for know II forbodes evil
~ ssse Institutions. One Of them came
ior nv Nv farm and ! furnished him his
70 ny s.i,.s provisions. and when cleo
hrst W. wv came he voted against me,
ton e.y Populis,, (At this point
ana o AZ satd: And you fired hind No;
s sv..'' Kept him because ne exercised
sIs right as an American eiuzeh' ana
-ssnected him for u
i rssps are a million men In the
i.ns e,afes who can pay their poll
thiis .,a,,h pension money. and sim we
taN MA ~ men IN this house that the
are ,2-r man. who draws no pension.
lapo.ins sv 81 75 before he is allowed 70
mus p ~ amer words. It shall cost him
. ,1s ,cr the right 10 vote. ard his pol
a., az receipt is 70 be his license