The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-29
BLACK MANS PLEA.
ElOquence of Miller, the South
Carolina Negro Orator.
Doesn't Save the Ballot for the
Black Man.
SHUTSOUTNEARLYALL
Every Man Must Have $500
and Read and Write.
This Will Exclude Many Whites
as Well as Blacks.
SHUTSOUTNEARLYALL

COLUMBIA, S. C., Oct. 29.-The hall
where the constitutional convention is
being held was jammed again last night.
7. T. Miller, the colored ex congressman
who is delegate, made the great speech
that is the protest of his race against dis
frauchisemsntssT There are five negro dele
gates altogether Miller spoke for an hour
and a quarter aud held the closest atten-
ton of the vast audience throughput He
advocated that the whole section be
struck out From his standpoint his
speech was q mastery one. Miller be-
gan the defense of his race in this way:
"As an American citizen, as one who
yields to no man, in respect of the laws
of the United States, and South Carolina;
as one who loves the past history of this
dear old country; as one who wishes to see
every male citizen, and woman too, who
is not disqualified on acco unt of crime
or mental condition, the equal of every
other citizen in the enjoyment of inalien-
able rights. the chief of which is TO have
a voice ia the government, 1 approach
the discussion of the proposed disfran-
chisement of the common people OF
South Carolina, white and black.
MIR. President, the conservative force
III our Sbdk0 ID LA6 COl1uAOu pGOBlGI
the burden bearing people, and, sir,
when you say that $500 and the ca
pacity to read and write are the require
ments to be possessed by voters you are
striking at the root of the tree of univer-
sal government l ask in the name of
brotherhood of man and equal citizen
ship of the American people that I
should not be trammsled by rules max
ing my say a short one. l ask for
bearauce and the necessary time to dis
cuss this all important question and | do
hope aud believe that, although l am in
a feeble minority, this all powerful ma
jOrity here will hear me, because l APP
proach the discussion with malice
towards none, but with loving hope for
the final settlement of this very vexed
question. May the spirits of departed
patriots, who have shed their blood for
the equal rights of man on this soil, bear
witness of our condition and in some
way hover over US and guide US 10 tho
right This fight against the rights of
the common people is not a new one"
Continuing he said:
And here today, Mr.. President after
a residence of more than $50 years, with
love and affection for the government,
after having borne our part in every
struggle and ans cred to every call;
after having proved to the world that We
are conservative IN thought and act low
able in our natures forbearing towards
our oppressors, living uader and by the
laws at all times, we are confronted at
this hour-the MONDAY of peace and uni
ty in the nation, the MONDAY of prosperi-
ty and hope, the MONDAY of this gni-
fcent existence of ours-with this pro-
position 10 disfreGchise the common
people; to take from them the dearest
right, the right to vote. Oh! Mr.. Presi-
dent, why is this to be done? Is there
anybody here who can or dare deny
that the sole purpose for which
this convention was called is for
the disfranchisement of the CON-
mon people, and the negro more es-
peclally If there is such person | ask
him to read the speeches Of the leaders
who forced this convention upon US
against the will of the people, and they
will all be convinced that the only thing
for which this convention WAS called is
for the Acknowledgement of that Class of
people, whose chief lot has been to toll.
Win no hopes but TO toll! Then if the
speeches leave any reason in doubt As K
him to read this article Of disfranchise
ment, the article that has been pronoun-
ced by Senator Irby as a political mou-
strosity, and he will be thoroughly con-
WINGED that the purpose for which the
convention was called was to disfranchiss
the negro in the rice fields and his poor,
uneducated white brother, who plows
the bob-tail OK or mule on the sand hills
He will be convinced that this con-
vention was called to disfranchise the
regro in every walk of life, and the
poor white by, who edits newspaper
in which he speaks fuiSomely for the
greatest of all misnomers and southern
bug bears-white supremacy. Trickery
is not legislation. These little innocent
ifs and 'ors' may. in the hands of skilled
manipulators of fraudulent registration
officers play havoc.
senator Tiliman says here that it is
in the manipulation of the law and not
in the words by which they expect to
see the negro DISTINGUISHED. He says
plainly that the negro will not under
stand the section when re ad to him, be-
cause he is negro and because the man
who will judge of his understanding is a
white man. Is that denied? 1 pause for
denial, or any explanation of the
language quoted.
why do they say that the negro must
be disfranchised? Is it because he is
lawless? No. Is it because he is riotous
IN the discharge of the RICH of suffrage?
No, they answer, because his skin is
black be should not vote. Because his
skin is black he is inferior. Because he
did not fight for the ballot he should not
have 1t. Because We are a conquered
people and were conquered by the ma
tional government in the name of negro,
he should not vote.
"Mr. President, these are some of the
reasons given by those who swear By the
altarof liberty that we shall not be citi-
gems"
MiIler's motion was promptly voted
down.
Bueklen's Arnica ss:-a
The best Salve in the world for Cuts.