Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-08

%. Because the experience of MiSSfS-
sippi and South Carolina, after e thor
ough trial, point to it as the only means
yet devised for a peaceable solution OF
the race problem. -
80. Because, after profound study of
the question, it was recommended by a
democratic constitutional convention,
adopted by democratic legislature and
Endorsed by democrat tic state conyen-
ton.
10. Because it will stimulate the de-
sire for education and encourage thrift
and frugality among all the people white
and black.
III. Because it asks of no man any,
thing that a patriotic citizen should be
unwilling to sacrifice for the welfare. of
his state. 1t does not ask life, and many
have willingly surrendered that in causes
less holy"
Commenting on the views of the Com
mercial, the New Orleans Times-Demo-
crat says that the objection raised about
white voters being disfranchised is mere
defha gogism. The suffrage provision-has
been SO framed as to admit all deserving
white men. Mere illiteracy does not dis
franchise;' but a man who can neither
read nor write, and who possesses no
property-in other words, an illiterate
pauper, is, shut out. I'VE know" says
the eTimes-Democrat, "by experience
how dangerous it is to entrust the
government to those who cannot even
read the ballot they cast, or to those who
have no interest in good government.
Because a few hundred white men are
liable to lose their ballots unless in the
next four years they learn how to write
their names, it is proposed to XIII a
measure which has had such benefieent
effects in the neighboring state of Mis-
sissippi, and which would do even more
good here. 1t will be four years before
the suffrage amendment goes into effect
The white man who is not willing to give
a few hours in these four years to learn
ing how to write does not deserve the
franchise. =.
1.-THE only other objection that we have
ever seen urged against the suffrage
amendment is that the state of Louisiana
does not make proper provision for the
education of it's children, and therefore 1t
should not make education a qualifica-
ton for the franchise. This is an argu-
ment in favor of the amendment instead
of against it. Louisiana, as a matter OF
fact, provides better for its public schools
than South Carolina, which has just
adopted an educational qualification, and
1t is steadily improving its school system
At the present rate of progress 1t Will by
1900 when the suffrage amendment goes
into effect, have as good school system
as any of ite neighbors. The adoption of
the amendment will assure the improve-
ment needed, just as 1t did in Mississippi
The state will then be under obligation
to the people to give every child a chance
to secure rudimentary educa ton: and
the pressure in favor of better schools will
be so strong that it will be impossible to
resist it. Moreover another amendment
to- be voted for at the coming election as
sures a more liberal provision for the
schools in the country districts. is -
Thus it will be seen that the objec-
lions to the suffrage amendment when
Analysed, are Of no weight at ALL. They
are based either upon the suspicion that
the next Legislature might do something
wrong in regard to the suffrage when
the people have it within their power to
instruct the legislature on that point, or
the belief that some white voters will be
DISTINGUISHED, or that the state will fail
to provide for their education. No white
voters who deserve the ballot will lose
their vote, and those few who are threat
ened with its loss are given four years
in which to overcome their illiteracy. If
the people at the same time that they vote
for the suffrage amendment vote for
the educational amendment also which
assures more money for the public
schools, we can see no possible objection
that can be raised.
ut is when we compare the arguments
against the suffrage amendment with
those presented in its favor by the Com
mercal that we see the weakness of the
campaign against it, organized by the re-
publcans, but supported openly or COW
ertly by number of democrats, and we
can realize that the opposite is really
q bid for negro votes"