The age-herald., 1898-03-16
THE NEGRO VOTE.
A Widespread Desire for an Elimination of
 ignorance.

From the St. Stephens News: Whats the matter with holding a constitutional con vention? It is very evident we need one.
 From the Sheffield Reaper: Disfranchis- ing the negro will eliminate class of poli- ticans from consideration in this state which will prove to be one of the great est blessings that could possibly befall any people.
 From the Alexander City Outlook: When restrict the right of franchise to the intel ligent voters-those who can at least read and write-there will be an end of ballot box thievery, and not till then. So long as the peanut politician can march lot of ignorant voters to the polls and take advantage of their helpless ignorance, just so long will fictitious majorities show up on the face of our election returns.
 From the Anniston Hot Blast: The time has come when the material interests of Alabama demand a number of changes in the organic law of this state and the democratic convention this year must have the moral courage to do its full duty and declare boldly in favor of a constitutional convention. Make this a democratic meas ure and the convention will be held, and new constitution framed and adopted.
 From the Montgomery Journal: Among the questions that will come up will be a constitutional question for the purpose it need no longer be concealed-of elimi- mating the vicious and illiterate vote, and by that Is meant of course, the negro vote. Mississippi was the first state in the south to have the courage and honesty to take hold of this question, and to settle it without regard to the adverse criticism of the people of the northern states, who were and are entirely ignorant of the conditions
 that now confront the southern people.
 They know not the menace to good govern
 ment, to the well-being of any people so
 situated, that lies in too free an exercise
 of the suffrage among such a class of vot-
 CTS. Louisiana has now a constitutional
 convention and it was called solely to set
 tie this question, and it is preparing plan
 not unlike that of Mississippi Alabama
 must follow Mississippi and Louisiana, and
 must settle it at once. It cannot, and
 should not be delayed longer. The present
 anomalous conditions in elections have brought too many evils, and these evils are multiplying.
 From the Mobile Herald: There is no good reason why a constitutional conven- tion should not have been called long ago, but there are three influences that have worked against such action These influ- ences are ultra conservatism, ignorance and unWillingneSS to give up political trick cry. As regards ultra conservatism there have been a large class of people in our state who have been afraid of any change They are willing to bear those evils that they have, never mind how serious, rather than try anything new. This is the class of people who in days gone by thought the telephone a deluson, and electric railroads an impossibility. They fall to appreciate the fact that they are living in progress i've age. Then there are the ignorant white men, who can not read or write, and have no desire to learn these accomplishments. They fear that a new constitution will mean their disfranchisement Consequently they are "agin it." and the politicians of their section to some extent sympathiZe with them. And, last, are those skillful gentlemen, who, having resorted to trick cry in times past to maintain white su premacy now continue to resort to it to maintain factional supremacy. They know that an educational qualification for suf frage would take away all excuse for bal lot box manipulation or any kind of trick cry It is not surprising then that these
 practical politicians" are opposed to a
 new constitution. In spite of these op-
 posing influences, we believe that a large majority of the democratic voters of Ala
 bama are in favor of a constitutional con- vention. We trust that they will express this preference at the primaries.