The age-herald., 1898-05-19
TECHNICS FROM
 CURRENT TOPICS

l bilities of life
 Unless man or woman has positive con- victions of right and wrong upon every subject presented to his or her mind. and 1 the courage of those convictions. 1t is worse than folly to place them in positions of trust or importance, where the interests of others are to be affected.
 There are really very few physical cow ards; at any rate, very few who could not courageously go to the front in times of war when they are confronted with the knowledge that the eyes of friends and foes are taking cognizance of their conduct, and the contagious excitement of com radeship is stimulation and an incentive The pages of history are filled with the names of brave men who like a well known southerner said of himself, twas born in- sensible to fear"
 But the highest test of a mans right to be called brave, comes to him quietly, with out the accompaniment of blaring bugles or rolling drums.
 The franchise clauses of Lousianas new constitution has set the people to wonder ing between the reading of conjectural war telegrams, how much moral courage exist ed in the makeup of the framers of the new constitution of Louisiana After many weeks of deliberation with several states of the south, which yet have a similar work to perform, looking anxiously on the Louis- lana constitutional convention, has settled for many years at least, the franchise rights of the citizens of that state. Like Alabama, and other southern states, which are hampered and vexed by class of illit- crate voters, both white and black. Louis- jana called her alleged wise men together to give her relief from a burden that was like millstone around her neck. The re- suit is a surprise and disappointment to every southerner who had expected that the constitutional convention of Louisiana would rise to the measure of its grand op- portunity and disfranchise every illiterate voter in that state, regardless of color or race.
 The new constitution of Louisiana pro- vides an educational and property qualifica- tion for political suffrage A voter must be able to read and write and he must also possess three hundred dollars worth of property. Unqualified this clause would disfranchise every illiterate and undesirable voter in Louisiana. But this enactment is succeeded by another clause which gives the right of the ballot to every man en- titled to vote in 1867; to the sons and grandsons of such men, and to every for eigner naturalized since 1S71 This obvi- ously is such a political trick intended only to exclude the negro vote, that every man with spark of moral courage in his soul must resent offensive political chicanery so apparent and manifest.
 The time has come in the history of the south when the statesmen and lawmakers must throw aside all the pettiness of the ward politicians. The south wants honesty of purpose, and honesty of action from politicians. regardless of their effect upon the personal ambition of all men who de- sire to rise to eminence upon the crudulity of their constituents.
 It is certainly becoming very apparent that the wheels of educational progress in the south are being clogged by aspiring officeseekers, who esteem the privilege of office holding beyond all other considera- tions. There Is class of men in Alabama who are counting the cost to themselves, individually before throwing the weight of their influence for constitutional conven- tion in this state. Like hideous night mare, stands ever before them the illlterate vote of Alabama; they fear to offend it's sensibilities because dependent upon it for election, and yet they are conscious that day Is about to dawn when an impatient people shall demand reckoning at their hands.
 Alabama wants a constitutional conven- ton; she intends to have one, and that be- fore very long; but she will not deal with the right of suffrage in the farcically un- just way as has recently been adopted in Louisiana. Alabama must disfranchise every man who cannot read and write, re- gardIess of color or race. There is no reas- on or excuse to permit any man to cast a ballot on any subject who is incapable of reading and signing that ballot.
 An ignorant, ifliterate white man must take his chances with an ignorant, Hitter ate negro in this matter.
 A difference of complexion does not offer, extenuation for illiteracy. With the oppor- tunties given every non and woman to learn to read and write in this country failure to do so argues certain mental indifference that units them to sit in judg- ment upon any issue at stake before the people. When the constitutional conven- tion convenes it will be an easy matter to arrange the limit to be granted for the acc quirement by the present ignorant voters of the rudments of the English education.
 A man who cannot learn to read and write in eighteen months is a hopeless sim- pleton, who should be forever denied the nr;vilaDe of the ballot
 Louisiana, by its franchise clauses in the new constitution, has retained among its voters an element frequently dangerous, and undependable. It has not raised the educational standard as high as was ex- pected. and It has resorted to small po- litical trick to accomplish an obvious end. Alabama must profit by Louisiana's blun- der. She must deal with the question of franchise with moral courage worthy of 4ta pocassitv hearing always in mind that