Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-04-22
IRYlNG TO DlSFRAA-
CHISE The COL
ORED VOTERS.
AS TOLD BY MAJOR S. II. M.
BYERS IN HIS EASTER
LETTER..

sgSSS8sS$ hlLcEg OlSCfiOluS tue uOFei dH.i PlC-
u turesque old city of New Orleans. his
visit to the battlefield where General
Jackson killed more than a thousand
british, while only losing but a dozen
:ssY Of his men. In speaking of the mis-
under standing with Spain he says that
5ga the e nited States should not allow any
at the States to disfranchise its citizen
ss because their face is black, and that the
Movement should take steps to prevent
INT, he has this to say of that convention.
EaTJ The Louisiana state convention is
n.xlow in session in New Orleans. We
faiittended some, and listened to the de-
Yates. They seem to cover every con-
kivable subject of legislation. and
the constitution is once finished
oun. ate will have no use for legisla-
kcp.-'.r he constitution itself viii pro-
eide for everything and it will be as
Zig, as Webster's dictionary. The one.
sank openly admitted purpose OF the
aew constitution is the utter disfran-
1hisement of the black voter. That
IS bound to come to Louisiana is al
feady here, unless the power of the
United States government steps in to
prevent it. How northerner might
reel living here among millions of illi-
serate people-first out OF Africa and
ne aext out of slavery-would be hard to
E|l 81 guess, He might get to feeling Just as
isou5llerneffssA FEEL. Alt the same law is
taw. and human beings are human be-
Il tRgs, and the efforts of this state to
make semi-slayes of the blacks is un-
constitutional and a crime. But as the
sf Constitution is not to be submitted to
the popular vote. the crime is. virtual
M II. already committed. and what is the
asi Enited States going to do abou2 it?
If Louisiana can disfranchise the Ne
Pre- all Southern States can do the
Esss thing-and then where is the con-
s stitution Of the United States?
Ss Instead of blathering about war on
hccount Of liberty for the Cubans. it
S &sSw ere better to secure liberty for our
II ,sspwn people and a decent respect for
The constitution Of the United States.
III we don't hear the warning. slavery
N III a modified form is one of the quick
Incoming institutions of this country.
@.H These millions of Negroes in the south
l can not remain long as they are.
Either they will be slowly legislated
hack into slavery or they must be edu-
Scated and made into proper tnen and
4 women. The problem is OF hundred
a hines the Importance to this country
that any Cuba or Hawaii can be- The
81 south is not slum bering on Volcano
a Is is simply drifting into helplessness
S rom the nightmare of millions Of
dyes set free and left in ignorance
IL nightmare of problem will yet
rtake the north. Quick communi-
lion has made Mississippi, close to
1. Ira. New Orleans close to Chicago.
IN a the injustice of one section will be
I'D. sin Of all; the problem of the south
4 ,Sft the problem of all the country. To
observer the present action of this
lI VI Convention is not whit better
sccs i the states ordinance of secession
& PEI HI 86l. In both cases the laws and
/ sstitution of the United States were
4 81 in defiance, and again the question
! I q hes. what are you gong to do
but itee''