The age-herald., 1898-02-21

the populists are justified in getting 1t If
 they can, and which they can. For the ef-
 fort to divide that vote, when the whites
 are divided. even if we get one-fourth or
 one fifth, Is a necessity so long as 1t exists.
 The shame of the whole business is that he
 is called in at all and those who are the
 main beneficiaries of it, if they are really
 sincere in their support of the principle Of
 white supremacy, ought to join hands with
 us in the elimination of that vote from
 any consideration whatever. That there
 are many men who vote with the organized
 democracy who are not in sympathy with
 it's platform is due to the fact that they
 cannot and will not affiliate with any party
 which rests it's sole dependence for sue
 cess upon the negro vote. Rid the state
 of that question, and out Of these and those
 who are already against us will spring the
 material for a party which will be respecta-
 ble both in numbers and in character.
 The conviction has slowly, but surely, crept into the hearts and minds of ma jority of the democracy of this state that the only remedy is by holding constitu- tiona1 convention. The only question is whether they have the courage to avow
 that convention. I believe and trust they have. I believe the next convention will speak plainly and frankly on this question. Time to Speak Out
 There are many who undertake to meet it with whispers. There are those who think that it can be handled lightly. Many
 prefer to disguise the preliminary to rightful solution of the evil by talking about the courts needing correction, schools needing more appropriations, cities need- ing higher tax rate. Anything to keep obscure the purpose to cut this running sore from the body polite of the state for fear the time has not yet arrived for speak ing plain words about unuuestioned evils. But Is this the wise and prudent course? Can great question be settled and settled rightly by whispered and honeyed phrases? It seems to me not. believe the time has come when we must meet the question and meet 1t face to face. I believe 1t, for believe the people ready for it. be- | lieve fairly presented that large numbers of the opposition, those who are not can didates for office, will vote with us in favor of it.
 Examine the Case
 I am not unmindful of the arguments which good men apply against it. But an examination of them, it seems to me, will disclose that they are not tenable. Chief of the objections is that property or edu- cational qualification, will cut off a large number of white men from voting. But | that question was solved in South Caro- | lima by the simple expedient of excepting | all who served in the confederate and fed | eral armies, and, believe, their descend ants. Louisiana will soon act on it. Mis- sssippi relieved herself also of the diff culty. Her plan has been subject to much criticism, but 1t is to be observed that she was the first state to act, and there is an old maxim that no law can be made per- feet the first trial. We will have the ad- vantage of choosing between the plans adopted by at least three states and of correcting any defects which may have been discovered in either. There are some who object to such exception. But they have overlooked the important point, that the Anglo-Saxon race is by nature best fitted of all for self government. That no difficulty has been experienced with it's votes. That at best those who cannot read and write, or pay taxes, are not one- fifth of the whole. That we ought not to refuse to rid ourselves of terrible evil which is threatening the future of our state, merely because there is another little one, of minor importance, not believed to be evil at all by many, which cannot be corrected. Moreover justice and reason are both on the side of saving from this rule those whose poverty and illiteracy were forced upon them when they were of- fering up their life blood on their coun- trys altar, in defence of their homes and their liberties. If man is starving and asks for meat shall he refuse bread be- cause there is no meat at hand? Shall we refuse to settle the negro question because we cannot also do away with few white mems votes? God forbid! These votes were not forced on us as the result of the war. They are necessary to aid us in dis posing of the negro vote which was. Ev- cary consideration of policy. of~patriotism. of gratitude for the splendid record which many of them made on their country's bat tlefelds, demands that their suffrage shall be preserved.
 What Time Has Shown
 Another objection is that a convention will tear down those wholesome barriers of taxation, which fathers in their wisdom erected, against probable state and municipal extravagance. But if time has demonstrated the wisdom of these restric- tions, it is reasonable to suppose that the men who will be most affected by them,
 that is, those who pay these taxes, and
 who will be members of the convention.
 will voluntarily lift the flood gates and
 let town councils and state legislatures
 levy taxes ad libitum? The truth is, that
 state and county taxation is high enough
 under our present constitution and this is true of most of our towns, but cities like Birmingham, for example, should have higher limit, if they are to discharge prop erly the functions of municipal government