The age-herald., 1898-04-22
HON. ]. B. KNOX'S
 ELOQUENT SPEECH Retiring Chairman Leaves Behind
 a Magnificent Record. CONGRATULATED THE PARTY On Its Being So Thoroughly United d-Strikes First Blow in Party Council for
 Constitutional Convention.
CONGRATULATED THE PARTY
Special to The Age-Herald.

Special to The Age-Herald.
 Montgomery, April 2L-Hon. Jno. B. Knox of Annston, who today retired from the chairmanship of the state democratic executive committee, leaves behind him one of the best records ever made by gentle man occupying that important position.
 In calling the convention to order yester- day MT. Knox delivered the following elo- quent address:
 Congratulates Democracy
 Gentlemen of the Convention:-"Upon the eve of another contest, involving the prin- ciples of the democratic party, l feel that I can congratulate you that under the able leadership of our present chief executive the party in this state is stronger in the confidence and affections of the people and better organized to meet and contend with the enemy than it has for number of years past.
 q believe that the trying experience through which the party has passed-and by this I refer not only to the revolt of the followers of Palmer and Buckner, but also to the revolt of the followers of Reuben F. Kolb-has lead to a general concensus of opinion, that party differences should be fought out in the party, and that individual
  an acquiescense in and an acceptance of the decree of the party when justly pro nounced.
 We may accord to any democrat what protestants term the right of privilege judgment and it is a duty to accord the largest degree of toleration to the views of those who differ from us; but when the party has once met and acted, have been unable to comprehend how any one could persuade himself that the fundamental principles of the party could be advanced by an alignment with the enemy for the purpose of overthrowing and defeating its nominees, because of inability to yield to the views of the majority upon single is- sue
 ''When the Chicago convention acted it defined the issues upon which the contest was to be waged, and the declaration Of that convention must be regarded as the law of the party until changed by some subsequent convention
 'Every republican government Is gov ernment by parties, and it is only through the agency of his party that the citizen can make himself really effective in shap- ing the policy of the government.
 "But want to say in connection, that if the democratic party in this state will re- tain the confidence of the people 1t must stand for something constructive, ana not for something destructive. The mission of the party is not merely to fill the offices and maintain itself in power by methods which our adversaries charge, and which II true, are destructive of the very form of govern- ment of which we profess to be the cham pions!
 The Right of Suffrage
 "Of all the questions which concern us as state government, and which demands treatment and solution at the hands of this convention, it seems to me the one Of su- preme importance is the condition or the right of Slffrag age in this state.
 "The democratic party has been In abso- lute control of the state government for twenty-four years, almost quarter or century. It cannot be denied that our cleo tion laws are defective, and that the pun isbment of fraud is difficult if not impossi- ble I have heard it said that in some parts of this state irregularities have occurred in the holding of elections and that man agers of elections have not been as careful as they should have been in certifying the votes as actually castl
 "Now, without regard to whether this Is true or not, it must be admitted that the returns from some of the counties, In some instances, have been remarkably unani- nous.
 "I submit to the intelligent Judgment of this convention that there is no higher duty resting upon us as democrats and as citi- zens than that which requires the enact ment of such laws as will protect the sanc- tity of the ballot in every portion of the state.
 .'I know and sympathize with the difi- culties under which our friends in some parts of the state labor, in that they are menaced by mass of negro voters, which endangers not only good government, but the preservation of our civilization, and I do implead you to adopt the only practical remedy-that which has been adopted by several of our sister states.
 "Let us stand for new constitution and fair elections; let us write our platform in no uncertain terms-n such terms as will proclaim to the people an earnest, determ- ined purpose to demand a correction of all evils which threaten the purity of the bal lot, the morals of the people or the integ- rty of the government.
 "It Is impossible for us to estimate the Injury which will result from the tolerance of official dereliction. The ultimate result is the same without regard to the office held; purity of administration must exist from the office of chief executive down to the hrmblest manager of an election. If cor ruption in one is approved or tolerated, as sure as night follows day, 1t will ultimately head to the corruption of the other, and l may say of all others.
 .1rhe results of such an influence will en- fer every branch of society. It will reach vour bank cashiers and affect positions or trust in every department. It VIII ultimate iv enter your courts and affect the admin istration of justice.
 One of the Incidents
 CT heard but recently of case which a distinguished circuit judge in this state relates as actually having occurred in his court, and which illustrates in mild form the evil to which I have referred.
 "It seems that there was negro on trial for illegal voting; the proof or guilt was nIain the evidence practically without con- flict. The judge gave in substance what we Understand to be the affirmative charge for the state and the court adjourned for din- ner. As court was about to convene a1ter the recess, the judge met the foreman of the jury and learned that the jury had made a verdict. We'll the learned judge remarked to the juror, that makes fifteen; Ben (referring to the solicitor) has won this court
 .But he replied: You are wrong there, fudge we found the man not guilty What! found him not guilty; how could you do that under the law and evidence in this