The age-herald., 1898-02-20

1t with whispers. There are those who think that it can be handled lightly. Many prefer to disguise the preliminary to a 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 unquestioned 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. I believe the time has come when we must meet the question and meet 1t face to face. I believe it, for I believe the people are ready for it. I 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 expedlent of excepting all who served in the confederate and fed- eral armies, and, I believe, their descend- ants. Louisiana will soon act on it. Mis- sissippi relieved herself also of the diffi- cuty. 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 an 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 its 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 a 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- try's altar, in defence of their homes and their liberties. If a 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 a 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 countrys bat tlefeds 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 our fathers in their wisdom erected, against probable state and municipal extravaganza. But if time has demonstrated the wisdom of these restric- tions, 1t 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 a higher limit, if they are to discharge prop erly the functions of municipal government and maintain the public credit.
 Another objection arises from the ill-con- sidered advocacy of allowing small polit- cal subdivisions, like precincts and town ships, unlimited taxing power for the ben
 
 be done for these schools is admitted by all, but serious opposition rightly exists to vesting power of this character in such small communities. The true solution Is on tho line of the bill introduced in the last legislature by Hon. Cecil Browne, of Tal- ladega, levying fixed rate of two mills over the whole state to be exclusively de- voted to school purposes. Whether the rate proposed by that bill of MT. Brownes is too much, or too little, is not material since the legislature has the power under the existing constitution to largely in crease the school fund if 1t will only exer- else it.
 Objection Untcnable
 But there is one objection urged to local taxation for public school that ought to be noticed. It is claimed that under such a law tho negroes in the heavily congested black beats could bankrupt the white tax payers, who are the main property owners, by the simple process of taxation for school purposes This objection is untenable for the simple reason that very few negroes would have any voice in 1t, since the prime reason for the convention is to eliminate that vote.
 However, these things may be, minor questions should not be allowed to interfere with the great, all controlling issue, of the suffrage. Inls lies at the basis of our form of government. A thorough trial has demonstrated the utter ncapacity and unfitness of the great bulk of negroes for that franchise. The evils which have fol- lowed in the train of this law are worse than war, pestilence and famine. The part of patriotism is to subordinate all other issues to this one. Under existing conditions white division is fraught with great perils. But where all things are subordinate to one party, white men them- selves are only half free Relief from the incubus of negro suffrage is essential to the full freedom of the white man. Can any question equal this? May we not trust ourselves may we not trust our own sense of right and patriotism to deal fairly and wisely with minor matters when an issue of such supreme importance presses for solu- tion? Can the day of reckoning be longer postponed.
 Talladega, Feb. 1S
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