The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-04


a few years ago that democratic legis-
lature would go into the buying and selling
of any commodity for any purpose? 1t is
not governmental function. 1t does not
pertain to those things for which the gov
eminent Is organized. 1t is a business, and,
according to our theory of government.
public officials are not allowed to transact
purely business avocations, nor have they
the time to give 1t that attention which IS
essential to it's success. Almost without
exception every experiment which we have
made with paternalism or in the transaction
of private business for alleged public pur-
poses has been disastrous. The public debt
OF Alabama, which hangs like a milestone
around our necks and Is breaking the backs
OF the taxpayers of the state, was foisted
upon us in. pursuance of the captivating
arguments OF paternalsts in the building
of railroads. the state taking an interest IN
the enterprise. True 1t is that this was
done in the days when the republicans were
in power but the democracy of the state
was firmly opposed to the whole doctrine
upon principle, and they made II impossible
in the constitution of 1875 for the state or
any municipality to foster or aid or take
partnership in any such enterprises. This
was done, not because they were unwilling
to trust the republicans, but because they
were unwilling to trust themselves or any
one else with that dangerous power. If it
be argued that this bill falls not within the
letter of those restrictions upon tie power
OF the legislature, ii most assuredly falls
within the principle which underies them,
that the government is not a proper agency
Tor the transaction of private business or
enterprises, even though they be dignified
as quasi public in their capacity or called
police regula TONS.
Again, the bill provides that there shall be
no submission of the question to the peope.
10 my mind this is the most indefensible
proposition in the whole act. As heretofore
Fsrf NEr IF 10 tell
ture was elected on account of his views,
either for or against the proposition 1t
mas never been made an issue in the politics
OF the state, or of any county in this state,
or of any town in any county in the state
The advocates OF the measure claim that
it is sweeping the state like wildfre and
that all the good people are enlisting them
selves under it's banner. If 1t be such q
popular measure, why is it that these same
advocates are afraid to apply the popular
test? Do they fear that the wave vii Ire
cede and that the sober second thought Of
the peope will assert itself and condemn
the measure? The argument that they de-
sire to put 1T in force Immediately is no
answer, since the very bill itself provides
that it cannot go into effect sooner than the
first of January, 1860, and this affords ampe
tin1o to hold an election in every county in
the state where a sufficient number of per-
sons are willing to sign petition to call an
election. 1t cannot be urged that they fear
that tho ignorant negro vote will be cast
in solido against it, because this legislature
has wisely submitted to the people the
question Of constitutional convention, the
democratic party has endorsed it, the best
parties, have endorsed il and 1t is practically
sure to be carried, and the democratic eau
Gus has declared that the settlement of the
suffrage question is the paramount issue to
be submitted at that convention. 1t is
therefore safely within the bounds to state
that beyond all reasonable controversy the
great mass of the illiterate negro votes will
be eliminated by the constitutional conven-
tion, which will BE- assembled next August.
Therefore, the advocates Of this measure
have an opportunity to test the sense OF the
virtuous and tho intelligent among our peo-
plo under an election law which can be
drawn SO as to guarantee and insure free
ballot and fair count. Are they willing %
submit that issue to the people? Not
bit of it. If they believe the proposition
that the majority of the people are with
them, they would have nothing to fear Ev-
cry county in which the prohibition law has
been enacted in every state has submitted
the question to a vote of the people.
1t certainly is not open to denial that this
bill is a radical departure from previous
treatments of the question so far as we are
concerned, and is but in the experimental
stage in one two states. Is there any
suggestion which can be made that would
withhold from the people riShtfuliy the
whether they were for this thing or not?
Would even the very strongest advocate of
the bill contend that the law would be
made defective, if it was opposed to the
best sense of the majority of the people,
if it did not have behind it tho solid public
sentiment of at least one-half of those
called upon to enforce the law? If in
reality only a minority favors this BILL or
would favor it after a full, fair, frank and
free discussion before the people, then
most assuredly no man who claims to be
believer in the doctrines of Thomas Jeffer
son, the cardinal principle of which is the
right of the majority to rule, could stand
forth and consistently advocate it.
l am aware that behind this movement
stand the names of many good and upright
citizens, but deny that the movement has
a monopoly of that class of citizens. If it
has it will succeed. 1t has nothing TO lose
by giving the people little time The
virtue and intelligence of every community
has not failed to rule when it was practi-
cally united upon any proposition, but
there are thousands of good men in Ala
bama who abhor not only the abuse but
the very use Of Intoxicating liquors, who
arc opposed to this dangerous innovation
upon the policies and practices which
have come down to us as a free people
from many centuries of self-government,
and yet We are told by the advocates of
this measure that the people are not to be
trusted, that self-goyernment is a delus-
ion and snare, that they are not to be-
heard, that this measure is to be crowded
down their threats in moment of excite
ment and emotionalism. Against this doc
trine raise my voice in protest and 1 be-
lieve that with me are men just as good
and virtuous and intelligent as there are
with those who claim monopoly of these
things for themselves