The age-herald., 1901-10-06

penalties were not in the scheme as orig inally passed by the convention, but was added by the harmony committee, but there are no penalties for failures to reg ister. It will not do to say that the reg istrars will be so pure and perfect in their virtue and character that they will not take advantage of the law that will enable them to succeed in carrying out their purposes-whatever they may be-
 Now. in order that my position may be thoroughly understood, I desire to say that experience enables me to realize the dangers of the abuse of the ballot, to the white people of the State more especially; and for years have been an earnest and sincere. though humble advocate, of new constitution. And when the first act was passed providing for such a consti- tuition, and the Democratic delegates all over the State were nominated to that convention, I felt hopeful that if the convention was called we would have such effective provisions restricting the ignorant and vicious voters of the State as would eliminate them entirely as polit- ical factors in Alabama elections. And by the provision of severe penalties on the part of those who conducted them, we would then secure approximately honest elections.
 When it was known that the Legisla- ture would be called together in extra session to repeal the authority for calling that convention, 1 went to Montgomery and did all I could in my humble way to prevent such repeal. I felt greatly outraged at the action of the Legislature at that time and felt that the evils in politics of which we complained were to be continued and fastened upon us for ever. The last Legislature, however, submitted the matter to the people again. When the Democratic delegates to that convention were nominated was greatly pleased and believed that many of the strongest and best men in the State had been selected. Again, felt hopeful that they would provide an intelligent, effec- tive remedy for the evils which have been so generally and publicly discussed and condemned in our politics, and that their wisdom would enable them to de- wise plan which would be fair in fact and at the same time put such honest restrictions about the ballot as to elim- mate the ignorant and vicious negro vote which has long been a menace to our civilization and good government. was greatly disappointed at the result of the work. and l am still greatly disap- pointed by subsequent developments. Conceding that their intention to se- cure honest elections and to get rid of the element which was so objectionable
 
 scheme fails to accomplish that purpose. My opinions have been confirmed that the means provided are not only not sufficient to accomplish that purpose, but It gives additional ana greater opportu- nities for the practice of fraud which can be by no means prevented
 l desire no office. and l have no polit- ical ambitions that do not embrace and absorb the welfare of the white people of ho which have been maintained for years have wrought more injury to the white people than to the negro. They have en- gendered and fostered depravity, the white people. on account of familiarity with the methods in use having learned to look upon them as proper methods to be used upon an unfriendly candidate or ticket whether composed of white men or black men. And white man who were opposed to those who managed elections have been counted out with as much recklessness as have black men.
 At the time when the country was over run by the worst robbers and thieves and carpet baggers that ever afflicted a community something had to be done to correct the evil. Force was not thought advisable. there had been enough of bloodshed, and many of us believed that the negro. rid of the leaders who had unholy designs upon the rights and lib- critics and property of the white people, would not be so dangerous, and 1t would perhaps be wrong and cruel to use yio- fence against them. Therefore, 1t was decided to use more humane methods. The good white people of the country be- lieved that the negroes interest as we'll as their own, was endangered, and they did not recognize the right of those strangers and robbers to come into the community and control the negro vote for their own base purposes; they concluded that 1t would be better for the negro