The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-01
FINE SPEECH
IN CLAY WARD
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continued From First Page.
it was lack Of opportunity. 1t was be-
cause the Southern people, labcring under
the curse Of negro suffrage, were not free
to think and act on the great questions
of governmental policy Oh the nation.
Mr.. Thorn said this was not all, but
it had tended to corrupt the electorate
and it was time to lberate the honest
hearts Of the white people of this State
and leave them frees,to think and act
upon other great problems of the day.
CUT HIM OUT, RCOTe-AND BRANCH
The purpose of the Constitutional Con-
tion,'' he said. amid shouts of applause,
is to eliminate. root and branch, the
negro as a. factor i'll politics, without dis
franchising any white: man, and by the
help os. God we will stay there until we
accomplish that high mission
IF we had been willing to half way per-
form this high purpose we could have
adjourned long ago, but we propose to
do the business for which we We're elected
and to do it right" Cloud applauseD
MUST MEASURE UP.
The unfailng test of every plan that
has been presented is that it shall pre-
and we will have none that will not meas
ure fully up to that test
Mr. Thorn said there was no disposition
to prolongs the session of the convention,
but that at whatever sacrifice to individ
uals, the patriotic duty of emancipating
the white people of this State, morally and
intellectually, would and must be per-
formed.
son other uucst lions there may be differ
cnces," he continued. ''but on this one
We are united The entire white popula-
ton of this State shall be enfranchised
and as many negroes DISTINGUISHED as is
possible without running counter to the
Constitution of the United States
GLORIESs OF THE PAST.
81 realize said the speaker. with some
show of sadness, that the opportunity
for my people to make any great con-
tribut. to this nation i'll my generation
is gone but | do believe that when they
shall reap the benefits Of a new Constr
tuition, the State will again take her
proud old place among her sisters, anc
will send men into the national arena
unfettered from the cares OF the great
race problem, who can and Will make
their power and influence felt among the
statesmen of this proud land
Here Mr.. Thorn asked if the people
We're willing to trust.the matter Of put
ting the new Constitution into effect to
the party which had fosted the horrors
Of negro suffrage upon them. or il they
would leave it to the party OF their own
race under the leadership of that SPLEEN
did young Virginian, A. J. Montague.
(Applause)
.On the one hand" he said. Stands the
white mans party; OIL the other stands
the black mans party. Which will you
trust to disfranchise the negro and pre-
serve intact the white electorate of this
State? For my part and for my people,
we will stand by our own flesh and blood
and I believe you, my fellow-citizens,
will do likewise. (Iienewed cheering)
(. You have Montague, Willard and An
derson, the white mans friends, and we
should not forget that it is time for the
white people to stand together and win
a victory which will mean liberty to all
the good people Of this State and their
liberation from the bondagee OF ignorance
and negro suffrage forever.
Mr.. Thom's peroration was an eloquent
and powerful plea for the State ticket,
whose triumphant election he predicted,
and it was greeted with prolonged APP
plause. The mseting2-was one of the
most successful of the canvass, and Will,
no doubt, be fruitful of good results.