The age-herald., 1901-07-27
THE AGE-HERALD. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1901.

 or even unjust The distinguished gen. tleman from Montgomery Governor Jones) in his remarks yesterday laid down some principles of law which he said would not be disputed by the lawyers on the floor. He referred to those laid down Tn the Chinese quue case. But this case arose under the fourteenth amendment, ana It was a personal right infringed there and not political right Therefore this case has no application to the ques- ton under consideration Another propo- sition which he said would not be disput- ed, was that the State had no right to ap- ply condition to suffrage that would not apply to all citizens. This is the proposi- ton submitted in the minority report when they say that a rule must apply to all citizens similarly situated None of us are similarly situated. Some are rich, some are poor. What then does 1t mean? That 1t Is not within the power of the State to apply standard to which all cit izens might not attain
 The proposition which the minority as- sert Is that the State is without the mower to set apart as voters a class that were soldiers because all citizens could not at- tain that qualification I deny that prop osition and l assert that the whole argu- ment on 1t Is built upon false premises The only two cases cited in it's favor IS this Chinese queue case and Catholic priest case which arose under the declara- tion of rights. The Chinese case arose under an ex post facto law. What has that to do with the present question?
 The assertion that the State can lay down no qualification for a voter for which all cannot qualify themselves, is denied by us of the majority. Women are citizens under the constitution of the United States and within the protection of the fourteenth amendment. Yet are not allowed to vote. That direct question was presented and decided in the case of Minor vs. Happersett, a Missouri case, where 1t was decided that the right of suffrage was not co-extensive with the right of citizenship, and confining voters to male citizens is not a violation of the federal constitution.
 They thus build their case upon the ground that the State cannot set apart class of citizens as voters. Nearly every State has set apart a class as male citi- zens. The fourteenth amendment pre- vents discrimination against all classes which come within it's Jurisdiction. All these cases cited arose under the four teenth amendment.
 There can be no discrimination under the fourteenth amendment, but just the contrary Is true as to the fifteenth amendment-you can make any discrimin-
 
 prohibitions If suffrage was a right of citizenship 1t would be universal There IS no such thing as right of suffrage, 1t is a duty, trust imposed upon certain citizens and denied to others. The fif- teenth amendment does not confer the right to vote, but only prevents it's dis crimination against certain classes.
 The highest judicial authorities say the right of citizenship comes from the State and is absolute, except as limited by the fifteenth amendment It Is com petent for the State to limit the right to vote to male citizens I maintain that 1t is competent for the State to say that soldiers. the men who have fought the battles of the State, may vote. This does not take away from the negro the right to vote 1 maintain that 1t is competent for the State to limit the suffrage to mar ried men. This might be unreasonable, but it has the power
 A great deal has been said in reference to Senator Morgan's attitude and the gentleman from Jefferson (Mr. Whlte) called your attention yesterday to the fact that Senator Morgan, while some what hysterical on the question of hereditary right to vote, yet favored a hereditary right to hold office
 He was surprised at Senator Morgan's position and letters because when the flying squadron was organized for his campaign he could not come to Alabama because he had to remain in Washing ton to combat the Pritchard resolution (Applause)
 Upon the question of the constitution ality of the grandfather clause which 1t Is said, Senator Morgan thinks unconsti- tutional, he, In the Senate of the United States, maintained otherwise. President Knox here read from the Congressional Record certain statements of Senator Morgan sustaining the clauses of the Louisiana constitution and the North Carolina constitution. (Applause) In discussing this grandfather clause of the North Carolina constitution, Senator Morgan said it would apply equally to whites and negroes.
 MT. President, continued President Knox, there Is no man in Alabama who