The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-08
MIR. KNOX AT ATHENS
MADE EARNEST ARGUMENT FOR
 NEW CONSTITUTION.
He Was Received by Large Audi ence and Exposed the Fallacies Indulged in by the op-
 position.

Athens, Oct. 7.--(special.)--one of the largest and most representative gather ings ever witnessed in this place met at
 the court house today at l0:3o o'clock 10
 hear the brilliant and honored statesman Hon. John Knox in his discussion of the
 new Constitution. He was introduced to
 the vast audience that crowded every
 available inch of the circuit court room
 where the speaking was to take place by
 Colonel w. Thomas Sanders who was q
 member of the Convention from this Sen
 atorial District.
 MT. Knox was given genuine ovation
 when he arose to his feet and for some
 time he could not begin his address be-
 cause of the continued applause.
 He began by thanking the Chairman for
 his kind introduction and then at once launched into the discussion of the sub
 ject before him. He began away back before the war about the condition that existed then and came down the line un- til the movement was placed on foot for the calling of the Convention that has just adjourned. He told of the trials Of the people of Alabama and other South ern States; what they had undergone and what they had suffered because Of the unjust and iniauitous act enfranchisfny the vast horde of black men who had been a menace to good government ever since they were thus honored. He told of the efforts of Governor Johnston to de- feat the movement and read what he said about the calling of Convention. Then he told how that after the Convention had been called he throttled the move- ment and that Ex-Congressman, Shelly. Ex-Congressman Stallings end ex-candi- date for Senator and ex-Governor John- ston were at this time trying to defeat
 the adoption of the Constitution. That after ninety days of honest hard toll by one hundred and fifty-five of the ablest Alabamians had been adopted for sut- mission to the people and that the three exes were using all sorts of misrepresen- tations and demagogical efforts to defeat this great nov ement for no other purpose than selfish ones.
 Mir. Knox dealt with the efforts of these three men with a hand that showed It's ability to handle them but at no time did ho become offensive to the friends of these gentlemen. Every utterance was blow that they can neyer recover rom before those who heard him.
 MT. Knox took up the arguments of the enemies of the new Constitution and riddfed them. He read the decisions of it was shown that the United States gov ernment did not bestow the right of bal- lot upon any man; that 1t was entirely within the province of the statute to say who should and who should not vote so long as 1t did not disqualify any person from voting by reason of color or pre- vious condition of seryitude.
 He compared the old Constitution with the new and explained to the vast au- dience the many benefits to be derived from the acceptance of the new over the old, and then said if Governor Johnston and General Shelley and Colonel Stall people and the interest of the negro that they could lose nothing by support ing this Constitution even if the same was declared unsonstitutional or in oppo- sition to the Fifteenth Amendment; that the negro would have the same rights then that he has now, and the people would be even then blessed with an in- proved instrument in every other par ticular.
 He told of the promise of the Gov ernor when he called that memorable session to repeal the act calling the Con ised relief in the shape of an amend- ment that he never had presented, and how the three exes were telling of an they had never outlined; how they were upon every hand that they were out of politics. and then in other letters to friends telling them that If they could but defeat this Constitution they Ii would again be in the saddle.
 The crowd cheered and cheered when he uttered the telling sentences, declar- ing to them that he assured the people that under the workings of this new that no white man would De deprived of his vote, and the utter ance carried conviction.
 His graphic picture of the scenes In North Carolina when the negroes ruled the people there a few years ago, when they had more than two thousand of the offices, and that the city of Whining ton was awed by negro domination, held the vast audience spellbound. He read from an editorial of a negro editor and an article that put the men present in a high state of excitement. and his de- of the recent meeting of the negroes in the city of Birmingham and the resolution that thev passed in which | they referred to that great enemy of the | new Constitution, General Shelley. as the | chief ballot-box suffer, but added to | the story of what was to be expected if | there was not something done to stay his tide. He explained everything that could have been wished regarding the franchise clause of the new Constitution, making t so plain that no man present could be in It's application.
 The speech of Mir. Knox was that of m able and honest man who wanted to present. his case in a way that the peo- ,le present might know and understand he question at issue. It was more of a ,lain legal argument than anything else. 1 He added much to the popularity of the | ause in this country. and tore to shreds | he arguments of the opposition. WAS A NAY 0E NERATE