The age-herald., 1901-06-06

The present constitutional convention of Alabama has an opportunity to solve the most perplexing political question which has ever confronted the southern states If it succeeds 1t will be entitled to the undying gratitude of all the white people in the southi if 1t falls down" 1t may be the laughing stock of the eeun- try.
 Much Is foregiven the futile efforts or mistakes of a pioneer. Alabama is not a pioneer in thls question of disfranohis- ing the negro. The states of Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana and North Carolina have all undertaken to deal with It. and Alabama can profit by their experience, and adopt such provisions as have proven wise and shun those that have proven foolish It is useless to say that we can do as we please. We cannot ignore the opinion of our neighbors and the world at large.
 Thomas Jefferson realized this when he wrote the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one nation to sever it's political ties from another, a decent respect for the opinion of mankind," etc.
 Therefore, 1t behooves the convention to go carefully. not disregarding the opin- ion of mankind and not ignoring the pro- visions of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments.
 We want to disfranchise the negro be- cause he Is a negro. possessing all the ..f... Ls-. teenth amendment says we can't do 1t. That is the proposition the convention Is up against, and the question Is what Is 1t to do? And right here it may be re- marked that the fifteenth amendment was the meanest piece of legislation a dominant power ever enacted to hamper and hurniliate a prostrate foe. If this amendment could be repealed the problem of course would be simple, but there is no hope of Congress ever Npming to our aid in this manner. God helps those who help themselves, and surely divine aid is needed in this effort on the part of the southern states to purify elections by oonf1ning the suffrage to those who have the interests of the commonwealth at heart
 The pioneer in this movement Is Missis- sippi In 1890 her present constitution was adopted. under tne pfoVfS1OnS or this constitution only those can vote who have not participated in duelling, and who in addition to the usual age and resi- dence qualification, are duly registered, have not been convicted of certain crimes and who have paid all taxes, including s2 poll tax for two years preceding the year in which they offer to ,yote and after 1892 shall be able to read and reasonably understand when they read any clause in the constitution. This Is what is known as the understanding clause" and is the part of the constitution especially de- signed to exclude the negro vote. This constitution has been reviewed incident ally by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Williams vs. Missis- sippi ITO U. s. Ill, and declared consti- tutional as it undoubtedly is.
 In 1895 South Carolina adopted a new constitution which required that any per son to vote, besides the age and residence provisions. must be registred; and up to January l, 1898, any person could be reg istered who could either read or under stand when read any section of the con stitution. Those thus registered should remain voters for life. After 1898 to reg ister. voters must be able to read and write, or must own $500 of property on