The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-07

They have their. troubles and snaris. their ups and downs, but by opposing are ending them, and thus they are hastening the day when their State will nave a asrestrfcted suffrage and an eco- nomical form of government.
 The Norfolk Virginian-P Pilot says:
 The Virginian-Pilo is decidedly of the opinion that the Constitutional Convention did good thing when 1t decided to adjourn and go home for a Few weeks. Indeed. if 1t is going to do something attributed to 1t, it had bet ter adjourn and go home altogether. We are persuaded. however. that a few weeks at home among their constitu- ents will enable delegates to see things in clearer and more wholesome light.
 For example. 1t is reported that the Suffrage Committee has agreed upon the provision that only those who pay taxes on $500 of property shall be all lowed to vote. The report of Auditor marye shows that there ares95,662 white and S.lA colored citizens who pay taxes on $500 of property. There are in the State. according to the last census, 301, ,379 white and 146.122 colored citi- gems over 21 years of age. "' r''''"
 The Suffrage Committee, therefore, proposes to disfranchise only the mere bagatelle of 206,7 white citizens and 137,9IS colored citizens.
 It will graciously permit one white man in every three and one nigger in every sixteen and two-thirds to vote.
 Of the 447,501 voters in the State it proposes to put. only 343,S95 out of bus mess. while 103.S06 will be allowed to vote.
 We nave no purpose to be discourte- ous to the members of the Suffrage Committee. but really they should go home and, soskn their heai Is.
 The ,geh}lsyHeR seem to have forgot ten A1tegether what country and what age they are living in. The proposi- tion to disfranchise three-fourths of the electorate has no parallel in Amer ican history. This is Virginia, gentle men. and the year is 1901-the begin ming of brand new century. Wake up!
 We may be utterly mistaken but we take the liberty of doubting that 103,- S06 voters can disfra nchise 343,6S5 vot- CTS. through a promulgation of consti- tuition or otherwise. We are inclined to the opinion that the attempt would shake the political and social fabric to its foundation.
 The Convention should stop this tom foolery and the sooner the better. We cannot understand what has come over the cooler heads in that body.
 What has Hon. Andrew Jackson Montague and the gentlemen who will be named with him here week after next, done to the Constitutional Con- vention that that body should seek to make bologna out of them without giving them so much as show for their lives?
 What has the. Democratic party done to the Convention that it should seek to consign that party to the limbo of Readjusterism?
 What has Virginia done to the Con- vention that that body should seek to set it back 8 quarter of century ma terially and a century politically
 The gentlemen of the Suffrage Com mittee seem to have lost their sense Of perspective and proportion. They should get it back again, if they have to borrow 1t. Let us see how the case would stand if the Convention should adopt this proposition:
 There are. we believe, 90 Democrats in the Convention. Everyone of them was elected on two specific pldges-l. Not to disfranchise any white man. g. ID submit the Constitution to a vote of the people.
 This proposition of the Suffrage Com mittee would compel ;hese 90 delegates to repudiate both of these pledges. to the Constitution outright and to disfranchise three fourths of the citizens of the State by sheer ipse dixit
 In no English speaking country in 2eo years has any representative assembly been guilty of a step involving such open infamy and revolution.
 It is O matter of grief and surprise that a committee of Virginians should have made such suggestion.