The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-27

of the Convention.
 The truth is that great injustice has been done to great and worthy peo- pie by this continuous reference 10 ana slurs at the Black Belt. Never in the history of our race has any people had so serious a situation with which to contend as have these people. They have borne the burden with courage and patience and now that they cry aloud for relief they are met with con- tempt and ridicule and misrepresenta- tion, because, forsooth, they see fit to exercise such influence in the Conven- tion as they may be able to do. They are in distinct and clear minority there. They divide like the represent atives of the white counties do upon every question that comes up, but slan- der singled them out and points the finger of scorn at them just the same.
 The most ridiculous and absurd prop osition of all is that those people whe have suffered from the presence of the negro as no other people ever suffered before are going to register every one of them again! If such be their plan, in the name of common sense why did they vote almost unanimously for the Convention: If the negro is what they want, haven't they got him now? Why would they go through the ridiculous
 
 franchise tho negro, when their pur- pose all the while was to keep him en- franchised. But if, forsooth, the im- possible idea could be entertained for a moment that there are some bad and wicked men in 8 few bad and wicked counties. who having the chance to disfrancnise the negro. would not avail themsei;es O. it, how then would we be any worse off than we are at pres ent? They are now registered and are voters. and that is all they would or could be if, contrary to the intent, pur- pose and letter of the Convention, they were still allowed to vote. And if we imagine the wholly improbable thing that in as many as six coun- ties in this State all the negroes would De put on the registration list. are not the other sixty counties entitled to relief if they want it? Shall we be deprived the opportunity to dis franchise the ignorant and corrupt ne- gro In the other counties simply be- cause it is supposed that some wicked un-named politicians in some wicked unnamed black bslt counties might practice fraud, and let the negro still vote or stay on the registration list? While 1t is true that the black belt has more vital interest than any other part of the State in this matter, it is wholly untrue to suppose that it has a monopoly of interest in the question. on the contrary, majority of the ne- gro population of this State is in the white counties, and we have our prob | lem with them, and we want relief, and | we do not want 1t denied to us, because some men with timid minds think that some bad men in some black belt coun- ties still prefer the present condition of | affairs
 Finally, l wish to disclaim the idea that l represent anybody except my self. I went into this controversy be- cause 1t appeared to me that many things were being charged against this report that were not based upon fact, l felt that the cause itself might be endangered If the truth were not known and in a feeble way I have at tempted to explain as best I could some or the things which many people seem to nave an incorrect idea of There are some people. I know. who prefer, like Samson. to pull down the house even If 1t is upon their own heads | There are some people who oppose any | reform movement unless they happen to be the author of 1t. There are some people with vivid imagination who see fraud stalking every where. There are some people who have neither trust l HUI NOiihdeHCc III human nature, and there are some who can distrust others until they themselves are distrusted If we eliminate trust and confidence in our fellowman entirely from our minds. we shut the door upon every hope of progress every chance of advancement. | The Age-Herald has done a great and noble work in the calling of this | Convention and 1t seems to me it Is most unwise to throw the whole fruits of 1t away, when everybody admits that the work of the Convention has been sincere. that the plan it has proposed is far better than anything which we now hove. Those who are trying to de- stroy the peoples confidence fin this Convention and its work indeed assume great responsibility before the people. If the work of this Convention is not ratified it will be a generation before We can get relief from wrongs which cry to heaven for correction.
 Sydney J. Bowie