Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-17
The Coming Alabama Constitutional
Convention.
OBJECT EXPLAINED BY Mr.. MORGAN
Class to Be Eliminated From Par
ticipation in Affairs.
EFFECT ON POLITICS

1.-The constitutional convention OF Ala
bama, which will meet next week." said
Senator Morgan to a Star reporter, will
be representative assemblage of the best
citizenship Of the state. 1t will be COM
posed of 1855 delegates, all from unofficial
life. Men of standing In professional and
business life, lawyers. merchants, bankers
and farmers. This convention will be ca
pable OF determining what is best for the
family Of citizens composing the state.
This action will not be Influenced by the
consideration Of what may advance the
interests Of the democratic party; the ques-
ton is not one Of party, but involves ad-
ministrative integrity and the character Of
the state. The convention meets to relieve
the state Of an incubus of ignorance and
vice; to eliminate an element composed Of
men who have neither character. intelli-
gence. capacity, sense Of responsibility,
patriotism nor loyalty to any obligation.
The action Of the convention must accord
With the requirements Of the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments to the federal
Constitution, or. at least. avoid coming In
conflict with them: but this incubus. this
corpse, must be shaken from our back.
and l believe 1t will be done with wisdom
and justice to the state. I believe that
majority Of the people of the United states
will sympathize with and approve Of what
the state has done when it is accomplished.
II do not want to go into a discussion In
detail Of how the convention may accom-
plish what they will assemble for; but
there is not the shadow of a doubt that,
without doing violence to the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments to the federal
Constitution. the ignorant irresponsible
incapable and unpatriotic element will be
deprived OF the power to participate. to Its
detriment, in the administration of the at
fairs of the state. And by this action true
liberty and republican institutions will be
strengthened and restored to the full char
acter Of manhood
Effect on Politics.
How will politics be affected by the
elimination Of the negro?" was asked
with the democrats of Alabama democ-
racy is a creed. 1t was born into the ter
ritory Of a passed century; it has grown
up in the state; it enters into the forma-
ton of character by Inheritance. educa-
tion temperament and bent of philosophy;
this creed forms a. part of the character
Of our people. The idea recently advanced
that the elimination of the negro is going
to give birth to new republican party
In the south is not based on an under
standing of the real sentiments of our peo-
pie. 1t Is assumed that We are coopered
together by the negro question, brassbound
with hoops lightly clinched, and that when
the negro is removed the slaves will
shrink the hoops fall off and the whole
thing go to pieces.
The intelligent men of Alabama vote
their convictions. 1 know Of no man who
is a democrat merely on account Of the
negro There are some republicans who
vote with us on state matters, for respect
ability's sake, and for the protection Of
their families and their business. but they
vote the republican national ticket and
maintain their party loyalty. The elimi-
nation Of the negro will enable these men
to vote for republican state officers with
out sacrificing their self-respect. Demo-
Gratis will still be democrats. and repub-
licans still republicans. The democracy Of
Alabama is based on reasons a matter of
political philosophy. 1t has certain def
mite creed, religion. and our people
do not look with favor upon any departure
from 1t, whether it be toward the doctrines
of the republicans or Of populists any
other not strictly and to the letter those Of
democracy. They are extremely sensitive
in their faith.