The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-30

deplored. We have all to gain and noth- msnt If must be apparent to refiecting minds that Federal interference, the risk of which Is sometimes put forward as reason for opposition to the new instru, s in the future by the continuance of exist ing methods for the control of the suf- frage. than by any changes wrought by the ratification of the new instrument.
 The above mentioned registration will be made in each county by a board Of three reputable and suitable persons, resi- dents of the county. to be appointed by the Governor. Auditor and Commissioner of Agriculture The effect of that regis tration will be the elimination of a great Further provision ] s IS then ineDns made to main tain for the future the standard of the electorate. A lack of the qualities of in- telligerce. thrift and a regard tor the that part of our present voting population i whose participation in the government of | the State is sought to be abridged. The qualifications proposed for those who shall become of age and seek the right to vote after January ist, 1903, desIrass ss eisss sssuSi0H Those auaiiscat,ens should appeal strongly to the mothers | and fathers and youth of the land. of He all worthy men. The desire to fulfil l them will uplift thoEe who are to come after us to keener appreciation of the privilege of suffrage and better f1t them for the ennobling and responsible duties of citizenship. What manly and self | respecting youth. in this day of abund- ant opportunities of free education and self advancement, will listen to the de- | passing cry of those who wish to prevent our deliverance, that the State wrongs the youth when it asks in return for the that he prepare himself by learning, | within the ample time given him, to read parts of the Constitution of the United States; e or develop sufficient character amount of property, which the humblest. | starting life under the most adverse cir cumstances. can quickly. acquire? What right thinking or self-honoring man is willing to claim and enjoy all the bene- | fits of government, and is unwilling to make any sacrifice or contribute anything ton since thousands of Alabamians glad | ly risked and sacrificed their lives for the | welfare of the State; and now their chill their fathers, that they are told that the payment of a poll-tax of less than a half I cent g day in aid of the public schools, as one of the helps to a higher and bet | ter suffrage, demands a sacrifice which | they should set in the balance against your efforts to uplift our civilization. We leave the fit answer to this ignoble sug- gestion to that love of country which has always marked our people. and borne them upward in all their struggles and | trials.
 l Snail We Descend into the Mire in | Order to be Cleansedp
 Of those who profess a desire to be rid of our evil condition and at the same time proper to ask what, if any remedy, they propose. Can defeat of the new Consti- tuition promote any good end? Will il and cut off all hope of reliei for a generation to come? Is 1t not far better and wiser to take the present step and if experience prove it intellectual, tc seek further remeiy by prompt amend ment of the Constitution. which is easy under the new instrument, than to fai back back 3, again l,no deeper in the mire. and then our institutions?
 Fair Elections.
 The surest and most enduring tounda- tion for fair elections is honest and in- telligent voters. The new instrument fur nishes this great support, by. sitting the | those entitled to suffrage. To the penal ties which the Legislature has provided or may provide. 10 enforce honesty in elections. the Constitution itself has added disfranchisement of all who buy or sell votes. or make false returns in legal or primary elections, and has made falCT ton of the mass of vicious votes. the power of which Is always sought to um- pire the result of elections when good men divide. all excuse or temptation is I to prevent the vicious from overturning good government and imperilling all that Is protected by it. With the disappear ance of the cause which leads to the vio- lation of the sanctity of elections, public opinion, which is stronger and more far reaching than law. will again reassert itself and effectually guard the ballot box. Consciously or unconsciously. ulte- rior motives must control the mind which proclaims opposition to the Constitution on the pretext that it's ratification will tha cnntinIl ffOn of election a
 Education.
 The importance of public schools to the welfare of the State is recognized and emphasized by the provisions made tc sustain education. The new Constitution of It's own yig9r' appropriates about eight
 The new instrument preserving all thu
 old sources of revenues, appropriate. one-half of all the taxes levied and col lected by the State. and enjoins upon tn, Leislature the increase of this fund iron time to time az the resources of the Stat, may justify. Power is given counties t levy d, special tax, not to exceed ter cents on each one hundred dollars wortl of taxable property therein. for the sup port of the public schools, when voted bI three-fifths of the voters at the election subject to the limitation that the rate ol State and county taxation per annun must not be increased to more than ont dollar and twenty-five cents on each ont hundred dollars of property, excludinR special taxes for bridges and payment ol debts existing in 1875.
 | Acknowledgement has been made in the Constitution itself of just debt to the University, and provision made for the payment of interest thereon. Change has been made in the mode of appoint ment of its trustees, which those most in terested In the University believe will re- dound to It's welfare. Greater stability has been given to the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute by longer terms to its trustees.
 The new instrument has gone to the verge of the ability of the State to sus tain and increase schools; and as tho State grows in wealth, the Constitution , by it's own operation, will correspondinRl, Increase the public contributions to In, l cause of education. What better respons, could be made to the impulse of our peo pie for more and better schools?
 Taxation.
 The State tax on property has been de creased from seventy-five cents per an g mum on the hundred dollars to sixty-fiv = cents on the hundred dollars. Debts fo = the rent or hire of real or personal prop 7 erty while owned by the landlord o : hirer during the year of such rental O n hire are not taxable, if the property itsel t has been assessed at it's full value.
 y To meet emergencies, the power of tn s Governor has been extended to ngotiat r l temporary loans to the amount of thre v hundred thousand dollars. Counties ar 5 forbidden to levy a greater rate of taxs tiOn per annum than one-half of one pc ; centum; but an additional One-fourth l one per cent. may be collected for debt = existing at the ratification of the Const l tuition of 1875. To meet debts incurred fC 7 public buildings or bridges. county ma . levy a tax of one-fourth of one perceT = tum Under the existing Constitution, tn r | rate of taxes for such purposes is unlin s Itcd Cities, towns and villages. with f | few excepted by name whose necessitit ' and debts demanded the exception. al $ | forbidden to levy a higher rate of taXs