The age-herald., 1901-07-27

holds in higher esteem Senator Morgan than myself but must confess that 1 am surprised that he now feels that the very walls of the government are falling down because we propose to confer the suffrage upon those heroes who fought the battles of the South. (Applause).
 Governor Oates seemed to think 1t terri ble that we were going to disfranchise the negroes. It is not so 1t is only the vlcious and ignorant that will be disfranchised. I deem 1t unjust that in comparing the races Governor Oates should have selected but one negro slave to compare to all our race.
 Here MT. Beddow objected to some ap- plause and President Knox replied that when MT. Beddow was applauded In speaking on his union labor resolution he heard no objection to applause from him. (Great applause.)
 Continuing, President Knox told the story of Polk Miller, who said bring the men to the colors," as a counterpart to Governor Oates story of his negro slave Governor Oates here arose and explained the purpose of his argument made yester- day.
 Governor Oates, continued Presiden. Knox, argues in favor of the right of the negro. but what remedy does he propose? He wants to strike out the descendant
 
 benefit the negro? Does 1t confer any rights upon him? If you strike out the right of a descendant of a soldier to vote, you may also strike out the right of many negroes to vote. Every negro In the State will be entitled to vote if he measures up to the requirements prescribed by the mi- nority themselves
 I was struck with the complacency with which the gentleman from Jefferson (Mr White) described the funeral of the ma jority plan when the Supreme Court of the United States got through with it. When the people of Alabama. exclaimed Mr Knox in his ringing voice, come to pass upon the conduct of the gentleman from Jefferson in this case, there may be an other funeral when he will not appear merely as friend of the family. Cheers and Great Applause.) Here President Knox recited some poetry applicable to Captain Whites funeral, which was greet ed with applause.
 A word now, continued the president, about the registration plan and the good character clause. Some man. described in the newspapers as prominent citizen," says 1t Is designed to perpetuate fraud Walpole 1t was who said that every man had his price, which led Macaulay to reply that 1t only proved that Walpole had his
 Passing from. this I take up the ar- gument of another prominent citizen (Captain White) who says that the com mittee in providing for registrars did not proceed consecutiveiy. Why the commit tee selected three men from different parts of the state to give all sections rep- resentation. He seems to think 1t alarm ing that the registrars are to be appoin- ted by the Governor Why he appoints the judges and chancellors. The gentle man seems to think 1t is a deep scheme to perpetuate frauds to perpetuate the right of the negro. If this was so why would the delegates from certain parts of the state want the suffrage changed at all? Why labor so hard In this con- vention for reform?
 The gentleman (Mr. White) said in his argument that there was no danger to white supremacy in this state and im- plying that 1t made little difference whether this constitution was ratified or not. The people of North Carolina thought the same, but there came an evil day in that state when the white men divided and the negro came into power In Will mington he was judge, sheriff and police man. wave of misrule followed and crime went unpunished. A negro editor in Wilmington emboldened by such con- duct wrote an editorial that brought on Q riot. He would not read the editorial on account of the ladies in the gallery, but he would publish 1t in the report Eight thousand citizens of Wilmington had to arm themselves and patrol the city to protect it form bands of negroes In the light of this experience shall we run such risks?
 Mir President, regret that in this measure we are opposed by both of our Senators, but the same thing happened in both Louisiana and North Carolina yet they went ahead undeterred by such opposition. (Applause.)
 I trust do not do the negro an injus- tice but I will read what President Lin coln says about him. Here he read from an address of the Presidents which made some plain statements about the negro and said that he did not believe in ne- groes being jurors and that they could never be the equalss of the white race. He also read from a report of the Phil ippines of Senator Cullum, Republican, favordng the hereditary idea of white voting class
 'Tf we are right" continued the presi- dent let us stand by our guns without regard to opposition from whatever source 1t comes. (Applause.)
 "Our work will stand like a rock and the waves of opposition will harmlessly fall upon 1t. Thomas Jefferson the great commoner, when he came to die turned his back on all pomp and glory and | thought what he had done for humanity.