The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-26

aIi the faisehoods told by the asspu1 iicans and carpetbaREerss they MIL have reconstructed us then. xncx didn't do 1t then and they neveE will dQ' 1t. The Northern people at that time did not understand conditions here. Thexe was an old man named stroback. dol not know wha. ever became of him. but he was examined as witness Tor the Republicans, and he spoke in broken. English and told some of the most outrageous tales on the white people down here, and after the meeting ad~ tourned three or four of us were walk ing along the streets with Senator Cameron, one of the Senators who represented the Republicans. and he said to us,-"You are too intolerant In the South. You do not allow these men any social privileges, and you do not invite them to your homes. Xou do not treat them like men.
 Mir. Reese--will the gentleman yield to me for the purpose of making mos tion7
 Mr. Jones--Yes sir.
 Mir. Reese--I move that the time Of the gentleman be extended thirty n1in- utes.
 The motion was put and carried
 Mir. Jones--I thank the gentlemen of the Convention, but will be through in a minute. I told Senator Cameron "That Strobach was a fair sample of the carpet bagger In Alabama. If he were to so to your town how cften would he be at your table diningf How often would he be 6 guest at your home? We think we are as good as you are. We are not Senators, Dut we are honest, straightforward Southern people. We have our own views and we are honorable in our dealings with our fellowmen just as much % as you could be. We have as good lineage as you have and and have as good as- sociations as you have and withs the best people on earth, the cope ef Alabama We do not invite them to our homes and we do not expect that you would do 1t. In fact, we know you would not do it." And he would not have done 1t. Now there Is af- together 2 different sentiment. The Spanish war has brought about a change. The Republican Party recox- nize 1t. They have had a great deal of trouble In dealing with the Cubans and Filiplnos. They know what char when they go outside of the Caucasian race. Thousands and thousands of them who were our enemies are in full sympathy with us now. And make the prediction in answer to my friend the distinguished gentleman from Lee that there will never be reconstruction of the State of Alabama.
 MT. Jones cMontgomery)- never spoke with a profounder sense of tho responsibility which rests upon mo than now. What we see in this hall illustrates what Is being thought by the people all over the State, and how the people of Alabama, all moved with one patriotic purpose, differ widely as to means to that end and as to what Is the wisest and best for the happi- ness and glory of this State. am proud that the same blood flows in my veins that flows in the veins of the distinguished gentleman (Mr. Jones of Wilcox), who has just taken his seat. He is honest, he is patriotic, he is faithful, he is learned, and he is thor- oughly satisfied in his mind that the plan proposed by this Committee is wise and constitutional. hope I am as devoted to the interests of my reo- pie. as patriotic, and as loyal In my desire to serve the people of the whole State, and the people of the section from which come, as my distinguished kinsman,-and yet We differ widely.
 One significant lesson of such differ ence Is that we should be tolerant with opposing views upon this question. We are speaking here of questions, and deciding questions, which may return to vex our children. and our children g
 children for an hundred years to come. We, are speaking here, not merely to
 those in sound of our voices, but to others, "who tkrong in become par
 takers of the counsels of State, ito
 75,000, 900 American citizens; for we are
 creating today an electorate which is
 to take part in their elections. an elec-
 torate which in a degree wields and
 controls in some measure the destines
 of this country. These millions have
 an interest in 1t, right decision; they
 take an interest in it. I believe 1t was Solon who said that in framing a gov- ernment for the Athenians, he thought, when he looked back at it's progress and downfall, that he had taken more account of the prejudices of his people
 than he did for framing 8 government to inure their happiness. Let us avoid his experience.
 This Is a solemn juncture in the his- tory, not only of Alabama, but of this country, Mississippi has acted, LoltEsi- ana has acted, South Carolina has act ed, North Carolina has acted, Virginia is acting, Alabama Is acting. The eyes | of the world are upon us. 1t should warn us then. MT. President, to go slowly and deliberately. to discuss con scientiously every objection which may be urged to any plan that we may pro- pose. and to be sure that the plan l which we adopt Is wisest and best. | There Is not man within the sound of my voice who will not answer in his
 own mind. if not to the world. if you ask him the question. what is your purpose in this plan of suffrage-that ! 1t is my purpose. as far as l can con- additionally. to strike down the suf- | frage of the black race. and upohld the
 suffrage of the white race. They have this purpose because they believe 1t l the wisest and best, not only for the | country, but for both races. There [ comes another division. Some gentle
 men have said upon this floor that the | Constitution of the United States. so far as they were concerned. should not shackle or bind their action; that they | wished to put the defiant declaration in the Constitution that no negro should vote: that they wanted to lock horns | with the 18th Amendme0t and trample
 1t down forever. Now take it that no serious minded delegate. no delegate devoted to the welfare of his country,
 no delegate who wishes to be guided, if | he knows 1t, solely by the dictates of his conscience, wants to adopt any plan l which deliberately wars on the supreme
 law, and support on which he believes | Is in violation of the Constitution of the United States. My words and ar guments are not for those who would | intentionally violate the Constitution