The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-14

hundred and twenty-seven representa-
tives in Congress. and one hundred and
hfty-nine electoral votes in the cleo
toral college. Repeal this amendment.
and deprive the negro of suffrage, and
the South will then have only eighty
eight representatives. in Congress, and
one hundred and twenty votes in the
electoral eollege-a loss of thirty nine
representatives in Congress and thir-
ty-nine electoral votes. Georgia alone
would lose five congressman and five
electoral votes.
Until 1865 the negroes of the South
were the wealth-producefs of the
southern slave holders, and since then
they have been the wealth producers
of the Southern planters. They are still
the best plantation laborers in the
world. This fact is so thoroughly ap-
preciated that the laws of Georgia
have made it penal offense for any
person to come into the state and en-
gage in an effort to induce the negroes
to emigrate to other states, without
nrst taking out a license that, on ac-
count of its excessiveness, is prohibi-
tory
That the people of Georgia are with
me on the question of negro disfran-
chisement was shown by the action Of
the representatives in the General AS
sembly when at it's last session Q900) a
proposition to enact a law to this effect
was overwhelmingly defeated, the
measure referred to receiving but three
votes out of total Of one hundred and
seventy-five.
Mr.. Bryan and his followers, with
their cry of imperialism, and their
demand for the withdrawal of Ameri-
can sovereignty from the Philippine
Islands, leaving the Filipinos with the
sole and exclusive right to rule and
govern themselves, can so willingly ap-
prove the proposition to disfranchise
the Southern negroes, and deny them
the privilege of taking part in the Sc
lection Of their rulers. The Filipinos
nave fired upon the American flag:
have slaughtered and wounded our
soldiers; and have carried on the most
savage warfare known in modern an
mails. The negroes of the South have
been true and loyal to the government.
ana 1t would provoke the worlds in
olgnatlon to take from them their
privileges as freemen, and then confer
the same privileges upon hostile aliens
who have not yet, in good faith. ac-
knowledged the supremacy of our au-
thority. This would be a travesty upon
Justice. 1t would place us in the
wrong, and we would be unable to
justify ourselves in the eyes of all
civilized nations.
The results of the Spanish American
war forced us to take the PHILIPPINE
Islands from Spain, and after destroy
ing such government as they had at
the time of taking them. our action
would be indefensible if we should re-
Ilnquish our authority and suddenly
leave a people generally recognized as
incapable of self-government free to
control themselves and the destinies of
the entire archipelago.
If the policy. of the administration in
the Philippine Islands is imperialism
then, in the name of justice and com
mon sense, how shall we characterize
the proposed wholesale disfranchise-
ment of the black voters of the South
who are loyal to the flag and friendly
to our people?
| favor expansion. When we can
honorably gain new and desirable ter
ritory, either by conquest or treaty
and once plant the American flag there,
| am opposed to hauling it down. I
believe In retaining all the territory
acquired by the Spanish American
War, as well as that which was coded
to the United States by the Paris trea-
ty. l approve what is known as the
Platt amendment. establishing our re-
lations with the Island of Cuba, and /
think out government would have been
justified in tying a rope to the island,
instead of string, before turning it
loose.
The Philippine Islands, believe, will
be a valuable acquisition to the United
States, not. only on account of the ter
ritory, but as point of vantage for
our government in extending our trade
with the Orient, and as a stronghold
for our navy in time of war and of
foreign complications. 1t seems provi-
Dental that we had number of eff
Gent war vessels and an army in the
Philippine Islands when the recent
troubles occurred in China. Our good
fortune in this respect enabled us to
quickly send into Chinese waters
powerful force of cruisers, and they,
with the men we landed saved the
Lives of many missionaries and lega-
toners, and it is not too much to say
that the presence of the Americans
averted one of the greatest rnassacres
ever known in the history of the world.
We are rightfully in the Philippine
Islands. The whole. civilized world is
now on our side, and it would disgrace
us in the eyes of all nations to pull
down our flag, just as we are ready to
reap the legitimate reward of our en-
terpriSe.
Expansion is a Democratic doctrine,
and it is idle to talk of reading me
out of the party because / favor it.
Thomas jefferson, during his admins
tratien. made expansion the bedrock
of Democracy Andrew Jackson, bet
ter known as "Old Hickory" another
great expounder of true Democracy,
said on this subject Il have thought,
with the ancient Romans. that 1t is
right never to cede territory within
the boundaries of the republic, but al
ways add to it, thus extending the area
of freedom"
The annexation of Louisiana, Florida,
Texas, California, Arizona, New Mex
leo and Nevada were accomplished I'M
der Democratic administrations. The
annexation of Porto Rico and Philip
pine Islands under President Mckinley
was in no way inconsistent with Demo-
cratic doctrine. The cry of Imperialism
is mere clap-trap. President Mckinley
did everything in his power to avert
war with Spain, but when the trouble
came he met the crisis like a states
man and a patriot 1t should not be
forgotten that it was Mr.. Bryan who
lined up the Democrats in Congress
and forced through the act that
hro,,e,t,t IN the war The ACQUISITION OF