Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-23
People TO Register.

COLUMBIA. VA. September 22.-(Spe-
clai)-At Palmyra to-day speeches were
made by Hon ". B. Petit, Congressman
FLOOD. and Senator Martin. Owing to the
threatening weather the attendance was
small. Mr.. Pettit's speech was much
needed explanation of the prerequisites
to voting under the new Constitution and
prepared to participate in the govern
ment of the county.
The second speaker, Senator Martin. ro-
tund and fine in physique. was greeted
with applause when he arose. He began
by saying this is a government of the
people and that any man would beflack-
ing in patriotism who failed to register
under the suffrage law
Commended the Constitution.
The new Constitution, said he. was not
a perfect instrument. but it was the best
that could be provided by a convention of
most intelligent men. After speaking in
most complimentary way Of the ability
and earnestness displayed in the conven-
ton by the Hon. ". B. Petit and Hon.
John w. Daniel, Senator Martin asserted
that the work of the body was clearly in
the interest of honesty and economy, and
he argued at length upon the Importance
of being prepared for the exercise of the
right of suffrage. In this connection the
Senator paid Fluvanna a compliment by
saying that from an extensive acquain-
tance in the county he did not know a
single white man who could not register
under the new Constitution.
The Trusts and Taxation.
From this he passed to a consideration
Of the duties of voters. Senator Martin
told his hearers that their exercise of the
franchise should be first for their Con-
gress. whom he called man of infinite
energy and Of marked fidelity to every
trust committed to him, so much so that
even the Republicans deemed it inexpe-
iient to put up man against him unit!
commanded SO to do by Babcock, of Wis
consin.
to take rs their platform Flood and the
tariff. He proceeded to discuss the sub
ject of taxation. AS the tariff, said he,
is only a method Of taxation, sugar would
not cost more than 2 cents pound but
for the tax on it. After further llustrat-
ing this point by reference also to other
commodities. he paid his respects to Mr.
IAotStNtlt NiioSc IllSoi tl PuDliSitS DIS d
cure for trusts was more in defence of
them than of the people.
The Republican TanE1e.
The Senator, after discussing the power
of the President and the tangle of his
party about reciprocity mentioned the
difference in tariff between the refined
and the unrefned sugar. and showed how
the trusts got the sugar. The Repubi-
can policy of processing one thing and
acting another. was further illustrated
by him in the treatment of monopoly
the offspring of the protective tariff. SEN
ator Martin commented on the state of
affairs in the Republican camp at Iowa.
and told how the farmers of that State,
led by Messrs. Allison and Henderson,
propose to strike down the trusts by a
reduction of the tariff. Mr. Martins
speech was we'll received.
Hon. II. D. Flood next came to the
front and was cordially greeted. He con-
fined his remarks to the Constitutional
Convention-the cause of it's inception and
the result of its work. which originated
in a determination to assure the SUI
premacy of the white race by the elimi-
nation largely of the negro vote. The
declared Mr. Flood, had
right to control his government. and it
was that view that dominated the con-
vention at Norfolk.
A Question of Races.
The disfra nchisement of the negro said
ne. was not "A question of politics. but of
races: and the same principle has been
recognized by the general government
In its Chinese exclusion laws. and by all
races in the world. Whilst dis
the racial instinct of the Anglo
Saxon. he affirmed that the race had
not reached its present high progress by
leaps and bounds, but by low and steady
stages. and that the negro. in his igno-
rance and venality could not be politi-
cally ranked with the white man.
Mr. Flood said he was partial to the
negro and that this old Commonwealth
had spent twelve million dollars on his
The speaker then discussed
the understanding clause of the new suf-
fraEe law, and the roll of honor made
from the military prerequisite. Mr.. Flood
then gave a resume of his services in
Congress, but owing to the lateness OF
the hour your correspondent had to deny
himself that part of his speech.