The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-11-01
Vote for the Poll Tax
Amendment.

AS this will be the last appear
hnce of the BANNER before the
Congressional election, which
takes place on Tuesday next, the
9TH, we. take this means once
more of calling the attention of all
good Democrats land for that
matter Republicans also) to the
dangerous position in which the
Constitution of 1898 has placed
the great lever of the franchise SO
dear to the poor and dependent
classes in popular government
and to the further fact that now is
their chance to right the wrong.
If America is to be and remain
American, it must be and remain
popular government; and this
cannot be unless this most vicious
provision in the elective franchise
is stricken from the Constitution.
The disastrous effect that this
poll tax provision has had, is
faithfully reflected in the tremend-
GUS apathy and Indifference of the
general people now apparent
upon every hand towards the cleo
ton. The great mass of our peo-
pie don't know that an election is
to be held; and this is because so
many of them have been dis
franchised by the suffrage provi-
sion known as the poll tax clause,
As we have said upon previous
occasions, the ballot should be
free and unpurchasable to those
who are capable Of it's intelligent
enjoyment, and especially is this
true in times of trustism and
wealth Capitalization, as we have
now.
We believe in white supremacy,
not only in the South but in the
North and the whole world over;
we even believe that conditions in
Hayti would improve Immediately
upon the transfer of authority
from the hands of the black to the
white race, as they have improved
In Hawaii and the accession States
Of this American union. But it
cannot be said that the poll tax
qualification of the present consti-
tuition has done anything in this |
We all remember we'll that for |
several elections previous to the
State election of 1896 the negroes
lad almost entirely disappeared
rom the electorate-not, however,
BY reason of any qualification in
he law to which they felt them
lelves, as a race, unable to con-
lorm; but by other influences,
principally among which was the
mere unwillingness of the whites,
% invite them back into the poll
ng booth. But in this State cleo.
ion in 1896 what did we see in st.
Nary parish? The negroes in con-
rol, absolutely, of the ballot; and
ould have elected many of their
to the Offices, had the
vhite Republicans seen fit to
lace their names upon the ticket.
he suddenness of the negro's
eturn to politics, in that election
Tas perfectly appalling; and GER
ainly il he can be brought sud-
emily into the elections, he can be
SO brought. I
But being a voter then and not
eing one now, we ask any OBJ
erving person when and by what
lsans was he excluded? He was
,gislated out by the Australian
allot law of 1896 and the indis-
of the white people to
old him in the electorate as will
Q shown by the returns of the
.turns of the Congressional cleo
on of the fall of that very year,
nd which was only seven months
lbsequent to that memorable
late election above referred to.
This poll tax qualification.
cannot be shown to
I've expunged the negro from the [
ectorate, but It can be amply