The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-29

on every horizon, it was the courage and steadfastness of the men of the Black Belt that saved the state from a return to the horrors of reconstruction. and the humiliation and disgrace of negro domination. It was charged by the opponents of the new constitution that the Black Belt was not sincere in It's support of the movement for suffrage reform and everywhere Governor John ston and his followers, in their opposi- tion to the ratification of the new con- stitution, sought to prejudice and in- flame the white voters of the state against the Black Belt and the advocates of suffrage reform, not only by charg- ing that white voters would be disfran- chised, but upon the pretense that the suffrage scheme which we had embodi- ed in the new constitution was plan to enable the Black Belt to register their negroes and retain them as permanent political factor in the state.
 "gThe fact known to all that no white man has been deprived of his right to vote, and the insignificant number of ne- groes who have been admitted to regis ter has shown how unfounded were these charges, and how completely their authors have been convicted as false prophets.
 Debt Due the Black Belt.
 We cannot, fellow citizens, pay too high a tribute to the pas-iotism aEd sublime spirit of self-sacrifice which has 1 led the men of the black belt, who have | stood as the strength and bulwark of l the democratic party for over quarter | of a century, in voluntarily surrender | ing the great power with which the old system invested them, and laying 1t up- l on the altar to restore fair elections, ard guard the welfare and protect the honor and fair name of the state. l What constitutes a state?
 mound.
 Not high-raised battlements or labored
 mound,
 Not cities proud, with spires and tur-
 rents crowned.
 But men-high-minded men;
 Men who their duties know, but know
 their rights,
 Ans knowing dare maintaini"
 'FelIow citizens, I do not believe that | there is any sentiment in this state, or that there is any white man, whether democrat, populist or republican, who loves his state and who Is not prompted by the impulse of the demagogue or the selfish aspirations of the office-seeker, who would countenance for moment any proposition to disturb the splendid work | accomplished in the adoption of the new constitution which forever eliminates the ignorant and vicious negro voter as a political factor in this state.
 "An old gentleman in my county who has been a supporter of Governor John- ston and who I believe, was deceived into voting against ratification by the l misleading statements of our opponents, l was approached recently by the opposl- l ton, and asked to accept an important committee appointment, tc aid in con | tinued opposition to this reform. sNo' he said, "tho white men of the | state have all been registered, and the niggers have heen disfranchised, and l don't propose to take any chances or I letting them git in agin And very | much mistake the sentiment of the peo- ple of Alabama if this homely expression | of this venerable old man does not voice the general verdict
 Tells of Mary Ann.
 "A passenger train over in our neigh boring state of Georgia was boarded re- gently by countryman and his young bride or sweetheart-I am not sure which He had never travelled a great deal, If ever before, but was evidently very much enamored and completely ab- sorbed in the girl. More than that, he was very affectionate and with his arm | around her waist and her head reclining on his shoulder, he kissed her at inter- vals marked by the space of each tele- | graph pole. A fiinicky and somewhat off, | flC1OuS passenger, dtlOWlIB lltllStll u Dt- | come annoyed by this continued exhibi- tion of affection, complained to the con- l ductor, and insisted that the performance | should be stopped. The conductor, with | some hesitation, approached the couple | and modestly suggested that some of the l passengers were objecting to the exhibi- ton they were giving. The girl straight 1 ened up and agreed at once to acquiesce, but the countryman, placing her head I |. .fu nIn d Mary Ann, I have paid my fare on this here car the came as the others. and you just stay where you damned are!' I believe, fellow citizens, that it is the sentiment of the white people of Ala bama, so far as the right to vote and the right to exercise the controlling influence in the government is concerned that the ignorant and vicious negroes in this state should stay where they damned arer
 Governor JellSs for many years has been a consistent and an able advocate of suffrage reform as embodied in the new constitution He and his administra tion stand for the new order of things and will see to 1t that no backward steI | is taken in the great reform which ha: been accomplished. It is impossible fol me to believe that the white people o Alabama, who have labored so long anC at such cost to accomplish this' reform will countenence foi a moment, thu thought of taking the work of admins tering and enforcing the constitution ou of the hands of its friends and place i in the hands of those who, in advance have proclaimed an intention to under mine and defeat it.
 Tells Another Story.
 Tn the light of his past assertion o the cause. and of his continued opposi ton to the reform accomplished, ther