The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-09
IT IS A PLAIN DUTY.

All over the State the business of regis tration is about beginning or has already begun, and the white people of Alabama will have opportunity to take the final step which is to qualify them for the im- portant duty of voting. Any man, wheth- CT he has paid poll tax or not, if not oth- erwise disqualified. can register. If he was liable to a poll tax and failed to pay it within the prescribed time. he is dis qualified from voting at the elections in this year, but he should register all the same so. that he can pay his poll in the future and be prepared to vote at the next election. And 1t must be borne in mind that all must register, whether lia- ble to poll tax or not. or else they fail to get on the life registration list, which is now being made up.
 Registration is not only a privilege. but a duty devolving upon all and no white man can rightfully call himself good citizen unless he prepares himself to do his part in the selection of those who are to make and execute our laws. Accord ing to the last census. there were in round numbers 2s2, GOO white men in Ala bama who are of voting age. A few of these are disfranchised by crime. but the registration lists ought to show largely over 200,000 white names when the work is finished. All these cannot vote at the next election. it is true, but registration is necessary step towards qualifying bAr Co i,, f,.t
 We have had enough complaint in times past of dishonesty in elections, of in- competent or dishonest officials. and of standardization in the conduct of our public affairs to sicken any man who loves justice and who wishes we'll for his State and his people. The only way to remove that stigma, and to purify and elevate both our political and our civil af- fairs Is for all good citizens to make themselves part of the government by taking an active. earnest interest in poli- tics and in the administration of the laws. There are more good men than bad ones in Alabama, but the bad ones will rule, to the shame and injury of the State. unless the good citizens do their 6uty and control the selection and election of both makers and the executors of the law It is no credit to any good Christian citizen to complain that we have bad laws and bad officials if he never lends his aid and his influence to get good ones. If he remains quiet and waits for others to do what he should do, he should not object to the manner of doing it.
 Registration in Montgomery begins to- morrow. and opportunity will be afforded to all to perform this duty. Any citizen | of the county can register in the city If he sees proper, or he can wait till the registrars visit his precinct which will Dc done in good time. No man who is able to get to the appointed place will be de- barred from registering if he is eligible and every white man in the county should consider it solemn and patriotic duty tc have his name placed on the lists. That | will be the first step towards maintain | ing good government, and it is both i'm portant and necessary. The other duty | of the good citizen must be devoted tc selecting and electing proper men. But let all register, at all events.