Democratic messenger., 1903-10-31

their own masters and crush to atoms
every obstruction that stands in the way
of the white mans rule. Applause
Before the enactment of the ballot law
of 1896. which the republican candidates
point to- as a model OF perfection and as
the most comprehensive, fair and per-
feet law of the kind heretofore enacted,
the ballot clerks were repaired to take
an oath to keep secret any information
they might have as to the persons voted
for by any voter. The law of 1896 swept
away entirely this safeguard to honesty
and purity lin politics, left the ballot
clerks under no obligations to keep such
information secret and loft them free
to report at liberty whatever informa-
tion they could get as to the candidates
voted for, and which they could of course
convey to the bribe giver at the first
convenient season.
We abolished the ballot clerks. and
imposed the duty of assisting the voter
physically unable to mark his ticket on
the election clerks, both of whom are re-
quired to be present, both of them are
sworn to secrecy, and each represents
one Of the two leading political parties
Now no information can be given by an
election official as to the manner of vot-
ing without committing perjury.
But the law of 1896 with all it's advan.
tages in favor of the ignorant colored
colonists who crowd in on us from the
South and the District of Columbia to
thwart the will of the white people of
the State, with all its ingenlously exc
cuted facilities for the practice of the
most widespread bribery. which reduces
vyOfo h,1x, i,,fp t0 10 rtoi nj nf 70 hid
der at auction getting the goods if he
Republicans state they will re.enact,
and which they claim is the only feir
election law this generation has known,
the best in the country. 1t would be
amusing if it was not so serious.
The cry for fair elections from some
of our republican friends can not but be
regarded as an hollow, hypocritical pre-
tence in view of the past record of Ger.
tain gentlemen who sat in Congress
the United States from Maryland is es.
the election law of 1896 and he is fight
ing now for precisely the same object.
to attain the same ends, which animated
known by the name of the "Force Bill. I"
was member of the Lower House of
Congress how earnestly he worked for
the passage of that Act. knowing that
its whole intent and purpose was to de-
prive the white people of the South Of
their right of franchise by force and in
timidation, and how fervently he spoke
of the blessings to arise from the whole
sale voting of the lately enfranchised
negroes, when he we'll knew the effect
of the enactment of such law would
be to fasten upon the South afresh the
terrors of the 'carpet bag" period. Then
as now he worked for the enslavement
of the intelligence and energy of Sec
tion to political adventures whose only
element of political strength is in manip-
ulating horde of subservient negroes.
They seem to care not whether they
ride into power on white wings or black,
so that the emoluments of office are
theirs.
Education and intelligence must mark
their downfall and they know it. They
want the solid and undivided support
and votes of the black masses which they
have so long enjoyed in this State. They
know that if the selection of our public
officials could be left to the honest voters
of the State, to the intelligent voters of
the State. to the taxpaying voters of the
State, those who have a stake In the
public welfare and a just pride in our
political freedom, they could never come
within forty thousand votes of electing
a governor or any other State Official.
and they would have to retire from busi-
ness here. [Applause.] Of course the
colored vote is desirable vote for them,
for can they not attempt to ride into
power on the back of the colored voter
and leave him outside, to wait. conf.
dent he will be there when he is needed
again? Speaking of trusts and monop-
olies, was there ever greater monopo-
ly than the republican party enjoys in
it's control and use of the negro vote? 1t
has no competition. It has the field all
to itself from Ocean to Ocean and from
the Lakes to the Gulf.
I have always considered Mr.. Steven.
son A. Williams, the republican candi-
date for Governor. an intelligent and
we'll informed map, but was surprised
to notice in a newspaper report of re-
cent speech delivered by him that ne is
said to have asked what, if anything. has
been done during the present admins
tration for the public school system of
the State?
have brought the public schools of the
State into political discussion of this
kind, as they are not political issue
and should not be made an issue as long
as they are properly conducted. but as
l. k~l