New-York tribune., 1904-10-03
DEMOCRATS AND THE CONSTITUTION.
Parker Constitution Clubs Greatly Needed
in the South.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The country at large. since the nomination
Of Alton b Parker for President has heard much
talk OF constitutional government and what It
represents. Many Of those who seem so much
alarmed about the safety security and continuance
OF the Constitution and OF law and order hail from
the South IN the crusade by the Parker Constitu-
tion clubs against lawIessness and disorder good
people join. but it IS earnestly and seriously de-
nlarded that the aid of the Parker Constitution
clubs and the Constitution be invoked in the fol-
lowing Democratic strongholds Georgia, Missis-
slppi. Arkansas. Texas and South Carolina. The
need oc Constitution clubs in the above common
Wealths IS absolutely imperative. It is reported
that hundred murders have been committed
alone the State OF Mississippi in the last four
months. Arkansas. Texas and South Carolina come
I'm for their share OF outrages against law order
and society Il may be that the perpetrators o. the
Stateshoro and other fresh outrages in the South
already h,long Constitution clubs as the law
OF those states seems powerless protect life or
property They certainly must gain immunity from
some source for there is not case record where
such perpetrators have been punished
j is in these Southern States that the Constlt,i-
tion OF the nation has been overridden. For the
last few years there has been widespread and al
most universal reputation OF Southern securities
in the shape OF municipal bonds. Indebtedness In
the millions created represented by the issu-
ance Of municipal bonds. with certain recitals on
The face Of the bonds themselves to the effect that
all requirements OF Law and the Constitution had
been complied with. People without the State
placing confidence in the representation and faith
or the States counties and towns. purchased the
ponds SO Issued for value only be apprsed later
thar s-ch bonds were repudiated. OF course end
less litigation followed. being pursued the high
est courts Of the States which courts IulpSt in
Laflaoiy upaeld repqdiaton- On the other hand.
foreign investors had to the federal courts
which with equal certainty and equanimity Upheld
ana sustained the validity and legality of such
cuTtties, These same federal courts were created
under the same Constitution that Mr. Parker and
his friends would have US believe they revere aud
10y" - l.uoI- Now. Inc courts the creatures Of
the Constitution. declared that the Southern Iegs-
latlrts mad violated this great instrument This
ought - cause every member and believer in the
Parker Constitution clubs sweat great lrous
o. blood 10 contemplate for "a moment that whole
STATE "a LentpcIatc state. "a Democratic legslat-
ure. "a Democratic court ana 4 Democrats com
sttuuonai oonvention> should engage in such wide
StItdd f+pualalon of an honest Indebtedness which
they had induced innocent purchasers 10 assume
for them. The federal courts said such action was
But let rs turn another chapter of the record OF
these friends OF The Constitution and by what
The various Southern states have by coustirlItio.i
enactment taken from the colored citizen the right
70 - F4-t. as guaranteed 10 him by The Fourteenth
ana F1teenth amendments n the Constitution in
plain violation and contraventiou of these amend
left for dead by the very Denocratic partv when
takes n Itself The fraudulent name OF ''Constitu-
lloA clun The name viii fool no intelligent
man u this country. for the truth that the Dem
",raile party stands to-day whore 81 has always
stood against the CONSTITUTION. against tho gov
ernUIent. against the Union. against progress en-
ifrprlse and eEerytIing that looks 10 che upbuld-
tng or The great rssoCrces or he nation II is
party 81 Reputation and r"nudiationsts: II Is q
party for revenue. bu. for The revenue ~ Office
there had been Jne shadow of q doubt about PreSi-
cert Ro0seyelrs election; the last vestige ~ uucer
t.tlIiF has been removed by tho fresh outTaEes I'm
GeuTsia against inofensive and defeucrless negroes
President Roosevelt has shown 10 the people that
fore he VIII permit such outrages against the
american citizen wherever found. II he within
Asheyille. \. g., Sept. 2s 1904.