Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-08-12
As to Negro Suffrage.
From Register and Leader.

when he assailed, belittled aed con-
temptously sneered at the republi.
can platform demands for enforce.
ment Of plain constitutional re-
quirement? As a mere platform ex.
preston it might have been passed
unnoticed, as but few pay attention
to the matter or consider the dan
gers to our best interests involved
therein. The provision of our con-
stitution thus invoked by republicans
and ridiculed by Mr.. Williams until
finally nisrepresented and maligAed
in the democratic platform aims to
secure to every fully recognized
American citizen equal recognition
and influence in our legislative and
electoral assemblies.
Mr.. Williams of all men should
do all in bis power to keep this
question out of the campaign. Act
ing on his own advice to republicans
would have been wise, knowing as
he does who defy our law and bene-
fit thereby; as ne holds a seat in
congress and acts as leader of the
great democratic party ON the
strength of 1,433 votes, whereas it
requires nearly 40, 900 from an Iowa
district.
In fact our John F. Lacey Of this
Sixth Iowa district received more
votes than were cast altogether In the
eight districts of Mississippi. And
Mr.. Williams state is not alone in
this respect, as the TWEEN ty-two con
gressional districts of Mississippi,
Louisiana and South Carolina poll
ed but 76,S31 votes, 4,789 of which
were opposition. This entire vote
for twenty-five members OF our ma
tional congress in which our consti-
tuition intends we. shall all be equally
represented, was actually less than
the vote of two Iowa districts. This
outrageous suppression and forcible
denial Of the constitutional rights to
citizensin the south with
a solid demo ocratie south, makes one,
democrat equal to two republicans
in our electoral college as is shown
by the vote of 1900.
Mr.. Williams recalling of "the
old force bill" calls up some other
"ancient history" illustrating de-
mocracy's subserviency to southern
denomination. From the days of
Calhoun's supremacy, democracy
has been. in bondage to the solid
south, even when fighting our flag.
These terrible "force bills" appear
ed in every effort ofloyal Americans
for maintaining our government un-
der our constitution and flag and
were exploited by disloyal democra-
cy to brighten people into the sup
port of treason and traitors. They
sported the butternut in approval of
rebellion and the copperhead as an
of secret venomous hostility
to the union. They wore the white
badge inscribed "For white mans
government" On their parade ban.
ners over their wives and daughters
were emblazoned their earnest ap-
peals their fathers, brothers and hus
bands ito save them from niger
and niger husbands"
Mr.. Williams is on similar parade
though more Ingenious, and the
"white mans government" badges
have again appeared. 1t alss means
contempt for and rebellion against
all constitutional provisions that in
tsrfere with their determination to
reduce their colored people to their
former state of servitude. This ap-
pears incredible, yet the moves are
all in that direction. Their deter
mined opposition to the Negroes ed
ucation, rights of property and citi-
zenship as manifested by the politi-
cal power represented by Mr.. Viii
liams, can have no other results;
and while the solid south is democ-
racy's only hope, the operators of
that great political machine will en-
courage their movements as they did
before the rebellion in order to gain
and hold control of government af-
fairs. If you don't believe it 60
over our political history and then
reread what Mr.. Williams said be-
fore national democratic conven-
ton Gas to Negro suffrage.
]. W. Allfree.
Nawton s.t,-, .