The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-05-18

peas of justice They have not
been directly talked to about the ma
terial interest and momentous con-
Germ we have in this legislative re-
formation, which could not possibly
do them any harm.
Mr.. Williams credits me with
claiming that now is the hour" to
repeal the fifteenth amendment.
say no such thing On the contrary.
/ admit that it may not be done in
say there is only zone thing abso-
lutely certain about it,, and that is
that it will never be done" by men
like himself, who are constantly
preaching against any effort in that
direction. | do say, however, most
emphatically that "now" is 'the
hour" to move forward and meet
the congenial sentiment in our favor
that is daily growing among our
friends in the North
| do insist that the South should
| begin now" to respectfully, solmen-
! ly and earnestly present and main
tain a solid front in protesting
against this unfortunate legislation
| We should appeal to them in the
name of common sense, common jus
tice and common decency until, like
the unjust Judge spoken of in the
scripture, they may hear us for our
! Importantly
Mr.. Williams, unfortunately, has
permitted himself to be lured away
from the broad highway of practi-
cal craftsmanship by the phosphores
cent glimmer of an ignis fatuus
| ultimate" Federal ownership of
railroads in the United States is a
shimmering dream that disturbs the
political philosophy of no one bur
Mr. Williams
There is not the faintest shadow
OF probability that any such propo-
sition will be engrafted upor a plat
form of principles by any political
party in this country within the life
man He might just as we'll be max
ing speeches against the annexation
OF Canada to the United States.
1t is not presumed that these dis
tlnguished gentlemen need any adj
vice from me, nevertheless, as an
humble. private citizen | take the IL
berty of suggesting that if they can
not find something to discuss that
more Immediately concerns or more
dire city touches the vital and mater
ial interest of Mississippi than "u1-
innate ownership, much valuable
time might be economical by both OF
them remaining quietly at home and
permitting the people to attend to
their individual affairs
With 100000 more negroes than
white people in Mississippi, with 5o,-
600 more negro men than white men
of voting age iii the State. the exis-
tence of the fifteenth amendment to
the Constitution of the United States
is mt a dream; i is a hideous reality
pressing urgently upon the appre-
hension of every thoughtful South
ern man
When these negroes demand their
rights of suffrage under the CCnsti-
tuition Of the United States and the
: Constitution of Mississippi with the
requirements of which they are now
| 10 fn ,r@Ix i =
surely written in the book of faith
than that they will demand them |
: want to ask Mr.. Williams: What are
you going to do about it,
Confronted by such a condition
t there are open to us but two posi-
bic avenues of escape from civil and
: political mongrelism. One is the re-
peal OF the fifteenth amendment the
: other is return to the CHASTITY alter
native of violence and fraud the
t mere contemplation of which brings
shudder which chil1s the finer SEN
sibilities of white civilization.
Although there is no difference be-
tween Mr.. Williams and his oppo
| hNiit as ~ Witdl ltiSN di iIedIl really
desire in this matter. yet every me-
gro IN Mississippi today regards Mr..
Williams as their champion in this
contest If you don't believe it. ask
them. 1t is regretted that their
beclouded intellects will erroneous
" construe the verdict of the voters
in this contest rs for or against the
ultimate recognition of their politi-
cal equality.
i The Rockefellers. the Carnegies
the million dollar Quakeresses. the
! Ogden gang. a few bankers and high
salaried bishops bid Us to keep quiet
assuring rs that commerce. "con-
servatism.' dividends. soft SHELF
religion and universal education will
make us all "safe and sane So it
was when the restless crowd of red
headed Mortimer hung upon the dis
tant borders of Imperial Rome The
proud mistress OF subjugated