The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-08-29
DEMOCRATS
AIM MOSTLY
At NEGROES
Pertinent Comments. Are Made
on the Disfranchise-
ment Plank.
THE TREATMENT OF SLAVES
Is Reviewed As Well As Way
Negro Franchise is Cut
Off in the South.
THE TREATMENT OF SLAVES

Friends and FELLOW citizens: on
the night OF July 20 and 30. 1908, the
West Virginia State Democratic con-
vention adopted by vote of 40 TO
412. a plank which declares for the
disfranchisement Of the Negro voters
OF our state, and have also embodied
Jim Crow plank in their platform
OF ''lllywhite" Of advanced thought
| and principles, which they have made
a paramount issue in this campaign
in this state.
Let us first consider their dlsfran-
chisement plank, both in letter and
spirit
The DisfranchIsement Plank.
Believing that the extension of
tho franchise TO race Inferior in in
telligence and without preparation
for the wise and prudent exercise of
a privilege as vital to the mainten-
ance Of good government, was mis-
take. if not crime. committed by the
Republican party during the reign Of
passion and prejudice following the
Civil war. for political ends and pur-
poses We declare that the Democratic
party is in favor oflso amending the
constitution as to preserve the purity
OF the ballot and the electorate of the
state from the evils resulting from
confirming such power and privilege
upon those who are untitled 70 ap-
preciate Its importance, as 1t affects
the stability and preservation OF good
government"
Prejudice and Injustice
Great enthusiasm prevailed at the
time Of its passage and 1t is alleged
that there was revelry by night and
I've won't go home till morning"
spirit maniefested, As they made a
night OF 1t in their zeal to eliminate
inferior intelligence" and establish
the purity OF the ballot" In place
/ of having a patriotic. progressive,
American spirit. We fear that they
were Influenced by prejudice, injustice
and selfish motives.
II we investigate Thoroughly, this
Democratic idea. We may find that
our West Virginia Democracy is rev.
olutionary in It's tendency. and drift
ing into the shoals of anarchy.
We expected to find some antiquida-
ted literature in their platform,
but who would have thought our
state Democracy would have put
themselves on record as antagonistlc
to the policy OF the National Demo-
cratic party? While Mr.. Bryan is
encouraging the colorcd people TO
| rally to his standard. UP pops our To-
cal Democratic statesmen with fire.
brands in their hands. 1t would have
been good policy as we'll as good poll
| itics, II our friends, the enemy, had
been wise enough to have trotted
along in line with Mr.. Bryan, or to
have climbed into his band wagon,
and, perhaps, ride 70 victory. and
then enjoy the Jacksonian doctrine, so
dear to the Democratic heart: TO
tho victors belong the spoils of bf-
fee" AS 1t is, our local party has
in 1t. They should have at first
elected a Democratic governor and
legislature and then have threshed
out their brain food.
To tie a firebrahd to the tail of
their donkey, in an open campaign,
is the
Hclgbth OF Stupidity.
The poor beast may kick himself to
death.
Now, let us briefly examine the
milk in this cocoanut of disfranchise-
ment The reign of passion and
prejudice" ragged before and during
the Civil war, as well as following
the Civil war" and even today, our
state Democratic party seems to be
wormy with 1t.
| At this point. very briefly, allow me
to call your attention to a few facts
and figures that shed light upon this
dark Democratic proposition. Con-
cedlng the superiority Of the white
/ race over all the other races OF the
earth. with its highest types of man
hood down to the lowest dreEs OF
society. where men are found lower
than thee brute, gives us no reason
why we should wink at, or tolerate
the attempt to hamper and degrade
dependent race Of people, who have
suffered in chains and slavery, in this
land of the free and the home Of
the brave" for 244 years. and that
against their will.
Look at 1900 years of Christian
civilization, which has been available
to the white man. and then consider
the
Black Man Stolen
from darkest Africa, and brought to
this country and sold into slavery
Now trace the history Of these Ne
grocs since 1913. when 20 native AZ
ricaus were imported into Virginia
as chattel slaves.
From the best information obtain
able we learn that about $4,000. 900
Negroes were brought into America
within the 18th, 18th. 18th. 18th and
18th centuries. These slaves were
largely imported and soldto planters OF
the sugar, rice, tobacco and cotton
belts ofthe United States. Slave
breeding was also a profitable in
dustry In the northern slave holding