The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-05-28


also interests the Missourian is evi-
dent from the following quotation
from speech delivered in St Louis
last Thursday by Hon. VIM. s. Cow
herd of Kansas City. Mr.. Cowherd
has, for years, been member Of
Congress from his district, and is
now a candidate for gubernatoriai
honors. This extract from his speech
was received with thunderous ap-
probation" from an audience which
occupied every available inch in the
assembly hall of the Jefferson Club"
the strongest Democratic organiza-
ton in the city:
There is another matter demand
ing the serious consideration of ev-
cry thoughtful citizen. Every man
recognizes today that the greatest
political crime ever committed in
history was the giving of the ballot
to four million ignorant negroes. 1t
was no less a wrong to the negro than
3 crime TO the State.
The security of our very system
of government rests upon the intelli-
gence of our citizenship. 1t may well
startle men of all parties when they
reflect that the balance of power in
this State is held by the negro voter,
largely ignorant, too often criminal,
and holding the honor of citizenship
so cheap that it is the rule rather
than the exception for him to make
merchandise of his suffrage.
with US the menace is constantly
increasing. Restrictive laws in South
ern States are sending such voters
farther North, and Missouri finds
year after year her suffrage more poll
Iuted This is a white mans country
and the negro must be taught to cast
both an intelligent and an honest
ballot, or must surrender the suffrage
he has so long abused"
In the issue of April goth, after
publishing an announcement that
there would be no more Sunday all
day singings at Harmony church, We
commented as follows: I'VE notice
a growing inclination among church
people to suppress the Sunday picnic.
We are heartily in favor of singers,
we love the Gospel in song, and We
like to see the people come together
socially. Nothing wrong
with the singing, per Sc, understand;
but the principle of Sabbath desecra-
tion is wrong" And we asked, why
not change the day?" Our pen
either shutters or is tongue-tied-or
the all-day people use Opaque spec
tacles-for it seems that what we said
was not understood. We commended
the singings. Three correspondents,
however, hoped into the arena in
full war paint to defend them-be-
fore they were attacked. I take that
to be indisputable evidence that
these people believe the Sunday sing
ing NEEDS defense. Had the COM
ment been on prayer meeting or Sun
day school there would have been no
defense made. Not a word of defense
would have been needed, even if the
comment had been unfavorable. But
here we have defense made when the
comment was favorable.
Now please make an effort to IN
derstand me this time, for this should
be the end of the windy and profitless
discussion. / am going to be perfect
" frank and honest with you. I want
to say a hearty and unqualified
amen" to all that my fellow corre-
spondents have said Ito date) The
singing / commended even before
you wrote on the subject. My only
objection is the day-Sunday is not
the day for it.
Brother A, that distinguished
steens correspondent asks How,
then, can you compare the song ser
vice to a picnic?" | don't know,
brother. What is the answer?
make no comparison. The all day
singing is (notice the word 'IS") a
I ever saw, too. I attended one. In
the house were probably a hundred
people singing rag time" music
wrongly called hymns-about as
lively as dance music-but no matter
about the music-let that pass. Out
doors were probably three hundred
having a fine time. They were well
behaved and orderly. 1t was an ex-
ceIlent picnic. l never saw better.
I was told by reliable people that it
was a fair average. / never saw a
finer dinner The whole affair was
enjoyable, and, on week day, would
have been a credit to the community
and to the county. No Johnnie,
there was no gun play. Dan, there
was no booze made manifest. Had
there been a quantity of each present