The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-03-05

lected. We are all In favor Of having
1t built as promptly as possible. We
must not now, therefore, keep UP a fire
in the rear of the agents whom we
have authorized to do our work on the
isthmus. We must hold up their
hands, and speaking for the incoming
administration, I wish to say that l
propose to devote all the energy pos.
sible and under my control, to the
pushing OF this work on the plans
which have been adopted, and to stand
behind the men who are doing faithful
hard work to bring about the early
completion Of this, the greatest con-
structive enterprise of modern times.
The governments of our d%ependen-
cies in Porto Rico and the Philippines
are progressing as favorably as could
be desired. The prosperity of Porto
Rico continues undated. The bust
ness conditions in the Philippines are
not all that we could wish them to be,
but with the passage of the new tariff
bill permitting free trade between the
nav otoISc Nv thO iShipSiobC
with such limitations in sugar and to-
bacco as shall prevent injury to the
domestic interests on those products,
we can count on an improvement in
business conditions in the Philippines
and the development of a mutually
profitable trade between this country
and the islands. Meantime our gov
eminent in each dependency is up
holding the traditions of civil liberty
and increasing popular control which
might be expected under American au-
spices. The work which we are doing
there rebounds to our credit as a ma
ton.
Cites Progress Of Negroes.
I look forward with hope to increas-
Ing the already good feeling between
the south and the other sections Of
the country. My chief purpose is not
to eject a change in the electoral vote
OF the southern states. That is a sec-
ondsry consideration. What l look for
ward to Is an increase in the tolerance
OF political views of all kinds and their
advocacy throughout the south, and
the existence of a respectable political
opposition in every state; even more
than this, to an increased feeling on
the part of all the people in the south
that this government is their govern.
ment, and that its officers in their
states are their officers.
The consideration of this question
cannot, however, be complete and full
without reference to the negro race,
its progress and it's present condition
The 18th amendment secured them
freedom; the 14th amendment due
process of law, protection of property
and the pursuit of happiness; and the
10Th amendment attempted to secure
the negro against any deprivation Of
the privilege to vote, because he was
a negro. The 18th and 14th amend
ments have been generally enforced
and have secured the objects fol
which they were intended. While the
10Th amendment has not been gener
ally observed in the past, it ought tc
be observed, and the tendency Of
southern legislation today is towart
the enactment Of electoral qualifica
tions which shall square with thai
amendment. OF course, the mere
adoption Of a constitutional law II
only n step in the right direction
1t must be fairly and justly enforced
as well. In time both will come
Hence 1t is clear to all that the dom
ination of an ignorant, irresponsible
element car be prevented by consti
tutional laws which shall exclude from
voting both negroes and whites no
having education or other Qualifica
lions thought to be necessary for
proper electorate. The danger of tn
control of al ignorant electorate ha
therefore passed. With this change
the interest which many Of the south
ern white citizens take in the welfar
Of the negroes has increased. TIL
colored man must base their hope o.
the results of their own industry, sell
restraint, thrift and business success
as well as upon the aid and comfor
and sympathy which they may receiv
from their white neighbors Of tn
south. There was a time when nortf
erners who s~ympathized with the ne
gro in his necessary struggle for be
ter conditions sought to give to hir
the suffrage as a protection, and t
enforce its exercise against the PR
vailing sentiment of the south. TIL
movement proved to be a failure
What remains Is the 18th amendmer
to the constitution and the right I
have statutes of states specifyin
qualifications for electors subjected I
!, the test Of compliance with ths
/ amendment. This is a great prote
ton to the negro. 1t will never be r.
: pealed, and 1t never ought to be r
pealed. If 1t had not been PASSED,
might be difficult O to adopt it; bl
: with 1t In our fundamental law, til
policy of southern legislation must an
will tend to obey it, and 10 long
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