The Democratic advocate., 1909-09-03

! sSu bAADJ NAAA DC WIN - itk~
islature, must inure 10 the good of
the people Of the state.
come now to speak Of the suf.
frage amendment. which is declared
by the platform 70 be the main and
vital issue OF the coming election. :"
This places the Issue where II belongs
in the thought Of the people OF our
state.
The suffrage lies at the very foun-
dalton Of our Republican system, and
anything that tends to lower its tone.
or debauch II. is a crime against the
state. The people generally,
and among them. many OF the
Republican leaders, believe. and have
so declared, that the enfranchIsement
OF the negro was a prodigious mis-
take. II was done, OF course, TO
strengthen the Republican party, but
like boomerang. II has come back to
trouble those who. for partisan pur-
poses. sought to fasten the intolerable
condition upon the Southern people.
And n the colored people could un-
derstand IT properly. they would know
that there never was greater wrong
perpetrated upon any race than upon
theirs. In giving them the ballot. thus
forcing them into o position for which
they we're utterly unified. And not only
that, but the negroes being intoxicat-
ed with the dream Of political. and ui-
timately OF social equality with the
white race, their heads wero SO turn
ed that they lost al interest IN the
avocatious for which they we're TT
ted. and became the deceived and will
ing tools Of unsayory politicians
More than that and worse than that.
for both the white and the coIored
people Of the South this new condi-
ilon hes, necessarily made wide
gap between the races where the ne
groeE are numerous The colornd
people. enamored and deluded, have
politically. turned their backs upon
those who are their real friends And
II II we're not for the patience and for
bearauce and real kindnoas the peo-
pie OF the South have for the coloreil
race. conditions would long ago have
been iutolerRble In thoac sections
I3ut they understand the negro, and
have the Mndliest feelings for him,
as do the Democrats OF Maryland. and
are willing that he shall have every
I protection OF the Law Hut when II
comss 90 the matter Of conducting
/ the government. that, IN this country.
ia the peculiar pFeroRatiye OF the
white race. who through long years Of
discipline. have becn developed
into people capable Of self.
7 government The presence Of
I nearly. N not quite 60 GOO negroes
most of whom are illlterate and IRE
Eponalbie. ia our electorate IN this
state. IL trayssty upon popular gov
ernmsnt and reflection upon the
white civilization Of Maryland
Nov. my friends. We want 10 get
rid of this condition Ia our state. and
our Legislature. tfuc 10 the party
pledge Of 1907. submits an amend
ment 10 our conatItution for this pur-
pose. 10 be voted upon in November
next
We believe the best thing that could
happen. politically. 20 tho colored
people Of our state would be the adup.
ton OF this amendment. taking them
out Of politics. Simply. do I say. TO
strengthen the Democratic party No
care little for that phase of II. for
we have shown our ability IN the
past 10 carry the state against the
white aud the colorcd Republicans
combined. and We viii do Il nj the
coming election But Il will make
the negro better and more useful
citizen, and cure a wrong that was
fastened upon us against the earnest
protest OF our state
There IL one other thing 10 CON
uectlon with the suffrage amendment
TO which ! wish briefly 10 refer. And
that is the statement made. OF course
for the purpose OF defeating II. that
the amendment. II adopted, will dis
franchise some OF our foreign born
citizens.
The Democratic platform emphaI-
cally and In the strongest terms de-
MES this. The amendment was pre-
pared BY some Of the most prominent
and public spirited lawyers OF our
state-men whose character will fully
protect them from any charge OF du-
ploity or wrong doing In connection
/ with the preparation OF this amend
ment, and whose ability IA a guaran-
tee that no white citizen OF the state
VIII lose his ballot under the opera
tion Of this amendment.
And the history Of the Democratic
party OF this state completely refutes
tile charge TO which ! have alluded.
IL Is within the easy recollection
OF many persons now living that some
years ago party arose In this state
whose fundamental purpose was to
take from our foreign-born citizens,
and from the members of large and
influential religious sect OF our state,
the right 20 vote and TO hold Office.
ask, who stood In the breach and
beat down this unholy and unamer-
lean crusade, at that time ? Why.
the Democratic party. II stood like
a wall OF flint against the purposes of
this party to strip from the classes Of
our citizens TO whom | have referred.
the rights TO which they were en-
titled under the law The Democratic
party was the power that thwarted
their diabolical purposes. And do
you tell me that our party, with such
a record Is TO be charged with a de-
liberate purpose to disfranchise our
foreign born citizens Why, my
friends, cannot think that there is
man In Maryland, with a sane head
upon his shoulders, who believes.
down deep In his heart, that the Dem
ocratic party would, II IL could dis
franchise a single white man In Mary
land
If the amendment is not what we
think 1t the men who framed II were
either incompetent for the work. or
dishonest in its performance, and the
people are not prepared, by long
shot, to believe that they are either.
But cannot detaln you longer at
this time hope to have the oppor-
tunity of more fully discussing these
questions before the people, in every
part OF the state.
The convention has highly honor
ed me in placing into my hands the
Democratic banner. 1t is my pur-
pose to carry 1t alott, under the guild
ance OF the committee, from Worces-