The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-06

"Can any one wonder that the-bene-
f1ciaries of such excessive tariff rates
do, every four years, threaten tho peo-
pie with ruin IL attempt Is made to
change the laws by which such exac-
lions shall cease?" he asked. During
the last campaign they threatened ruin
and destruction In case of the success of
the democratio party" said he. Many
men quivered In their boots for fear of
such disastrous consequences. But when
will the people be stronger? VIII. the
people be stronger to assert their rights
after IL or is years more of republican
rule in the so-called interest of the labor
ing man? Will they be stronger when not
5000 will own one-f1fth of the property
of the United States, but 5000 men shall
have owned rs or so per cent of the wealth
of the country?'
Responsible for Slavery.
Continuing, the speaker said: 1.-THE New
England ancestors Of the republican party
were largely responsible for slavery and
its inception. The republican party in Its
platform now talks about having freed
the slaves They never did any such
thing. Their freedom grew out of war
incident to secession, the seeds of which
they had themselves sown. They simply
make this claim In order to have and
control the negro vote. They assuredly
need all Of them they can get. Instead
of the republicans claiming that they
freed the slaves, their statement would
have been more accurate had they
claimed that in open defiance of the con-
stitution they enfranchised the negroes"
Governor Gilchrist said he was opposed
to the agitation of the unconstitutionality
of the fifteenth amendment to the federal
constitution being started by any south
ern legislature or state. ut can safely be
Of ,a6 coId he lot
when the Asiatics become voters in Cali
fornia and elsewhere on the Pacific coast
or when the colored contingents of
Springfield, ILL.,. and of Springfield, O., or
P1ttsburg, or of other cities and states
become too aggressive, and that when the
G. o. P. can no longer use the brother
in black that this question will be set
tied rightly the supreme court of the
United States
Southern Political Trend.
Taking up President Tafts plea for
greater division of political sentiment and
utilization In the south, Governor Gnchrist
said: Instead of discussing the race ques-
ton as 1t exists In the south, l will
invite your attention to it as 1t now ex-
lists in neutral territory--the far western
states. Suppose this element, Chinese and
Japanese, would, as the negroes in the
south, vote practically as unit. Don't
ifornia would combine so as to preserve
their very civilization? Suppose this con-
dition existed throughout the entire Pa
cific coast and the states bordering there
on. Don't you suppose that Mr. Taft
would have his hands full in showing
these people that there shall be more
than one political creed to be subscribed
to and supported? Dom. you suppose
that these people consider it in a very DIFF
ferent light than patriotic desire? Don't
you suppose you would hear of the solid
Pacific?
Coming a little further east, Judging
from the riots in Springfield, Ill, right
under the shadow of the monument of the
great emancipation. Do you suppose that
II the negroes were nearly half of the
people Of Springfield the white people of
Springfield would consider 1t patriotic
for these negroes, in combination with a
few white men, to rule that city?
Patriotism of People.
Judging from the riots in Springfield
o., Mr.. Taft's own state, under such con-
ditions described above how do you think
the patriotic desire of the white people
of that state would assert itself? Now,
as matter Of fact, right on the main
street Of the capital city Of Florida, in a
good portion of the city. there are stores
owned and managed by negroes. South
ern white people feel more kindly toward
them than do the whites of any other por-
ton Of the United States. But we do not
desire to have them rule us, any more
than would the people of Springfield, o.,
or Springfield. ILL.,. desire to be ruled by
them. know of no greater injury which
could befall the southern states than for
the white people to divide, and thereby
leave the result to the arbitrament of the
negro.
II believe in the patriotic desire of
Mr.. Taft where such desire can be prop
erly asserted. / want It to become an I'M
portant plank In the next national repub-
lican platform Patriotism should begin
at home. I want the republican party to
practically break the solidity of the solid
New England states and of solid Penn
! sylvania."
/ Governor Gilchrist said the south is
now prospering and developing. THE
census returns show that our population
! is increasing at rate second to none,
| he said. 1.-THE assessment rolls show that
material wealth il increasing rapidly. The
| increased number of our schools, our
churches, show that we are fitting our
selves to be worthy of our increased
! wealth and strength"