The Democratic advocate., 1909-09-24

their own statement to the registra-
tion officials that they areas the
case may be-natiYe or naturaiized
citizens who were entitled to vote In
this or any other State on or before
january 1, 1869, or mat they are de-
scendanfs OF such persons, OF that
they have been naturalized since jan
uary / 1869, or are descendants Of
persons naturalized II goes on, too,
expresss and particularly to provide
that persons who are the descendants
OF any native or naturaiized citizen
entitled TO vote on or before January
/, 1863, or descendants Of persons
naturalized since then, need state only
on information and belief that they
are such descendants. all these state
ments mustbe taken by the registra-
tion officers as prima facie true end az
sufficient to entitle to register.
The property qualification which
the negro must comply with Is but
$500, and the educational or mental
test is one relating to simple things
citizen should know and which d
negro who can write and who will
make an earnest effort ought TO be
able to pass.
This amendment was drawn with
particular care TO secure 10 the for-
eign-born and naturalized citizen, In
the firInest and safest manner, his
1 right to vote and SO he could have no
/ ground for fear or doubt upon the
subject. His right 10 vote Is secured
by this measure BY eyery means hu-
man statute can provide, and the
courts are required 10 protect and
/ guard him in his right. There is no
/ possible way 10 deprive him OF the
suffrage II this amendment is adopt
ed, because his rights to II viii then
be written SO plainly and deeply In
the Constitution itself that neither
the Legislature nor any official could
abridge or take 1t away. The truth
i rs that bis right to vote, as well as
that OF the native citizen, viii. un-
doubtedly, be safer under the amend.
ment than at present, because the
amendment affords improved and full.
Z or remedies In the courts for the Sc.
curity OF the suffrage than now exist
and also because under IL there would
not remain the least shread or gestigs
OF discretion in any registration officer
In putting anyone's name on or Keep.
ing II on the registration books Every
: AiAtAAA ANAANA tEEtbAA AAARAt - AMPLY Aht'
nished by the amendment with an
easy, simple and inexpensive meanl
Of obtaining his rights in the courts
and from any decision of any couri
Of first resort an appeal Is secured
10 the Court OF Appeals upon the or,
iginal papers. without the expense oi
delay Of a printed record, aud ths
Court Of Appeals Is directed TO decide
the case as soon as practicable.
"As TO the cOnstitutionallty of ths
. measure, ! shall only stop here re-
spectfuliy to submit that the peo
pie are justified in accepting the
unanimous and publicly expressed
opinions OF the leaders OF the bar whe
, joined in preparing and In presenting
the measure TO them and in adyocat
ing It's adoption, that II 10 not In con
ilict with the Fifteenth Amendment
and is legal and valid. AZ to tbs
statement that the amendment vii
make Maryland a one-party State,
J think It a conclusive answer that ths
free and intelligent white voters o.
, this State do not need $4,000 negroes
10 stand guard over them at tho POLL
! TO secure to them good government