The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-07-26
Nenroes and Prohlbltion.

have found cause to advance a rem
edy for the settlement of the prohi-
bition muddle in Tennessee, and it !
has been suggested by some that the
General Assembly of the state pass
law that the prohibition question
be settled by the white voters. The
suggestion was made on the presump-
ton that large majority Of the Ne
gro voters of this state are against
prohibition. 1t has been charged
by some on different occasions that
all Negroes prize a bottle of whiskey
higher than they do their families.
Those men who make these fragrant
statements lose sight of the fact that
in the last state election the Negro,
vote as far as could be calculated, was
about evenly divided on the whiskey
question, or in other words, about
fifty per cent of the Negro vote was
was for the Democratic ticket, which
opposed the statewide prohibition
law, and the other fifty per cent. was
cast for the Fusionists that favored
the statewide law But to come
down to actual facts, there is not
man in the state who can truthfully
say he knows how many Negroes in
Tennessee would vote for or against
the present prohibition law.
1t is a very unfair attitude that
is assumed by some in regard to the
Negro and whiskey 1t is unmanly
and inappreciative of those people
who were elected by the Negro vote
to now turn and attempt to stab them
in the face in the hope to gain a
few votes. Tennessee may some
day pass law that the whiskey ques-
ton be settled by the white voters,
but when they do, it will he an. un-
constitutional act; for every man in
Tennessee who measures up to the
requirements, is entitled to vote on
all questions, and no man who advo-
Gates to the contrary should be en-
trusted with the affairs of this great
state.
The prohibition trouble is a party
trouble and is the result of row in
the Democratic party. The split was
caused by that very question. The
Negro had nothing whatever to do
with the split but in sizing up the
factions there was a large number
who chose the regular Democratic
party as the best qualified to govern
the state. We contend that they had
l. perfect right to do that. There
p were others who believed that the
Fusionist party advocated the bes
2 principles of government They haC
perfect right to their belinef. l
must be admitted that the man WHIT
{ thinks is a better citizen than mai
:, VINO car be led about by the politi
D. clans of any party. Tennessee Ne
o groes are thinking and they are vol
e ing intelligently. This, the leat
e ing men of all parties in Tennessee
n are compelled to admit, and they d
c. admit it, and they welcome the spir
IS that is exhibited by the Negro cit
Ig 2cns of this commonwealth. No ma
ut who does not decide for himself no
y, he should vote is worthy of til
he franchise.
n 1t has been charged for many veal
ne that the Negroes of this state wei
m the chattel of the Republican part
er and now, having reached the stai
he of intelligence where he can thin
lis for himself and vote accordingl
"a. there are some who are so unkin
in and who are willing in order
We achieve a personal ambition, to bral
'ty the Negro as a menace to the welfa
I'D of the state. SUCH men are n
ge broad enough to hold any Office T.
it Negro is just as well qualified
vote on the whiskey question as tn
He are to vote on any other QuestiC
to They understand it thoroughly a
his are fully able to exercise good JUG
an ment in settling this annoying pr
-ly lem
no