The Denver star., 1915-12-25
THE REPREssED SOUTH.
Hon. Joseph c. Manning Of Alabama
Discusses Constitutional Riohts.

Hon. Joseph c, Manning Of Alabama
Discusses Constitutional Rights.
The Hon. Joseph G. Manning, for
mer member of the Alabama legisla-
ture. in discussing the question. '"The
Repressed South" says that public
sentiment is the most potent agency
known to civilization. 1t is the
strongest power to which human vel
fare may make it's appeal. Every i'm
pulse and every effort for the better
ment of mankind have sought to oemploy
this agency as the means to attain
whatever the beneficent purpose In
view. Our government owes It's ex-
istence to public sentiment.
The origin of the Declaration of In
dependence and the constitution of the
United States may be readily traced
to the making of public sentiment on
the part of the early settlers, who dis
cussed among themselves the increas-
ed and increasing taxation. This bur
den of taxation accentuated their de-
sire for voice in representation.
Imposition of excessive taxation. to-
gether with denial of any voice in rep
resentation. constituted the issue from
which arose the power Of public senti-
ment strong enough to found this
great American republic
This nation has never been ,more
strongly confronted with the necessity
of taking up the question OF equal
rights for all OF it's citizens than at tile
present time. 1t is a question which
requires immediate solution. Political
,iro, q
American people as discussion OF
paramount Importance.
To cause national public sentiment
to be tolerant of this outlawing Of the
American constitution it has all been
put forward as IL SO called Negro prob
lem and plan whereby the rule OF
the alleged best people OF the south
may be maintained. 1t Is under this
guise and pretext that tyranny has
ever paraded. 1t has been so all
through the history of the world.
1t was the best people who were re-
sponsible for and who upheld slavery
1t was the people of the south who in
slavery held the colOred people in hu-
man bondage and the white masses in
repression. 1t was the best people who
organized the kuklux, that the Oligar-
chy might return to its power and
methods. 1t was the best people who
enacted laws which have permitted
peonare to be perpetrated upon help
less race. 1t Is the best people In
whose communities defenseless color.
ed people are now lynched, murder
ed. swindled. jimcrowed. segregated.
h,na nd tilf hnv R<a I'm
mere helpless subject citizens.
1t is beyond dispute that the south
ern states have enacted laws which
have denied citizens their rights In
government. and it Is beyond contro-
versy that We're these citizens resa.
dents III the several states other than
those of the south which are out
iawing the constitution they would
be permitted the full exercise Of the
privileges and immunities OF citizens
of the United States in accordance
with the guarantees of the federal con
stitution.
That lofty conception OF human jus
tice held by the fathers. those who
founded this republic. that citizens
who shared taxation nnd expense of
government Should have voice In gov
ernment, is deeply implanted in the
provisions Of the American constitu-
ton. 1t may he seen that the founders
Of our government did not desire the
rights of the American citizen to I've
trampled underfoot. for article 1, sec
ton .. says. The citizens of each
state shall be entitled TO all the prlvi-
leges and immunities of the citizens of
the several states"