The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-06-20
Equal Suffrage for Negroes.

The extension TO black men of the right 70 vote
on the same terms as white men does not ma
favor in the Northern States, and even those
where il might be expected 10 be strongest reJec'
it decisively. The question was tested IN .onhec-
ticut in October, 1865. Then 1859 votes were
cast against enfranchising 10 2i,2ls In favor OF
the measure, making the majority against IL
6.372. At the election for Governor IN the spring
of the same year 1917 votes were cast, ana the
Republicans had a majority of ll,OS9, while at
the Presidential election in 1851 their majority
was 2,i06 in an aggregate vote OF 500. inns
shows that there were at least 1000 Republican
voters in the State who were opposed 10 confer
ring upon black men the same political rights as
are enjoyed by whites
! In 1865 the people of Minnesota also cast
their suffrases upon the same question, ut the
same time that they chose State officers For
Governor 81. 100 votes were east, and the Repub-
iIoan majority was 3.4T6. The aggregate vote ON
the extension of the suffrage was 26,.S9. and the
majority against it was 2,OlS. No further eVl-
dence can be required that the Republicans OF
Minnesota are heavily against equal political
rights for negroes.
The matter was also brought TO the decision of
the ballot in Wisconsin at the regular State cleo
ton in November, 1865. Tie Republicans elect
Cd their candidate for Governor by 10000 malorl-
IL in an aggregate vote of 100 600, but equal suf-
trage was lost. The total number OF votes on
that issue was l02, 119. and the majority against
the negroes was zoos. y decision OF the SUI
preme Court of the State, however, subsequent!
annulled this determination of the people, an
conferred the suffrage upon the blacks by virtF
OF an election held in 1913, when. though a n
irity of votes had been cast in favor OF univerl
suffrage, the aggregate vote was 50 small thant
had been regarded as of no account.
The next State to act upon this subject ias
Tennessee, whose Constitution, adopted in 1bo,'
empowered the Legislature 10 entranchise the
blacks. The act establishing equal suifrag was
approved by the Governor February Is, lS6, and
was at once carried before the Supreme curt,
which affirmed, by an unanimous decisiG that
the change was In accordance with the Castltu-
ton. But Tennessee was not a Norther State,
and Lad but Just been snatched from thlaws o.
the rebellion. The Republicans therelad not
been in favor of universal suffrage, hut ven they
found it was the only means of retainE power,
and preventing the State from faliinainder the
control of rebels, they faced the mus and gave
political equality to their former slave
The people of Kansas voted upon thnegro sui
frage III November, 1867. The agsgate num-
Der of ballots was 81, l2e, more by early 5000
than had ever been cast at any preous election
in the State. The majority again the blacks
was 9,O7l, although the Republin prePonder-
ance in the State cannot be less TIN two to one.
In 1867, too, the electors of OH We're brought
10 act upon this question by tn submission TO
them of an amendment TO the Co,ututIon.s trlk-
ing out the word : white from hong the quail
~fcations of voters. There werd 12.S24 citizens
who voted on the suffrage amsdInent, and the
majority against the propoSitiorvas 1888 At
the same time the Republicanslected their can
didate for Governor by a maiofy OF 2.Ss3, in an
aggregate vote of 4S4 227. Ts shows that there
are over 600 Republicans Ohio who will not
tolerate the ensranchisement { negroes.
The result in Michigan evn more remarkable.
At the last election for G|ernor in 1o66, in n
total poll of I64,457, the Epublicans had a ma
jority of p ,04I: and Dovonly a fortnight ago,
ON the question of adoptis a now Constitution
with equal suffrage as or of its features, in a
total pon of loo ,657. tt majority against the
negro is S9.447. 1t is car that Michigan, Rad
ical as she unquestionab is, will not admit him
to equality of political ghts.-N. Y Sun.