The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-01-17
AEle LATEST Radical Dodge-ssEa
felIIgent Suffrage


The extract which We have published
elsewhere. under the title of Intelligent
Suffrage" shows that the Radical leaders
are taking up the keynote sounded by
President Grant, and are pressing the
movement against negro suffrage under
the guse of an educational qualification
as a condition of its exercise. The wri-
ter assumes that the circumstances uIder
which unrestricted suffrage was CON
ferred on the blacks have changed per
manently and radically" and draws the
conclusion that as these circumstances
have changed 50 ought the laws which
were based upon them to be changed.
Nov, the real change which has
wrought this thinly disguised movement
against colored suffrage, is the fact that
the negro shows unmistakeable signs of
no longer serving as a voting machine
/ for the Radical party. But for this pal
pable fact, the suggestion would never
have appeared in President Grants
messages, nor would it have received the
endorsement OF the leaders Of his party,
With negro suffrage they expected
to control the Southern States perma-
nently in the interest of the Radical
party. But their expectations have been
disappointed. All the Southern States,
except two have repudiated it, and those
two are prevented from establishing
Democratic administrations by the strong
arm OF the federal government unconsti-
tutionally and despoticalIy interposed in
their local affairs.
BY the addition of colored suffrage the
South and the Democratic party have
acquired forty additional votes in the
Electoral College, and a large ac-
cession to their strength in the popular
branch of Congress. But for this acqui-
sition Hayes would have been elected
President, and the Republicans would
have been assured Of majority in Con
gress to continue the policy of proscrip-
ton and vengeance against the people of
the South.
| These are the circumstances which
have exercised the Republican leaders
so terribly on the subject of ''intelIigent
suffrage" and all at once aroused them to
the Importance Of guarding the ballot box
against what they are pleased to term the
''vast mass Of ignorant eolorcd voters at
the South" But not so fast Monsieur
Republicans! We have had negro suf-
frage for nine long years, into which CEN
turtles of ordinary troubles were crowded;
and when it was an instrument Of the polit
zeal adventures for plundering these I'M
fortunate States; and now since it has be-
gun to work the other way and is becom-
ing ''inteligcnt' enough to discern the
true mission of suffrage, we propose that
it shall be let alone.
The Tribune pays the Democratic party
deserved compliment by saying that it
has always presented ga solid and deter
mined opposition" to educational restric-
tons upon suffrage in the Northern
States. 1t might lave said that it has
in like manner opposed the imposition of
property qualification. 1t has opposed
class legislation in every form, and hence
it is the Party of the People. 1t intends
to remain SO, and especially will it resist
with all its might the present insiduous
scheme Of the Radical leaders, entitled
g Intelligent Suffrage" for reducing its
strength in the electoral College and the
National Legislature. If
Even handed justice
Commends the ingredients .. their poisoned
chalice
To their own lips,
they must abide the consequences with
the best grace they can. The Democracy
will take no stock in the "Intelligent
Suffrage" investment at present
After the foregoing was prepared, we
found in an exchange the following eX-
tract from etterof DR.. Redfeld, in the
Cincinnati Commercial, (Repu blican)
showing what has been added to the pc
litical power Of the South by investing the
negro with the right of suffrage. 1t also
shows how the "magnanimous" engi-
neers of the Republican party were
"hoisted by their own Petard:"
THE most successful result of the war
has been that those who pTecipitated the
country into conflict have double voice in
the Government. The HaagnaRinsouS Repub-
Ii ans have made gilt to the 5, nth Of 30 or
40 Congressman and electoral votes. Take
away the representation which was given
the South on account of negro suffrage. and
how would Tilden stand to-day in the Elpc- |
toral College, aud how different would be |
the political status of the next Congress, |
Without negro suffrage. and consequently |
with representation reduced to 4 white ba- |
sis, the South would have 81 votes in the |
Ell ctoral College instead of 13S. And |
members of Congress propOrtiOnauely re- I
duced- Georgia, instead of having nine |
Congressman. would have five, and South |
Carolina two instead of five, and MiSsiSSip- |
pi three instead of six. But ! am not car t
ried away with pathy for the Repubi- /
cas- because the devil has come to roost. |
They sowed the wind in the Southern States |
and all hands are reaping the Whirlwind. |
The mass of the blacks were unfit to exer-
else the right of suffrage, and after 10 years |
tuition they are Incompetent to conduct de- |
cent government, or sustain it when as
sailed
Commissioner of Immig grafton.