The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1877-01-13
The H,afesr Radical DOdEe-sAn
feEIgemt Suffrage.

are taking up the keynote sounded by
President Grant. and are pressing the
movement against negro suffrage under
the guise of an educational qualification
as a condition of its exercise. The wri-
ter assumes that the circumstances under
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 so ought the laws which
were based upon them to be changed.
Now, 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 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 twoS have repudiated it, and those
two are prevented from establishing
Democratic administrations by the strong
arm of the federal government unconsti
tutionally and despotically 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 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 intelligent
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 colorcd 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-
ical adventures for plundering these I'M
fortunate States; and now since it has be-
gun to work the other way and is becom.
ing ''intelligent'' 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 il
has always presented ga solid and deter
mined opposition" to educational restric
tons upon suffrage in the Northern
States. 1t might have said that it ha:
in like manner opposed the imposition o.
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 resis
t with all its might the present insiduou
: scheme of the Radical leaders, entitled
Intelligent Suffrage" for reducing it
t strength in the electoral College and tn
e National Legislature. If
= Even-handed justice
COmmends the ingredients of their poisoned
e To their own lips,
they must abide the consequences witt
d the best grace they can. The Democrat
# will take no stock in the "Intelligen
Suffrage" investment at present.
After the foregoing was prepared, W
found in an exchange the following ex
tract from letterof DIR. Redfield, in tn
Cincinnati Commercial, Repu blican
showing what has been added to the DC
litical power of the South by investing tn
negro with the right of suffrage. 1t ais
shows how the "magnanimous" eng
# neers of the Republican party wer
Is "hoisted by their own petard:"
- '.The most successful result of the wa
- has been that those who precipitated tt,
~ country into conflict have double voice i
~ the Government! The nadgnanintous Repul
~ 1cans have made gift to the South of 80 c
- 40 Congressman and electoral votes. TAX
- away the representation which was give
the South ON account of negro suffrage an
how would Tilden stand to-day in the Elec
y toral College, and how different would b
the political status of the next Congress
Without negro suffrage, and cOnseonentl
with representation reduced to a white ba
sis, the South would have 90 votes i'm tn
nm Electoral College instead of I3s. An
members of Congress proportionatelv 20