Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-12-02

uC lllSb iiSlillIb VI 1ii +h'hS'i N'h -
equality-equality of right, equality
of privilege, equality, of political
power; that equality which says to
every citizen, "Your vote is just as
good, just as potential as the vote OF
any citizen" That cannot be said
to-day in the United States. The
course of affairs in the South has
crushed out the political power OF
more than 100000 American citi-
zens, and has transferred it by vio-
lence to others. Forty-two Presiden
tial electors are assigned TO the
South on account of the colored pop
ulation, aud yet the colored popula-
ton, with more than 100000 legal
voters, have been unable to choose a
single elector. Even in those States
where they have a majority of more
than 100000, they were deprived OF
free suffrage, and their rights as citi-
zens are scornfully trodden under
foot. The eleven States that com
prised
TIE REBEL CoNFEDERACYE
had, by the census of 1880, 100000
of white population, and 5,3OO,00O
colored population. The colored pop
ulation, almost to a man, desire to
support the Republican party, but by
cvstem of civil intimidation, and
by violence aud murder, whenever
violence and murder are thought ne
cessary, they are absolutely deprived
of all political power. If the outrage
stopped there it would be bad enough
but it does not stop there, for not on
ly is the negro population disfran-
chised, but the power which right
fully and constitutionally belongs to
them is transferred TO the white pop
ulation, enabling the white popula-
ton of the South to exert an electoral
influence far beyond that eXertcd by
the same number of white people i'll
the North.
TO illustrate just how it works tc
|
the destruction of all fair elections
Net ne present 10 you five States in
, tAe late Confederacy aud five royal
States in the North, possessing Ill
each section the same number Of cleo
toral votes. In the South, the State,
of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
Georgia and South Carolina have il
the aggregate As ELECTORAL votes
They have 100000 VIII tie people ant
over 100000 colored people. In the
North, the States of Wisconsin, Min
nesota, Iowa, Kansas and California
nave likewise III the aggregate A.
ELECTORAL votes, and they have ;
white population of 5,000,0O0, or jus
double the five Southern States which
have named. These Northern
States have practically no coloreC
population. 1t is therefore eviden
that the white men in those Soltleli
States, by usurping and
ABSORBING THE RIGHTS
of the colored men, arc eXerting jus
double the political power of tin
white men in the Northtr IN. States.
| submit, my friends, that such
condition Of affairs is extraordinary
unjust, and derogatory to the man
hood of the North. Even those wht
I are vindictiyely opposed TO Negro
suffrage will not deny that if Prcsi
dental electors are assigned to TIT
South by reason Of the negro popula
ton ought to be permitted free suf
TRACE in the election. To deny tina
clear proposition is to affirm that
Southern white man in the Gul
States is entitled 10 double TIT
political power of Northern
white man in the Lake States
It is TO affirm that a Confed
crate soldier shall WELD twice tn
influence in the nation that a Uniol
soldier can, and that perpetual ant
constantly increasing superiorit
shall be conceded to the Southcr
white man in the government Of til
Union. If that DC quietly concede
in this generation, it will harden il
to custom, until the badge of inf
, riOrity will attach to the Norther
white man as odiouly as ever MOI
NAL noble stamped upon Saxon chur
) This subject is of deep interest
the laboring men of the North. Wit
f the Southern Democracy triumphal
} in their State and the nation, the III
( gro will be compelled to work tC
!, just such wages rs the whites ma
: decree-wages which will amount,
did the supplies of the slaves, to
bare subsistence, equal to cash, pc
haps, of thirty-tive cents per day
averaged over the entire South. III
white laborer in the North will 500
feel the distinctive effect of this upc
his own wages. The Republican
have clearly seen from the earle
, days Of reconstruction that. wages
the South must be raised to ju
recompense for the laborer, or wag
in the North ruinously lowered, al
the party have steadily worked Fl
the former result, The reverse i
, iluence will now be set in motto
and that condition of affairs produce
> which years ago Mr.. Lincoln warnC
I the free laboring men Of the Nor
!, would prove hostile to their indepe
! dencc, and will inevitably lead to a