Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-19

ven = The sonsh.v the ksgisser pro-
p,unds 70 Il shsss two ques'ions.
Firxt, dos u honestly belIeve that the
colosed mcn Of the South have the sasnr
political privileges snd enjoy the ssnis 90
hiical rights - have the Democrats ~ The
Stats oi Massachusetts,, Name, Ohio, and
IiIinoisf second. assuming shsy have.
viii II explain how u L. thst the States Of
Louisiana, Mississippi, and south CaroI'nA
IN which there are more blacks than al tue
whites combined. In which also the blacks.
az IL admitted by Representative southcfn-
err, always act with the Republican party
why Il is that these States gave Democrauc
msiofitIes q, the lale election averaging
upward Of $4,000 majority In each states
The Rspmbiican, after stating that II likes
a good square question going to the heart
OF things, answers:
I. The ccIored men al the South have
wider "politiesl privileges than they
would have in Massachusetts,. ~ we nave
already shown. since many more thousand
Of them vote than can read and wr'te:
whether they enjoy" those rights as wen
AS the Democrats do here or not Is que,'
lion capable Of different answers, accord.
Ing 10 the States In consideration. The
evidence Is that In North Carolina, Arkin-
sas, Tenpessec, Louisiana, and other states.
nj the lsst election. as lsrge proportion OF
them voted MS could be expected 10, con-
sidering that from go TO 50 per cent. OF
them cannot read or write. South Caro-.
lima Is the only State where the figures OF
the total vote afford ground OF presumption
thai there was any general or extended sup
preston OF vote. AS to scattering III
stances Of unlawful pressure from employ.
ers, Democrats in Massachusetts, are not
strangers 10 that sort OF thing. We believe
that the cosored men OF the South. as q
whole, enjoy and exercise their political
rights quite as fully as men OF their iilite-
racy could be expected to, and the fact that
Mr.. Blaine raised the Republican vote
10000 In those States Is another proof
OF II.
2. As TO the assumption that black ma
jority in the population would by right re-
turn Republican majority at the polls. II
Is purely an assumption, and one that mas
been overthrow by Virginia end other
States where the black vote Is divided. ana
II Is also not confirmed by the statements OF
colored politicians.
The REGISTER and other Republican organs
rest tDen case Wholly on hSsufnpttohs hcy
know that ignorant white men seldom care
to paw their poll-taxes and vote, unless in
duced TO do so by those with whom they
are associated as laborers or otherwise. But
they assume that The colored men OF the
South. OF whom from 90 to so per cent.
cannot read or write, and very few OF
whom have been to school, from the
mere. fact OF their age. II for no
other. possess some superior virtue
OF political devotion and intelligence which
keeps them all upon the Republican side
and very anxious TO vote, IL only permitted
to do so. This assumption Is contrary TO
all the experience Of free government rest.
ing upon the popular will. Education will
increase the colored vote and the white vote
alike at the South, for the lack OF 1t operates
TO reduce the total vote OF both races.
The organs in general, and the register
iu particular, having gone for wool. got
shorn. We think our Springfield contem-
porary is open to the charge OF being mo.
nopolist. IT certainly appears have a
corner on Republican wool.