The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-02

Tho linsts Of "Administrntivs Reform"
Our Southern friends do not Ike TO be
reminded that they hold stolen seats In
the House Of Representative and in the
Electoral College. They regard tho mere
statement Of tho fact as evidence OF Re.
publican uniriondlincss towards the
South. and proper comment us al attempt
TO intlame olipassionsand excite sectional
animositics.
1t must be admitted, as part OF the his.
tory Of the time, that Southern men are
not plore iii this view. There is an
tho North a considerable element which
deprecates any reference to the unhappy
and incontrovertibte fact that iii certain
Southern States tho majority is not per-
mitted to choose the representation. This
Northern element is chieilymade upofad-
hcrents Of that party which profits by the
wrong-a party which would be without
hone Of national triumph II It were
not for this persistent crime against
tho freedom and purity Of the
elective franchise. There arc other
Northern men who do not want trade dis.
turbed by "politics"-who regard as mere
political trickery any allusion to the sup.
preston Of half n million yoicesin the
election OF d President. Mr.. Blaine's re.
ference TO patent facts III the recent cleo
ton is jumped on with all fours us Il bid
for another chancci in lSSS.
We may DO sure that this question is
going to be discussed, 10 matter who dis
likes the discussion. 1t ought to be dis.
cussed without bitterness md without
wrath, but discussed it will DO, for it is the
iiycst Of live issues. Ii the minority in n
given state may silence the voice Of d ma
jority on tho single plea that the majority
is not fit to speak Tor itself, there is to that
extent, and ~ iAr as that State can affect
the general result, m end Of republican
government. F'orcxamplc, II the election
had turned on Mississippi there would
have been no waiting with feyerish anxiety
to know how Mississippi had gone, for
everybody would have known that the
Republican State OF Mississippi would
certainly be returned for tho Democratic
nominee.
1t is easier to state the fact than to stg-
gest the remedy. The fact itself is admit
ted by southern men. Mr.. Watterson, Of
the Louisville Courier Journal, says:
The black people arc not deprived Of
their votes in any Southern States, unless
it DO the States Of South Carolina and
Mississippi, where they arc i'll Il majority
OF the whole population. II they are de-
privcd OF their votes at all in those States
It il not an alfair OF politics, but OF races.
Tho most absolute Republican Of the North
il he. should become d citizen Of South Car
DINA or Mississippi would be forced blythe
Law OF self-prcscryatlon to act with his
own race for the maintenance OF social
order and property. The blacks in those
States are n mass OF perfectly ignorant and
savage human beings, altogether incapa-
bio Of government.
1t matters not whether it is an affair
OF politics or Of races. The admitted fact
remains that the. minority is not permit
tod to select representatives, in Congress
and the Electoral College. Nobody will
pretend that this is 4 republican form OF
government within in the meaning OF
the Constitution or the understanding Of