Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-11
A Northern View OF F1Orida's New
Constitution.

7 A Northern View Of FIorida's New
z Constitution.
In some OF the Florida journals dissat-
lsfaction has been expressed with the new
constitution in that staJe because the
counties in what is known as the black
belt are not sufficiently protected against
negro rule.
Northern Republican papers, comment
ing on this reason OF Florida papers for
opposing the ratification Of the new con-
sfitution, say that the position taken by
q portion OF the Florida press indicates
that The new constitution was framed by
men who realize that the war is over and
the negro is a citizen.
There are somo Northern Republican
4 journals, doubtless, which make a point
OF giving partisan turn to everything
that relates 10 the South. They don't
care for the truth. What they want is
something that will prejudice the minds
OF their readers against the Southern peo-
pie. OF course, no explanation that
could be made relative to any matter
OF political character, would induce
such journals to do the South justice.
There are other Northern Republican
journals that are simply ignorant OF the
true condition Of affairs in the South,
from a political standpoint, and they
don't seem 20 want TO know what the
truth is. 1t pleases them to be ignorant
on this point, because they don't
want to be out Of harmony with their
readers.
1t Is very true that there is some dis
satisfaction in Florida with provisions Of
the new constitution which make
it possible in certain counties
Tor negroes 10 get possession OF
important county Offices. This dssatis-
faction is not unreasonable. 1t does not
arise from hostility to the negro, nor de-
sire to keep him out of Office because be
is "a negro. There are some negroes who
are capable OF discharging the duties Of
any Office to which they are liable to be
called in Florida or any other State. The
number, however, is very small, and in
the present condition of Florida, or, in
fact, any other Southern State, ignorant
and Incompetent negroes are as likely TO
get into office as those who are honest and
efficient.
The fear that the people of the black
counties in Florida have is that ignorant,
corrupt and noisy black demagOgues will
get into the county Offices. and VIII not
only bring the counties into disrepute with
capitalists and immigrants, but will so
mismanage their offices as to seriously
interfere with the prosperity of the coun-
ties.
1t is noticeable that in the Northern
states whore the negroes are much better
educated, and in every other way better
qualified TO assume the responsibilities OF
public offices, the white people do not fa-
vor their advancement to such places.
Why, then, should the Northern journals
be 50 anxious that in the South, where
the great mass Of the negroes are nOtori-
Ously ignorant, and being ignorant are
all the more liable to be made the tools of
designing white men, they should be push
ed into Office aud given the direction of
public affairs.
In time, doubtless, when the negro has
become qualified to scquit himself Gre
ditably in the administration of public
offices there will be no disposition any
where to legislate against him. Indeed,
there is no marked disposition to legis-
late against him now. 1t is against
! ignorance and the evils that flow from
ignorance in public places that legisla-
tion is desired.
1t is entirely safe to assume that If the
editors of some Of the Republican Journals
which are continually attacking the
South owned large amounts of property in
the black counties OF Florida, they would
object very strongly to having the affairs
OF their counties managed by such meT
as the black majorities are likely to elect
/ They would say at once, let the negro
wait until he ia competent to hold Office