Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-06
Facts and Figures,

I'VE are firm believers in the doc
trine that institutions grow-are not
made to order. We can't foresee what
will cause a division Of the whites Of
the South into two parties, but we can
see that in Georgia the prohibition
question has already done it. Sufficient
unto the day is the evil Tor good there
Dispatch, Norember 18th.
1--WE said the other day that it was
unfortunate that the majority of Allan
ia, Ca, in favor of prohibition was Sc
small, especially if, as was said, ma
jority Of the negro voters voted in the
affirmative. Wegaye no reason for the
opinion. 1t did not seem necessary SO
to do. Wouldn't it be unfortunate if a
prohibitory law were ratified in Rich
mond by few hundred majority when
four or five thousand negroes had voted
in the affirmative? In other words,
wouldn't it be an unfortunate condition
Of things to have such law forced upon
white men by negro votes? 1t seems to
us that taking human nature as it is,
our proposition is undeniable. The
negro voters Of Atlanta must them
selves acknowledge its truth. DIS
patch, December LIST.
Editor of the Dispatch: "Come,
now, let us reason together" Then it
would be unfortunate for any law to be
passed, regardless of its merits, if
majority of the negro voters voted in
the affirmative
Per contra, it would be likewise IN
fortunate if proposed law, regardless
of its merits, was to fail of its passage
because Of a majority Of the negro
voters voting against it.
1t would be unfortunate if the ma
jority of the negroes remain with the
Republicans.
1t would be likewise unfortunate il
a majority Of them unite with the De-
mocrats.
In fine, it is an unfortunate condition
OF things for majority of negroes to
be on either side Of o question.
This line Of reasoning leads ineyita-
bly, to the conclusion that /" taking hui
man nature as it is" it is San unfor-
tunate condition Of things" that the ne
groes have an opportunity to be ma
jority one way or the other, or to have
any voice at all in the making oflaws
but taking our Constitution as it ~
and since there is no earthly likelihood
that the negroes will upon all questions
divide with mathematical nicely, and
so neutralize themselves, how in the
world, / ask, is the color line in oul
politics to be obliterated? For if the
merit Of question is to be determined
in the light of the preponderance of ne.
gro sentiment, and as a consequence
the whites flock to the side where the
negroes are fewest, and this, too, wher
old issues and prejudices--fear Of " ne
gro rule" carpetbagism, &c. ARE moi
in consideration, and the naked ques.
ton is one of political economy, will
we not ever remain under the night
mare of racial political solidity?
But you may perhaps reply that your
point is that it is unfortunate simply
when law is carried by a small ma.
jority, having received nearly the unani
nous negro vote. But is it REASONABLE,
to suppose that on questions involving
no race issues, directly or indirectly
there should be a practical solidity o.
the races in array against each other
Hardly; and hence this analysis O.
your reasoning is correct. Now, let u;
look at some facts and figures. You
cite supposable Richmond case, where.
in a law is ratified by small majority
four or five thousand negroes having
voted in the affirmative. This would be
racial solidity, since the voting strength
of the negroes in Richmond is said by
you to be about five thousand (By tn,
way, was such the state of facts in At
lanta9 Surely not.) Now, let us sup
pose the voting population of a city t.
be $1,000, 900 whites and 5000 ne
groes. They thus vote on question
Afiirmstive-whites. 1000; negroes
1000.
Negative-yhites. 5000; negroes. 1000
The question is decided affirmatively
by 1000 majority. Now see While il
is true that twice as many negroes vot'
for as against, yet it is equally true tina
exactly as many whites as negroes rot,
fort Now is the law forced upon thu
whites by the negroes. And may i
not possibly be that the 1000 whites
and the 1000 negroes were right il
their conception of the question:
Again: We will suppose (the total
vote being 5000 whites and 1000 ne
groes) that these vote:
FOL-, 900 whites, 4, 900 negroes.
Agsinst-4,0o whites. 5000 negroes.
Here we have q majority of 1000
for, the whites being equally diridec
and the affirmative vote being equal,
!, decided rs between the tTo races. Bu
I 0Oa more ne1roea yOta for thai