Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-11
Mr.. McKinIey's Proposition.


Senator Hoar, Judge Foraker and
some other leading Republicans do
not 20 any furtha. in ii sir efforts
70 arouse sectional feeling than u
charge that the southern people
by various unfair aud unjust means, pre-
vent the negroes from voting, and thus
deprive the Republican party Of represen-
tatiyes TO which il is entitled in Congress
! aud the electoral college. They do not
I suggest a remedy for the condition Of al
I fairs which they allege exists.
Mr.. Mckinley, however, the man who
has had the honor Of representing Gar
held's old district in Congress, and who,
having made some reputation by his
speeches in behalf Of protection, thinks
that he has inherited Gariie.d's talents, is
telling the Ohio people, in his stump
speeches, that the states in which he
alleges that the negro vote is suppressed
ought 70 have the number OF their rep
resentatiyes in Congress and the electO-
raj college reduced. Even Senator sher-
man IN his last speech indorsed this sort
Of talk.
Dir. Mckinley is not the author Of
became very prominent IN politics, but it
was never seriously entertained by any
body familiar with the constitution. Mr..
Mckinley, doubtless, knows that the sug-
ton IS impracticable, but is demagOgue
enough, perhaps, 70 think that he can in
crease his popularity with his party by
advocating II.
II a state we're to deprive any con-
siderable number OF is citizens
Of the ballot, except for reasons
mentioned in the constitution, Congress
could reduce It's basis Of representation,
but no one suggests that any Southern
state is deprlying any Of its citizens Of
the elective franchise. The Republican
extremists 60 no further than to say that
individuals and organizations prevent
the negroes from voting as they want to.
The only way 10 reach the evil which
Sherman, Hoar and other Republican or
ators allege exists in the South, is to en-
force the election laws. These laws
were made for just such a condition of
affairs as they picture.
But, as a matter Of fact, are the negroes
prevented from having full and free ex-
preston OF opinion at the ballot box any
where In any Southern State: Let the
negroes make answer. In what Southern
state, at the last Presidential election,
were they bulldozed, intimidated or in
any other way driven from the ballot box?
There are white Republican politicians
who, for a purpose, scatter recklessly
over the North stories about the suppress
sion Of the negro vote In the south, but
when asked for proofs they cannot fur
nish them. If Senator Sherman or Mr..
Mckinley. or any other OF the Republi-
can stump speakers were called on TO
name the States in which the negro vote
was suppressed last tall, they would be
unable to do so.
But even If Congress had the power to
do what MIR. Mckinley would like to
haveitdo, 1t would want some proof, other
than that which Messrs. Sherman. HOar,
Foraker and Mckinley could furnish that
the negroes are not allowed to vote be-
fore taking any action, and the House
and the administration being Democratic,
the proof that would be required would
have to be little stronger than that which
would satisfy Republicans Of the Sher-
man and Hoar kind.
1t is interesting to contemplate the
marvellous change that has taken place in
the sentiments Of the Republican leaders
within the last few years with respect to
negro suffrage. They were not satisfied
until they got the ballot in the hands OF
the negroes, because they thought the
negro votes would give the South to the
Republican party as long, perhaps, as that
party had any existence. Now they would
give anything TO get the ballot out of the
hands of the negroes. They have always
pursued purely selfish policy in dealing
with the negroes, and the result OF it is
just what they deserve.