The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-28
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL.
FRIDAY. tt, DECEMBER 40. 1888
THE MICRO TorE.

TIE NEGRO VOTE
Tho south Carolina Legislature adjourned on
Saturday night without having adopted the pfupo
sitlon 20 submit constitutional amendment
establishing an educational t''t. and The SINE fate
appears likely IN lcial the similar scheme 10 Ala
hama outside tho,c States the project has uu'
received much support. and There hns bccn mo-
little opposition IN The Ircss OF the tvosulcs The
general opinion appears to be- that ludrPe having
been once given To- everybody. mo- attempt NJ plac
inr m educational restriction upon ~ cNcrl.c
will cvrr be- carried ihuugh-.rr lok EtDml
IoF
The South Carolina Legislature did well.
Nothing would have been more absurd
than It's submission Of nm amendment TO
liz State Constitution establishing an odu-
cational test for voters. by the census Of
1850 the white population Of that State
was 30i ,O7l and the black col ~, or close
upon two for one. The idea Of n minority
asking n majority 30 d.siuuchisc itsclf
would simply have been absurd. Aud
this would have been the case had the
question Of the amcndmcnt been sub
miiied. ~ the ccnsu. shows that is9 per
cent. Of the whole population from ten
years anil upward were returned IN lSs0
a. unable 10 rad. and 5j.4 pr cent o. I'M
able b write. The white p.r.1us unable
% write were go per cent -.I the o0l-
orrd 7s5 per cent The iH.t.ntz, 10 will
thus BE- seen, make up marty one
half the population. That they would
ever vote for theirovn disfr11ch l-rucnt s
of cnUzAo pFuposiof1gA lntAs art place. M
man. % matter bow roor in purse lr .1-
tcilecf. would willingly vat. or Ls own
degradation, b. be- re,iurrl from "a .Esu-
skip % be- a mere cyphcr without a yaice
In Che selection OF az ml.rrs having 90
part 10 the State aui being sthoul other
recognition To- the body rn.t.c shan ,h1t
which rugues and imheci.ea have through
special legislation. In the s1c.ul place the
whole body 81 the people oi thc State
would be- unwilling. AZ tho cost OF this
Acknowledgement, 10 loss hall thrir rcple-
rcniation In Congress. aud Therefore hall
their influence In national uilir. Tho
great body Of white people would, besides.
never consent 81 the DISTINGUISHING Of any
Of their number ior any cause or ior any
plea or purpose, aud ~ long a. the Four
iccnih and Fifteenth Amendments Ia th,
Constitution stand there cin b, NJ dis
elimination on the scorc Of color o
previous condition. But wouldn't a.,
North consent TO the repeal Of ihcs
amendments in order To gain the advnag
Of reduction Of tliiriy.ihrco or lhiuy-cish
a Representative from the South? We nu
swcr "No." The Republican party pride
iiaclf on thcsa amendments as the cfuwnin
work Of lis historic period ami they woul
never consent To their repeal As Johl
sherman recently inimaicd In q speech II
Washington, ihcy will not cpcd Ga
amendments, hut will leo what they can &
secure the negro Ia the cscrc,s, oi ih
franchise and assure him ircc hallo, au
a fair count at III Congressional elections
leaving him 10 himself to make his uw
terms at all local elections. As hc i e.
ported 10y The baltimore Sun, bis them
being the colorcl voter In the South.
lie assumed that In several Southern States 4.
oolofci voter h deu.oi h' political fishls. anl cl
ocdci that Ia uthln be- had iErm fully. Wlr
bic rlshu an druioi. ne dcuili is due ,Ilr u
hcnatnr 10 ho 'praIudIocs az arrs 900 co., part
the white and thu "yniarrrl lguuuuUc ul u
coinnd yutaf lnaIiy tho rOmtii. De- taii. We
war away Ibis pfrlliiHe hJ EoDi opnduri NJ
ciucaiion. but in tl. Cola ui uaiIunti p1litcs Geo
grrss should iuirfcnr 90 s.Hrs ths ruiu-td ,u'
the rlsht 10 vote aud have hn ballot usuuis
CouEps. must pas a law aoi uuNerai arpl,,
ton" containing irguards iuni ul.l s',If. r,,
icsr. voter zone vote aud n1 more u.ri.lut
Conrfcsthcn should d. sai tbe -,uttlf "uuH
national authority" ligggui ihe tasaF. oi su
aiaw NE Republican party could not go uougr
cuud not Interfere la local Clcri.pua Nor uuu
mob violence % crime bring a cure iuf b.. Iii
ininstIce within the ttltrs The cnnf,c luf
ouiufcd voter b. pursue Hss b. wuh hand. aoIu
pro crty aud ~ riuciiinn. IN dine che wh
pco.le would BE- imprpssd Ny ih.sc ihiug, 4
o"noedc equality a. The rolli as elsewhere.
Ia the last two sentences lic, the soluii
Of the negro problem. BY education nj
Industry he Is 10 make sure place
himself In the body polite, therefore G,
cation and industrial trimming il what
needs and with Il Freedom from outs
interference. lie needs peace and r.
dom from political agitation. ho needs
hddrcas himself 10 bis own condition a
iis beiiermcnt. by such means and
the kindly help Of tho white people
can work out his own salvation. 10 q
iaio for his Acknowledgement would be
open avery paalora's box for the Sou