The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-11
Setting a Radical Organ Right.

The controversy between Gov. Bullock,
of this State, and the New \ ork Press,
relative TO the charge which the Republi-
cans make that the colored vote III the South
is suppressed, is attracting considerable at
tcntior. Gov. Bullock is a staunch r,epub-
lican, and what he says with regard TO
this charge can hardly fail to have consid-
cradle influence with Northern Republicans.
In his last letter, which appeared in Fri
days issue of the Press. he discusses the
point made by that paper THAT the Con
Gressional representation of a State should
be reduced in a ratio corresponding TO the
decrease in the vote cast at elections for
Congres smen."
The Press with other Republican organs
in the North, insists that the small vote cast
for Congressman in the South, is proof that
the colored vote is suppressed, and declares
that if the white people suppress that vote
the South should be deprived of representa-
ton in Congress to the extent of the vote
suppressed. 1t contends that only by pun
ishing the white people of the South in that
way, can free ballot and fair count be
secured.
Gov. Bullock shows quite conclusivelv
that the colored vote is not suppressed, and
points out that there is no power anywhere
to deprive State of its representation be-
cause some of its citizens do not choose to
vote, By quotations from the constitution
OF the United States he proves that the Press
doesn't know what it is talking about, and
creates the impression that what the Press
iea obi fc
that document.
Every Southern Republican knows that
the colored vote is not suppressed. The
small vote cast i'll Congressional elections is
wholly due to apathy. The vote in this
State in the last Congressional elections
was remarkably small, but it is doubtful
if there is an intelligent Republican in any
one of its Congressional districts who would
say that the colored vote was suppressed.
The truth is, white as we'll as
colored voters quite generally re-
manned away from the polls There
was no opposition, except in one or two
districts, to the ocular Democratic nomi-
nees, and there was, therefore, little interest
in the elections. There was no effort to
get out large vote. Had there been OPP
position candidates, and doubt as to the re-
suit of the elections, the number OF votes
cast would have been somewhere near the
number of voters.
When Southern Republicans like Gov.
Bullock deny that the colored vote is SUD-
pressed it is simply idiotic for Northern Re
publican journals TO assert that it is, and
endeavor to make the issue that the South's
representation in Congress should be cut
down in proportion to the falling off of the
vote cast in Congressional elections. If
the Northern Republicans want to see full
vote at Congressional elections in the
South, let them cease trying to arouse
an antagonistic feeling between the
white and black people in the South, and
let them present issues that will tend to
divide the white people. If they can divide
the white people by fair means they will
have no reason to allege that the colored
vote is suppressed. But until that condi-
ton Of affairs is brought about they
might as well talk about cut
ting down the representation of
a Northern State when. for any reason. a
small vote is cast at any one of its elections
as to advocate the cutting down of that of
a Southern State when its citizens neglect
to vote.