Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-06
Rehold Your Own Work.

We long ago came to the conclusion that
the party which forced negro suffrage upon
the South would be the first TO attempt 10
disiranchise the negroes, and thus create
reason for cutting down the basis OF repre-
eentatiOn in the southern States, or in other
words for reducing the number OF southern
members In The lower house OF Congress.
What else can Mr.. WHTELAw REID and Mr..
INGALLS, and Mr.. AURAT HALsTEAD mean by
their continual cry that the negro vote Is
suppressed" IN the sOuthy
FIRED. DOUGLASS has Joined in this cry.
lie recently stole all the figures from Mr..
HMsrEAD's Forum article and used them
in speech which no delivered at Stamford,
Conn. lie first proved that the negroes
were not qualified to be voters by showing
that no matter how numerous they were in
Tie Gull States they allowed the whites
10 carry all the elections. What other
inference can be drawn from the aver
ments made 10y Mr. HusTEAD and repeated
by DOUGLASS? OF course the latter did not
intend that inference TO be drawn by the
northern people; but we are inclined TO the
opinion chat they long ago reached that con.
clusion without the aid OF Mr. DOUGLASS or
Dir. HAIsTEAD.
But let us reproduce Mr. HALsTEAD's
figures as these were repeated by Mr.. DoUG'
LASS. The latter said at Stanford:
"It will be seen by the last congressional
directory that Kansas sends seven repre-
tentatiyes TO Congress with 2jl,971 votes.
Mark, seven representatives TO Congress.
Mississippi sends seven representatives on
how many votes do you think ?-44,5j votes.
Georgia sends ten representatives on $3.50
votes. Connecticut sends four members to
Congress and has TO give l23,015 votes.
Georgia sends ten 90 $1,000. You send four
on $4,000. South Carolina from four dis
tricts sends fsur representatives. to Con-
Cress on II ,43i votes. Ohio sends four rep
resentstlves from four districts on 12G, l52
votes. The Third district In Ohio sends one
representative with 30,597 votes-9, 222 votes
more than the whole state OF Georgia, which
gives her ten representatives. No wonder
they don't want 10 20 back 10 the old system.
They have an increase OF political power
that makes them masters 10 a certain extent
IL YOU don't exercise your right and your
power TO check them. You are defrauded
by the suppression OF Republican votes In
the South, and the South is the gamer
thereby"
II will be seen that there is no pretence
that any southern State has more representa-
tiyes in the lower house Of Congress than 1t
is entitled to. II is conceded that the voters
are there. The complaint is that the large
negro mqjorty ia suppressed" by the
small white minority. Only 4i,557 votes are
60 at ON onl
votes. \ similar condition OF things exists
in other States.
What Is the remedyy 1t would be pre-
posterous 20 expect Congress to undertake
70 conduct from Washington the elections in
oil the southern States. There can be no
election laws for the South only. The Re
construction days are over. Carpet-baggers
ana scaawags cannot look to Congress for
help. The water has passed that mill
and Will never return to II. This is
new generation. We have Demo-
cratic President, and expect 10 have him
until the year 1898. We have Demo-
cratic House OF Representatives, and expect
10 have il at least as long. The next Senate
will be, or ct any rate may be. exactly
equally divided. There is no reason for the
malgnants to expect any assistance from the
national Government in carrying out their
schemes. Whence, then, is the remedy for
these alleged wrongs to come? The south
cru people can laugh to scorn the utmost
efforts OF the worst malignants.
We would not be surprised at any time to
fnd the Republican malignsnts engaged In
the work OF proving that the fifteenth amend
. meni was never ratified IN the manner pre-.
scribed Ia the Constitution. New York with
drew her ratification. Two other States
acted twice-6rsi refusing to ratify but after
wards ratlfying. Mr.. SEWARD, however,
counted all three States for ratification. Be.
sides, II Is notorious tha. the southern States
ratified under dursss.
The negroes must look 10 the southern
people and TO the Democratic party TO pro-
tect the fifteenth amendment.