The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-05
MI. oATEs's PLAN.
A Constitutional Amendment Olsen.
franchising the Negro.

Washington special 10 the New York World.
Representative Oates, of Alabama, re-
turned here today. Upon being asked
about Gen. Harrison's policy toward the
South, he said;
"Gon. Harrison is good lawyer and an
honest man, but very strong and decided
partisan. Nothing much Of his policy can
be told until his Cabinet is appointed, but
believe he will attemptto break the solid
South because OF the increased representa-
ton In Congress, and the increased vote in
the Electoral College which the oniran.
chisement Of the blacks give 10 the South,
and the failure Of the Republicans TO reap
any fruit from the increase is a sore spotin
the Republican spine. II Is tho greatest
grief to the Northern Republicans Of any
extent, and they are more thoroughly
united In demanding change in this re-
spcct than any other. Gen. Harrison will,
as matter o! course, inauguute some poll
Icy which will be vigorously pressed to
this end"
"llow viii he do it7'
at Is probable that he will undertake
10 disintegrate the Republican party Of the
South by giving the Offices 10 weak kneed
| Democrats and proicctionsts aud thereby
/ furnish 30 the negro voters more rcspecla-
| bio white leaders than they have had here
toiorc. lie will find some such Democrats
In every State for sale. but the number
will depend very largely upon the social
status which tho first converts 10 his
policy and service arc allowed 10 retain.
II they and their families arc Ostnoised
from society with the whites and classcd
with tho negroes socially, rs well as po-
liticaly, like they were In the reconslruc.
ton era the number OF converts will be
found % be very small. The probability
IL that they will find about the same state
Of public opinion now as existed then.
hut II u sould not b. quite 10 rigid, still
the number oi converts would not be very
great. aud Il would DO found that such
Office holders would not DO able 10 control
any votes. 20 that In my opinion the num-
her OF birds which would 10 caught in the
Harrison trap will not bc very great
aud that tho limo OF policy viii prove
q failure as did Mr. Hayes dur
ing his administration. Whenever the nc.
gr0cs, however respectable their white
leaders may have been before they became
such, hock to the polls TO take control,
race aniagonism will be aroused and
the responsible white men will not submit
90 II. | believe that Cen. Harrison will
advise aud Congress will attempt 10 amcud
the laws ~ NJ TO authorize the appoints
ment Of supervisors in Federal elections by
Judges OF the courts wherever application
Il made therefor. the 30 mako eligible Oh
supervisors any citizen Of the State, aud 10
arm them with most ample power and
provide ior the punishment Of any inter-
ference with the exercise thereof. II they
succeed In this /, viii doubtless encourage
the negroes 10 flock 10 the polling places
aud aticmpt 10 carry al Federal elections
as they did m the reconstruction era.
Ninc-tonthsoi the negroes are Republicans,
aud In some localities al, aud they will
generally vote that ticket II not influenced
otherwise. No amount OF argument eau
ever turn lhom from this purpose, but a
large part Of them ate for sale. Their votes
can be bought, and, NJ a general rule, the
influence OF their preachers, which Is very
great, can be hal for money. But
whenever the negroes flock 20 uic polls
and become the chief factors IN Rcpubl.
can politics, the white men ~ n rule, nll
OF the respectable and best class-wi,hout
regard 10 their views on tariff aud ques.
tons Of policy--will be found on tho DEM
ocraiic sldr, and hence In the Sogth tho
true designation 81 the parties IN white
mans party and the negio party. The
States are white mems governments, and
white men VII make aud execute their
laws, without the diciatlon OF negroes,
Chinamen, indians or any other colofcd
race, and wherever the white and colorcd
race come IN coufict NJ the polls Il Will, In
nIaj oascA rylull Ia eicoished. Id sp.