The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-04-25
Tho Southern Question.

| ne question tnut u UoubiluR tue Lem
ocrats Of the south more than oil others q
the presep. time is negro suffrage. While
the constitution guarantees the right o
suffrage TO the blacks, southern Democrats
very well know, indeed they do not deny
1t, that practically the blacks have no voice
in making the laws or choosing the eIecu
tive officers OF the stale or national govern
ments.
This would be troublesome question
OF itself but it goes even deeper than this
In the matter OF Congressman and Presi
Dental electors tho whole population is
counted In while nearly one half and ia
many districts more than one half OF the
legal voters are practically, in one way
aud another, deprived OF the right OF suf
frsge This no. only works injustice to
the blacks but makes il possible that .
minority vote in the southern states may
control the National election and deter
mine the majority in Congress. This is
what did actually happen 10 1884. fol
very few people believe that Cleveland
would have been elected had there been
o free and fair vote 10 the southern states.
The country good-naturedy submitted,
though it was manifestIy unjust.
The southern whites attempt to justify
their course by claiming that the blacks
are ignorant and not it TO vote. There is
great deal Of truth 10 this claim. There
is no question that nsjority ofthe blacks
are ignorant though there are many excep-
tons and the exceptions are growing more
numerous every year An educational
qualification that would apply equally to
whites aud blacks might be fair solution
OF the problem aud has been talked Of in
some Of the states. bat 1t is found that
such law would bar out o great many
whites rs we'll rs blacks and couseq nently
ii will hardly be adopted
The south evidently fears that the Ne
tional government may take tho matter 10
hand, as IT clearly has right to do in the
matter Of Congressman and Presidential
electors. Whether such a step will be tax
en or not al present III uncertain. though
such q state oi things cannot always last
President Harrison is conservative ON this
question, aud all he has ssij 10 regard TO
it IL that he shall endesyor to appoint the
best men possible to oiiico in the southern
states. No one eau object to this. The
south asks to be let alone aud they will
take care OF themselves This might do IL
they did not OF the same time ask TO run
the whole couliry, for this is what il
amounts TO.
The Philadelphia Ioqnircr publishes To-
terviews with some Of the leading men 10
the south on this question which We re
produce below:
Gov. Richardson Of Souih Carolina says
the southern question is the race problem.
Shal. the African or Caucasian predomi.
mater The solution is in the strict avoid
ance by the general government oiany dis.
tinctively southern policy aud in leaving
TO this states themselves the management
OF their osn domestic affairs.
Gov. Fi,zbugh Lee Of Virginia says two
distinct races are wrestling With each 9th
or for political supremacy. The question
is, therefore, whether the southern states
aud cities shall be re'sinei 10 tie band OF
lhe white men. or whether there shall he a
war Of races The prosperity 81 both r.
ces, aud that Of tho states ~ which they
live, demand. that each state should be
allowed 10 con,fnl its own in,rrnai snairs
" ithout federal interference snd 10 exercise
.hote reserved rights left with the great, o.
,sre TO the states ty tie representatives. cf
hose states who framed the constitution.
Gov. Buctncr OF keutacky protests that
here ia 30 such question. The so-called
'outhefn question SEEMS 10 be bottled |
plant Of roithsra gfoSih AN exotic which |
will rot flourish 10 southern soIl. Such |
sectional sgi,siions, whether
originating 10 the north OF south, should /
tot Ice encouraged by the people Of sny
eciion. and The is.nry resulting FROM such
Ieilstioas 10 the whole couaify would be
educsd 10 a niriaum II the pc pie Of
.sch state would con,inns 10 attend 10
heir ovn sf.irs 10 secorlsacs With their
ccal constitutions and unite 10 supporting
he sensrL government 10 It's iast Exercise
4 ali II, legitimate powers
A. J. Rnsseli, superintendent Of pnbiis