The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-08

The Portland eyegonioa takes issue with
50 much OF President Harrison's message
aa relates 10 the negro question in the
south That paper insists that the presi-
dent Is weak on the practical side of tell
iug rs what 10 do. aud further insists that
there is only ore thing that we can do
thrsagh congress that is worth trying to
do. VIZ. Reduce the representation OF
those states that systematically rob the
negro Of his just share OF representation by
robbiBg him II his ballot. either by violence
or fraud And that paper adds:
The 0regonaaa has more than once shown that
ell thas congress can do shat promises any good
would BE 10 enforce ihs fourteenth amea fment
against those states that BY organized suppress
sfon Of the suffrage, steal seats Ia congress.
President Esrris0n, TO orr great disappoint-
nent aud surprise. declines specifically 70 rec
ommend this measure, bat dies specifically
commend the strengthening ard enIargiRg Of
the present laws. which provide for federal
supervisor Of elections
But the course recommended by the
president Is the only one that lies within
the province of congress. II Is 70 be re.
GREETED that the fourteenth amendment
does not cover the ground claimed for il BY
the 0Fegoaiaa. bat such Is the fact, as adj
Indicated By the supreme court Of the
United states.
That amendment In its FIRST section de-
olAres that no state shall deny 10 any
person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection Of the laws" aud the second
section declares that "when the right 10
vote al any election for The choice Of cleo
tors. representatives in congress. etc, IL
denied 10 any of the male inhabitants, etc.
or ia any way abridged. the basis Of repre-
sentation shall be reduced in the proper
ton which the number Of such citizens
shall bear 20 the whole number. etc.
But in actions under the civil rights las,
whose language conforms 70 the language
of the amendment, the courts have held
that the denial or abridgment must be hy
state authority in order - conflict with
the amendment This l. NOS the case.
The laws Of the Southern states In regard
10 the right OK suffrage conform 90 tae re-
auirements Of the amendments 20 the
federal constitution. The state laws reooe-
nice the right 81 the eolored people 10 vote
And the state laws. no less thau the federal
constitution. are set az defiance In many
cases there Is no derivation % the right to
vote. but The swlndle Is psrpetuatea in the
counting. ana tie same thing IS done in
many Northern states. Il vas freely
charged that such was the practice rs
wholesale Ia Tie New y ogk aud New Jersey
elections last month.
Il is clear case that no eaectnal appsai
can he made 10 the fourteenth amendment
hccanse OF these practices Tor The reduction
q Southern representation. Bat congress
can sftectaaly respond 81 TIE presidents
suggestion 60 strengthen she federal cleo
tsou laws 50 shas the SPIRIT of the fourteenth
amendment aud she lcttes og the Southern
election lass NAV be enforced. and these Is
Eooa evidence that sgeA SUPERVISOR is
nee3esi not only ia tAe Soath. bas IN New
Yogk. New Jersey. Montana ana some
ether stssss. judged ~ their constitutions
ard he letter cf thcsr laws these states ars
al stshf, bat they have Ios & rasca.lv
ostissns waom they sesm unahte e. dead
xssh, sad they shoaia not complain K the
fe3tFai government tries lis band
Bat e tae feargeeeth saeu3ussnt eonf9ss
= snecessfully invoged Ter the reduction
ct TIE sestheFa electoral vets. Is eaala o.aly
he be 81 admission thas those states ka6
sncsseaed ia nsllltyine tAe federal coast
sQslea ard l$ws. ana ey = bsse snrssnae-
a tie electoral ? gAss e two u4Gllaa native
Asasviesn citizens We proudly pfualsiaa
our ability b maintain the r.g8ss Il ear
estlssns In Iosejeu lands. aat- g. ezTry ont
tie fAreea@6s#'s ii ca soul4 hs an a. s.aisssoa
either shAt sc eanaoR 81 usa res nresaes
cen natgllcas q ear reanse is tAe most
sacred q tassr rights e. Aame ara thsar na-
tive sol Il al nos SO - m4se "a issue
against the president, AMI wt8asa lha Ee-
pas3SAn party 81 sueh + proposition.