San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-12
THE NEGRO IN POLITICS.

solution of the question:" is the title
of a lengthy circular which reaches
the LIGHT from Waco, bearing the
signature of G. J. G. Puckette, and to
which the attention of this journal is
editorially invited. 1t is not possible
to reply in full to 50 lengthy a COM
munication in the space of an edito-
rial, and the merest outlines must
suffice. The solution" proposed, as
its preliminary, requires the undoing
of all that has been done in the way
of endowing the colored citizen with
political privilege, inasmuch as at the
outset it places the negro in a
political probationary condition out
of which he may be raised to full citi-
zenship. This plan is elaborated in
detail without any consideration of
the fundamental difficulty arising in
the present political status of the col
ored citizen. The LIGHT inquiries of
Mr.. Puckette what right there exists
under the constitution for the dis
reimbursement of any class, and how
can any disabilities lie against the
colored voter which do not lie against
any other voters? Make all the edu-
catiOnal or other electoral gualifica-
tons you choose and you cannot
make one qualification for colored
man, and another for a white. All
are equal under the constitution, and
made so by guarantees that cannot be
rendered non-operative to satisfy the
conditions of any mans solution"
This objection is so fatal to the whole
scheme, that the review might well
end here, hut there are other matters
to be considered.
The writer lays down two PROPOSE
tions, which he calls cardinal points.
1st. The absolute ascendency of
the white race in local, state and ma
tional politics.
End. A fair and equitab BILE minority
in government of the
black race.
AS to the first-the question OF race
is eliminated from national politics
by virtue of the amendments to the
constituti ton, and it is not in the pow
er of the government to change that
status of the colored voter which he
now enjoys without prejudice, outside
of and free from all considerations of
color or previous conditions of servi-
tude. The ascendency of the white
race, for which Mr.. Puckette con-
tends, must exist in the inherent
strength of the white element, and |
not in any disabling legislation. 1t !
is very poor argument in favor of
inherent supremacy and absolute as
tendency that such ascendency is
only reached and maintained by dis
qualifying the weaker party from
having all equal chance with the
stronger.
AS the minority representation ad-
vocated by the "solutionist," that it
is very plain and easy to understand.
He refers to the good old days when
the southern people were allowed a
representation in congress and cleo
toral college in excess of their numeri-
cal strength, to the extent OF three
hfths of the slave population. APP
plying that principle to the present
condition Mr.. Puckette would dis
franchise the negro voter, give him
three-fifths of his representation and
turn the other two-fifths over to the
whites of the southern states, restor-
ing to them two-fifths of three-fifths
negro representation which they lost
with the ordinance of secession.
That is to say, he would solve the
question of the negro vote in Southern
politics, by giving the white demo-
Gratis who maintain a solid South full
control of all the white vote and two
fifths of the colored vote, and then
with this seven-fifths against the col
ored mans three-fifths expect him to
hold his own in the struggle for politi-
cal existence and rise out of his "prob-
ationary" condition into such i'm
proved political conditions as will en-
title him to full citizenship. This is
solution vengeance. AS solution
of the question, how the solid demo-
cratic South may perpetuate ITSELF