Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-27
The Southern Question.

As we have said before the eyes of the
country are turned to Mississippi in her
effort through the constitutional conven-
ton DOW being held to solve the negro
problem. The extremists at the North
md revilers OF the South are watching the
outcome with eager interest. Their hope
that the hot-headed southerner may lead
him beyond bounds to incorporate &C
ton is mingled with fear lest the conven-
ton adopt measure which will forever
rob them of that political bugaboo the
suppression Of the colored vote," with
which they are wont to keep alive radical
hatred.
The Boston Herald. always conservative
Sn ITS utterances and remarkably fair to
the South. has capital article on the Mis-
sissippi Convention. 1t says;
Mississippi has not alone her own case
20 engage her attention. She is trying to
solve this race problem as far as 1t bears
upon government for tho whole South.
Her convention will make the effort 70
give the keynote TO all those other States
In which the color line appears. 1t is for
this reason that her action is watched with
30 much interest North and South. If she
can solve IL satisfactorily, il is to be ex.
pected that the other southern States will
follow her example. They ought to con-
tribute all wisdom possible In their advice.
II is not inappropriate that the North. also.
shall aid by its counsel. This Is subject
in which the whole nation is interested,
and il 10 quite possible for the Mississippi
Convention to prove the most important
event in our history since the original at
tempts at reconstruction after the war.
The politicians view Of the case as
presented on the one side is very simple.
There are plenty OF politicians to assert it,
some Of them from honest convictions.
Others because they see political control in
carrying IL out. This view Is that every
man IN the State ought to vote, and that
the more ignorant votes there are cast the
better. This is q plausible presentation,
except, perhaps. in Its latter assertion.
The misfortune about 1t Is that II has been
tried, and has brought the State to bank
ruptcy and TO the verge OF anarchy. 1t IL
simply impossible 10 carry u out. and To
keep the State q the same time = proper
Recognized a. fitting for the American 70
public to live In.
"Thers is another order Of politicians
who take the ground that tho govern
ment OF the State pust always exclude
black citizens from having any importan
control In IL. This strikes rs - fully o.
much . mistake ~ the other. Because
black citizens were not competspt 4
this work twenty years ago, II does moi
follow that they fail to DO 20 now
Black citizens are very important par,
OF the State Of Mississippl-s impor
tAnt thst they constitute . majority
OF its people. II viii never DO 20 ex
cludc them from 0 shAre In tho gov
eminent because they are black: The
convention viii not dare 70 do this d.
yectly, 20 obviously wrong Il II; but w
object - much 20 ~ doing Il indirectly
The american idss u that I'll people shall
participate in the governmcnt. a STATE
In which . majority Of the people are dis
lranohissd l. the worst Kind 81 anomaly
With ua II amounts 10 revolution which
ether States could hardly tolerate, even il
10 were adopted b. Mississippi Such 4
MOI that republican form Of government
euasspte>d b. the national Constitution.
Yet Mississippi may well say; 1t 10 mol
cafe for a. 10 admit this mas Of Ignorance
thst = embodied In the eolored people 70
iks exesclse Of To suffrage. ehe ought 70
keys. IA shs VIII have. much sympethy
q tn position. The Wsy opt OF the din.
FL 40 i Esc siss OF - isaassat