The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-29
nrrn ON NATIONAL ELECTION LAW.

In his speech On Saturday before the
American Republican Club OF PiitsDufg' /
Speaker Reed responded 10 the toast of the
Republican party, and in doing so dwelt at
some length on the necessity Of passing a |
national election law. "Let us cut loose
he said. "from the state elections, do our
own REGISTRATION. our own counting. and |
o,,r own ccrtifcation. Then the nation will /
he satisfied. Against this course no con-
stituiional objection can be urged. 10 VIII
nut an end TO all chickering's. The southern |
states will then by themselves grapple win |
the problem Of whether any state Of Re
public can permanently onthrone injustice.
Freed from all right Of interference except
moral and advisory. from the North, within
their own borders. and within the limits oil
their own state rights, they will have what
they have loneed for, the power 10
work out their own peculiar problems
themselves; and l venture the prophecy as
sincerely entertain the hope, that the relief
from outside pressure will break down the
race issue. and as the Southern pcopledNide,
not on the color issue. but on the questions
which make up sound politics and goo"
government then, as the Constitution OF
the United states and the principles OF our
American system always intended, the No-
ter. whether white or black, will contribute
his share TO the government of all, and the
homes which were at the foundation Of all
our great sacrifices will be finally and COM
pletely fulfilled"
In this remarkable expression Of opinion
on the part Of the speakerit is somewhat
difficult TO discover precisely what meaning
ne intended to convey by saying that as
soon as State and National elections were
placed under the control Of separate ma-
chinerv, the Southern States will have the
power to work out their own peculiar prop
lens themselves. The only peculiar prob
LEM confronting the Southern people IS the
Nero problem. Is il at all likely that this
problem, the most difficult and complicated
ever presented to any people for solution
will be rendered easier by federal superyi-
sion of the voting in National elections!
1t is well known to every Southern man,
who has the slightest appreciation Of the
political circumstances surrounding him.
that the only effect of such supervision VIII
be TO arouse the most violent race preiudices
and antagonisms. which will only intensity
the difficulties attending the presence OF
whites and blacks i'm the Southern commit
mites. Apart from the centralizing ienden-
cics OF a national election law, there would
1 De no ground for serious objection to such a
law. even in the South, if the negro race did
not constitute so large and important pro
portion of its communities. IL is the negro
race that gives the law its sinister charac-
ter. so far as the South is concerned. and ia
say that its passage will leave the South 70
work out the negro problem for ITSELF Is t'
inter what is directly contrary TO the true
state of the case. The passage Of the la"
will create confusion, encourage violence
naame sectional hatreds, and emblttcr rae,
nreiudices. The result of all this viii Ger
tainly not be-, as Speaker Reed declares. Il
break down the race issue in the Southern
states: it will rather De TO extend and
strengthen it.