The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-06

and 10 the drenching OF the country with.
frasernal blood.
II there had been any doubt or hesita-
ton about the passage OF the bill and the
imperative duty to pass 1t, these express
sions should dispel them. 1t is not the
prerogative OF Governor Tillman or his
echoes TO test by their narrow gauge the
capacity of citizens to exercise intelligently
what Tillman admits to be "the highest
privilege and most sacred duty of every
citizen. II this right of one citizen or body
of citizens to pass upon the qualifications
of others were admitted, Mr.. Tiilman him.
self. and his followers, would fare but
poorly at the hands OF Hampton. Butler
and their associates of the late ruling oil
garchy in South Carolina. Among these
be would find startling unanimity on the
proposition that he and his Alliance fol-
lowing, with their sub-treasury schemes
and other crazes. have tackled subjects
that are quite beyond their capacity"
But il tie capacity to exercise constitu-
tional rights is to be made matter OF indi'
vidual judgment, Republican Senators
have an equal right with Democratic Gov
ernors or newspapers to apply tests in this
respect. In this connection and to this
end they might with profit make brief
study of South Carolina election returns.
In 1S63-ihe first election in which that
state participated since ''the late unpleas-
antness," the negroes voting-there were
cast for U. S. Grant 60, 30l, and for Horatio
Seymour As. 237-a total of 107. 538 votes;
Grants majority 1904. In 1872 - the
negroes voting Grant received ~, 29O,
Greeley 22,703, O'Conor 1877, total of g.
lsO; Grants majority 1900. In 1s76-the
negroes voting - Tilden received 90.906.
Hayes 81 $40. a total OF 1915. with ma
jority OF 964 for Hayes. In 1SS0-with
reduced total and the negro vote partially
suppressed-Garfield had 57.947. Hancock
1l2,036, Weaver SAT. a total of I70,63o and
majority of 53.542 for Hancock. In 1884,
the incapacity of the negroes having be-
come more apparent-Cleveand had 69.s90,
Blaine q. 1888 scattering 2,23s. total e3.s6i,
Cleveland's majority 1919. In 1888, with
the Tillman- Telegraph idea of negro ca
pacity fully recognized, Cleveland had 65,-
825, Harrison 13, 1856, q total of 79.94l, Cleve-
lands majority SO CSC.
1t may be presumptuous; it may be au-
dacious; it may be piece of unwarrant-
abe effrontery, but the Republican Sem
ators, who also, happily, are members of
the dominant race" may have an equal
right with Tilman and his echoes to pass
on the comparative capacity for an intelli-
gent exercise OF the franchise which these
figures reveal. With the negroes voting
there was majority for Grant over Sey-
mour. and for Grant over Greeley. while
with their incapacity suppressed there
were about five times as many votes for
Cleveland as for Harrison, and comparing
the totals OF rs and 'SS presents the shame.
full spectacle OF considerably more than
one-half the citizens of South Carolina fail
ing to exercise their "highest privilege" or
to perform their ''most sacred duty"
As to the impossibility of enforcing law
in plain accord with constitutional guaran.
tees; as to whether "means will be found to
make the law abortive," the country was
made painfully familiar with Just such re-
marks some thirty years ago, and those
who made the remarks became as pain
fully familiar with the power Of the gov
eminent to enforce its laws. 1t is to be
hoped that there will be ne occasion for
history to repeat itself in this last respect.