Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-09
MORAL SENSE In MISSISSIPPI.
1t Required the Drawing of Color
Line at the Polls Without
Bloodshed.
The Constitutional Convention Adopts
a Novel But Outrageous Plan
of Suffrage.
Negroes MIST Be Able to Read the
Constitution and to Do Much
More.

He said the simple purpose OF the conVen-
ton, and he did not propose to disguise
the fact, was to devise a scheme whereby
a minority of the people in the state
could dOmonate the majority-to nu'lify it,
in fact
Now, then" he said, why not do
it boldly and above board That was
what the people had sent the delegates
here for"
''He would not countenance any shams
for there was no use IN trying to fool any
body. He proposed to declare the truth
the real purpose-if it bursted the bottom
out of the Universe. If it was not the pur-
pose to out the minority over the majority,
then he could not conceive for what the
convention was in session. Some diplo-
matte gentlemen say:
. oh. no; don't talk about the negro
that won't do.
He did not fear the negro and, next to
his cwn people, preferred him to any other
race on earth. and he undertook to say
that the negro was better fitted to take up
the civilization and government of this
people than any of the other FIVE races
known to exist But the fat had gone
forth, and he meant to maintain 1.-THE
white people shall rule Mississippi He
did not propose to rule the state by intimi-
dation He proposed to rule on the basis
of intelligence. He referred to possible
divisions among the white people, and de-
,clared that he had rather be ruled absolute
ly by the blacks than 10y a combination of
minority of whites with the blacks.
He declared that there had been but
two plans submitted that would make
white supremacy absolutely certain for all
time, and that was by plural voting as
provided for in the Campbell plan or the
electoral college scheme, the product of
himself and several other gentlemen.
After paying a decided compliment to
the eminent ability of Judge Campbel
the speaker proceeded to discuss tie
scheme submitted by himself He said
that if there was to be gerrymander,
then his scheme was the most effective
that had yet been presented. He discussed
it in detail as to state and county officers
sauvey answering questions propOunded
to him by members, and held the floor for
two hours, being listened to with marked
attention throughout.
The provision is to disfranchise th8m
on account of their ignorance, bat the
truth is that they persist in voting the re
publican ticket. Take the municipal eiec-
ton that took place in Jackson, the e&pi-
tai OF the state, last year, where negroes
were kept from the polls by the Winohes-
ter rife clubs from the adjoining counties;
the Swamp Angels, of which company
Senator Georges son was q lieutenant,
were there. The scene changes. A few
weeks ago q proposition was submitted to
the qualified voters to vote SIS 900 to build
a railroad from Mobile, Ala, by way of
Jackson, Miss. 1t was necessary to have
two. thirds of ,the registered voters vote
for the issuance of the bonds The negroes
were entreated and persuaded to vote.
The morning after the election the Gem
monwealth, leading democratic paper,
proclaimed 1.-THE coored troops fought
nobiy." The buldozing democrats want
to perpetuate themselves in power by a
new constitution DISTINGUISHING republi-
cans.
Calhopn declares the object and means
used. George who is author of the shot-
gun policy inaugurated in 1876, and ley
which he has profted, holding Office CON
tinualy under this, says there has been no
wrong. This Office holders convention re
ceived only about NC, 600 votes out Of i >
$50, 600. One county voted four votes, an
other sixteen. They have worked this
negr0-supremaCy soarecrow for al 1t Is
worth to influence northern sentiment.
Why don't these republicans rise mp and
assert themselves? Because they can t,
without being massa0red. Tho democrats
have the telegraphs, railroads, the militia,
the money on their side. Do these white
democrats want to get rid of the negro
If so, they could without an illegal act, by
Z refusing to hire or share rent with him.
They wOuld have to leave. The enabling
act 10y which Mississippi was received
back in the union was that the right OF
suffrage and the public-school clauses tfsen
in her constitution should never he
changed. The Judiciary committee of the
x convention declares now. after enjoying
the emouments CT office under the act fog
twenty years. it IS null and void If this ID
so, where is MissisSippi-ia or out of the
union, With this,condition of affairs. Ii
there a republican government in Missis-
sippi. as the United States government
guarantees?
The object for which the convention
met has been attained, so far a2S any con-
veRtion could reach the matter IL. hand
The task set 1t was to devise some way to
disfianchi>e the negro, or at least enough
of tEem to render wbite rule possible
without resort to the shotgun OF false
counting. The moral sense of the eOEun-
ity had SO far aroused itself as to demand
the race line at the polls without blood
shed or fraud. A color Of 9w was sought
for substantial violation OF both the con.
stitution of the United States and the act
by which the state was readmitted intC
the union. After a great deal Of brain
cudgeling plan has been devised which
meets with the favor OF the cOnven.
ton. and MAY be set down as tie latest
thing IN suffrage.
Thh distinctive and original idea is to
require the voters to not only read the con-
stitution of The state but lie able 20 under
stand the same when read to him: or give
a reasonable Interpretation thereof" This
exegetical test is a novelty The patent
office could hardly refuse to vest in the in
ventor of proprietary interest amount
ing to a monopoly. 1t might or might
not be difficult to determine the particular
, member of the convention entitled to the
patents, but certainly it could be caveat-
ed as the Mississippi novelty.
} The first part of the suffrage amendment
I is somewhat remarkable for the exception
al prominence given to wife-beaters anC
ax-dodeers. The first of these two feat
ures must be set down TO the gallantry
and not the color prejudice of the conven
ton. The lause gives the franchise tt
every mails inhabitant of the state o
the age OF q years who is not insane,
convicted criminal, an idiot, tax-de
faulter, or a wife-beater. CHASING tax
defaulters and wife-beaters with convictet
criminals, idiots, and paupers is to be com