The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-31
Mjssissippi's Purpose.

1t is the purpose Of Mississippi to protect
herself against black rule. Her constItu-
tional convention, now in session, is trying
to find out the best method to accomplish
that object She does not attempt to con-
caal her purpose. Frankly and openly she
says that black rule is what she will not
have if she possibly can help 1t, te-
cause il would turn her fair and pro-
ductive fields into wilderness, drive away
her white population and destroy the evil
dences of her civiliz ition. Her black popu-
lation, which is much larger than her white
population, is denssly ignorant and easily
led by demogogues. If there were no re-
striction upon the suffrage the blacks could
easily gain control of the sta and put into
power whoever they pleased. They are not
capable of Judging between honest, capable
men and demagOgues and the latter, by APP
pealing to race prejudice. could get INTO
power without much difficulty. To bind
the blac6s to their interests they would
have to provide for the black leaders,
and the consequence would be that the
state would be robbed, improvements would
be neglected and taxation would amount to
confiscation. 1t is from such a condition Of
affairs as this that Mississippi is trying to
save herself.
1t is interesting to note how her efforts in
behalf of self preservation are regarded by
the organs OF the Republican party. The
New York Tribune for instance, says that
the phrase. 1.-The Mississippi PLAN has
long figured in American politics"
After giving what it alleges to
be a fair explanation of that plan
it says; The Mississippi bourbons are
at present aiming at present to super
sede 1t with a pan which is peaceful,
but which, like the old one, has for
is object to suppress the colored vote.
The constitutional convention which is now
in session in that state is interesting to the
general public chiefly for the studied at
tempt which is being made by the demo-
Gratis who control it to solve the problem of
suffrage under legal forms in such a manner
that the votes of the negroes shall be so
handicapped that the whites shall continue
to be the ruling class in public affairs"
The Tribune apparently desires its readers
to understand that Mississippi is trying to
conceal her purpose with respect to the
blacks. She is attempting to do nothing of
the kind. She says to the whole world that
she cannot afford to permit the blacks. in
their present moral, intellectual ana ma
terial condition, to have the controlling
voice in her public affairs, and there is not
a fair minded man in the whole length and
breadth of the land who does not know that
she is right.
What course would the Tribune advise
if, 10 the city of New York, the majority of
the voters were ignorant Italians and Hun
garians. wholly under the influence of few
demagogues and anarchists bent upon rob-
bling the people by getting control of the
city government Would it not favor such
restriction of suffrage as would save the
city from their ruler And would it feel
kindly toward those outsiders who should
condemn all efforts to prevent those who
would bring ruin upon the city from get
ting into high places9
Perhaps the Tribune does not think Mis-
sssippi is in any danger from her black
population. That is because it knows moth
ing about the white and black demagogues
who lead the black masses. When Nichols
and Packard were struggling for the gov
ernorship OF Louisiana in 1876, each having
what pretended to be the legal legislature
the black senator's of the republican leg sla-
ture called upon Packard in a body and
told him that if he did not agree TO let them
run the offices in their respective parishes
to suit themselves they would go to the
Nichols legislature, and thus remove
all doubt about that legislature being the
legal one That is only one instance of what
might be expected from black leaders who
should succeed in getting into places of
power. They will be different when there
is public sentiment among their people
that is strong enough to compel them to
do what is right.
Unfortunately the Tribune and other re-
publican organs discuss such questions as
that before the Mississippi constitutional
convention from the standpoint Of party,
instead of from that of common-sense. They
would willingly see Mississippi ruined if her
ruin would be of the slightest benefit to the
Republican party.