The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-15
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY is, 1890.
REVELATIONS OF THE CONTESTED
ELECTION CASES.

REVELATIONS Oh HE tV>s e-"@
ELECTION CASES.
Inare recent leading editorial the New
York Herald acknowledges that an e1-
animation Of the testimony in several
Of tho contested election cases from the
South bad raised the gravest doubt, 10
its opinion, as to the advisability OF
passIpe national election law. The
reasons which the Herald discovered IN
this testimony, which has led it to tins
very just conclusion, have long been
familiar to those who have some
knowledge Of our black population
from actual contact.
The most extreme Republicans have
always proceeded upon the principle
that every negro would, il permitted,
cast Republican vote. and that, there
fore. the number Of black Republicans
m the South was to be counted, not by
the showing Of the polling booths, but
by the numerical returns OF the census
The Herald dissents from this view on
the ground that a people 80 easily In
undated, as is revealed in the testi-
mony now before the House Election
Committee, do not deserve to enjoy the
right Of suffrage if they are unable to
defeM it themselves apart from foreign
assistance. "What can be done tor
men" it very pertinently asks, "whc'
being stout and able-bodied, free prop
erty owners. with a fair amount OF IN
telligence and with an enormous nu-
merical superiority, tamely allow them
selves to be run over by an Insignificant
white minority ?"
"As plain matter Of fact" 1t adds
"maiorities must protect themselves,
for the government cannot put corpo-
rails guard at every mans door. boci-
ey rests ultimately upon the general
belief among its members that II A hits
b. B will hit bach"
Il declares. what will hardly be de-
MED, that the Constitution OF the
United States was not passed to protect
majorities, it being the opinion Of man
kind in general, and a principle OF
every social system, that all msjoritiss
that are worthy Of consideration, will
not find much difficulty in making their
power felt, and il they are unable to do
SO, it is their manifest destiny to submit
10 the government OF a minority supe-
. .ior to it IN resolution and intelligence.
In Crittenden county, Arkansas,
there are 1900 negro voters, and yet
the testimony in the case Of Feather
stone versus Cate, contestants for q scat
in Congress. shows that the small army
of adult blacks are completely under
the control Of the 400 white voters OF
.ne came county.
Here is a county, remarks the
Herald. "in which the negroes are
as nearly eight to two whites; in which
they own real estate and teach school.
and have, therefore, both property and
intelligence. aud yet, a quarter OF q
century after emancipation, being in 30
great an ascendaucy numerically that
they could drive the whites out OF the
county, and at any rate very easily
make themselves respected, they testify
that they are beaten, shot, driven out
from their homes, their crops de-
s.roycd, their stock killed and even
houses torn down"
Is the remedy for this state Of things
to be found in National Election Laws!
The Herald very emphaticalty answers
No. and the word finds its echo in the
breast Of every Southerner. As long
as ignorance seeks, through the strong
arm of some alien power, to trsmple
intelligence under its insolent and bes-
tial feet, as long as all that is corrupt in
morals and groyeling in instincts
strives, through the assistance OF srbi-
trary IOiCts 10 koNtAh III oRAAe VI o"'
age triumph all that is virtuous in con-
due and elevated in sentiment, just so
long inc unfortunate condition Of affairs
described by the Herald, in the words
which We have quoted, will prevail
in arts Of the South. A hundred ma
tional laws may be passed, every South
ern voting precinct may be surrounded
by Gordon Of Federal soldiers, but a.
surelyss water will not run up hill, or
that stone thrown few feet into the
air will not continue 20 rise indefinitely
through space, the negro cannot be
placed permanently in dominion over
the white man. The DEGREES Of man
cannot reverse the laws Of nature, for
the laws Of nature are the laws OF Gsd.
Who is 80 bold as TO dispute His Omni-
potsncey
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