The Brookhaven leader., 1890-05-22

This table is worthy of the most
careful study. At the outset it will
be observed that the total relative
number of voters stands thus;
Whites .5O57
Coored 1893.
COlored majority .......................3,s 1886.
Eliminating all the names of per-
sons who have died or removed, would
leave practically the same relative
majority for the negroes. Some con-
ception can be thus gained of the diff
majority. 1t is not proposed to elab-
crate this idea, which is only thrown
out for reflection.
This table shows that the illiter!tcy
of the white voters is only five per
cent, while that of the colored voters
is seventy eight per cent. In word,
where five white votes would be cut
off for illiteracy, seventy-e eight color
ed voters would be eliminated by the
same test. AS result, this would
follow: There would be, total white
votes, 1901; total cOlored votes; 1906;
total number of electors 6,707, and in
an electoral body thus constituted, a
white majority of 1896.
Mark the contrast to the present
status. Negro vote, 1898; white vote,
5,057; negro majority, 1886. Again,
while the total white vote would lose
for illiteracy only 256, the negro vote
would lose 6,9S7.
Suppose for a moment that the
whites had fair, honest, legal major
ity of twenty eight hundred in Kinds
county, with an educated body of col
Ored electors numbering nineteen
hundred, what difficulties in respect to
good government, or the legitimate
maintenance Ofwhite supremacy, could
present themselves Standing in these
proportions, the white vote could lose
nearly one-third of its total strength
by assertions to the black side, with
out loss of power. Under the present
state of affairs can the whites perpetu-
ally retain their absolute and unbrok-
EN- soldity? These things are to be con-
sidered calmly, dispassionately and
intelligently.
The situation can be fairly stated,
thus: In the presence of an enormous
black majority, the cause of good gov
eminent, proper administration of
public affairs, the value of property,
all stand in perpetual jeopardy. At
every election, these things upon
which we place Il great value, and
which constitute IN our estimation
what we term "the common good"
''the safety of society,"" "the preser-
walton of our civilization" are all
put at stake. This danger and this
hazard may be correctly estimated by
observing the extent and character
of the methods employed to avert
them, the constant appeals of the lea
ders to the white masses to preserve
their solidity, to put aside all differ
ences and issues in the presence of
one all-dOminating common danger of
black majorities. The intensity of
these appeals indicate their necessity,
illustrate the difficulty of preserving
this solid white front. The question in
evitably presents itself, is the present
status quo permanent condition.
The unanimous verdict of the intelli-
gence of the state is in the negative.
If this is true, then does it not fol-
low inevitably that some legal remedy
is Indispensable?
In 1870, the total number of whites
in the state was 1884 $40; colored total
Az, POI, giving the whole population
1923, $50. The colored majority was
then 59,652.
In 1880, the whites numbered 49,
1913, the cOlOred $50, 291, with total
population of 1,130,689, and the ne
gro majority had increased to 17O,-
1893.
The white increase for the ten
years, was "a per cent, while the ne
gro increase was 46 per cent. If this
ratio of increase has been preserved,
for the decade since 1880, then the to-
tai colOred population is now 949, 424,
and the white population is 594, 452.
And the estimated cOlored vote is
1S9, 9O4, against q white vote of 49,
800, with negro voting majority of
1,O14.
The illiteracy tables of the census
of 1880, show that white llliterates
over twenty lone years of age, amount
to IL per cent, and the cOlOred Hitter
acy of the same class, rs per cent.
The vote on that basis in The state
would stand thus;
Total white vote; 105,S13
Total cOlored vote, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. A, 57S.
White majority ................ 81, 235.
This estimate of illiteracy is ap-
proximate as it stands at present, but
it can not contain more than a small
margin of inaccuracy.
White illiteracy has unquestiOnably
decreased, and the negro illiteracy
has probably diminished, but not be-
low 10 per cent, and this taken as a
basis would give a majority of $4,000.
Negro illiteracy by no possibility
can have fallen to 60 per cent, but
taken on the basis of 60 per centum,
and placing white illiteracy at 10 per
centmm, the white voting majority
would then be 32,252 for the entire
state, in an electoral body of 1872 $40,
which would be large majority.
1t is safe to place the white and
black illiteracy at 10, and 20 per cent,
respectively, which would give a vo-
ting majority to the whites of 5O,334,
in a total electorate of 1853, 66S.
In the various criticisms and papers
published in respect to the suffrage
in connection with the convention,