The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-05
NEGRO LEGISLATORS DISAPPEAR.

NEGRO L~FCI~LAIOES DfoHf
II the Legislature TO convene this winter
were remarkable for nothing else. II ~oaiu
be entitled to special comment because IL WIN
De the first Legislature 10 assemble since 'n0
inauguration of the reconstruction measures
which will include no negro IN its memoe'-
ship either in the Senate or in the House
Nearly a quarter of . century has elapsed
since the right OF popular suffrage was con-
ferred upon individuals of the negro race IN
this State, aud from the hour that was MADE
forever memorable in TIE history OF the Com
mon wealth by Their first exercise Of the priv
ilege of casting @ ballot down to the election
Of Tuesday. the number of colorei represen-
tatives has steadily diminished until now the
whole body Of the Virginia Legislature IS
white. and from all indil atoms az present
will remain 80 for a practically indefinite
time.
II is possible to draw several conclusions
from the disappearance Of the negro represen.
tatiye from our legislative halls. some OF
which are favorable aud some unfavorable TO
the negro race.
That disappearance is due primarily. we be-
lieve. to the fact that tue negro has grown
more OF less Indifferent to politics now that
he is entirely relieved OF ali apprehension Of
the effect upon bis own welfare Of q Demo-
cratic triumph. The Democracy. which is
the white people OF Virginia. has won for
many years victory after victory. and no
effort has been made to curiail the rights and
privileges of the negro race under the
and the Constitution. On the contrary. the
colored people have always been treated with
substantial justice. both in public and private
life. and this fact they have learned to recog-
nize more aud more clearly every year.
Let all outside pressure upon them.
such for instance as that which Malone has
employed IN the past. be entirely removed,
aud they would exhibit still less disposition
TO take any part in political life. This has
for many years been the case in Georgia, in
which State the Democratic party has had no
opposition. There is no negro in the Legisla-
ture Of that Commonwealth. and there has
not been since the last defeat on ! tate issues
Of the Republican party. The history of
Georgia in this respect would he repeated for
az indefinite time in Virginia if the negroes
were lett to follow their own inclinations free
from all interference by designing Republi-
can politicians.
There can be no doubt whatever that the
withdrawal Of the colored people from poll
tics would do much to promote their material
welfare in this State, If for no other reason
because it would foster a kinder and more
helpful spirit in the whites in their general
relations with the blacks. Nowhere have the
latter prospered as they have done in Georgia,
and this has been due entirely to the fact that
they have been content to devote themselves
exclusively 10 their private business. leaving
the administration Of public affairs to the
whites. They would have the same fine re-
cord 10 show in Virginia to-day if they had in
the past followed the SANE sensible course.
The elimination of the negro legislator not
only In this State. but in every State Of the
South-there are probably not half a dozen
negroes in the Southern Legislatures at this
time is a somewhat curious reflection upon
the intellectual development of the negro
race under the influences OF freedom. For a
full generation now the members Of that race
have enjoyed all the advantages Of the public
school system, and yet if the retrogression
shown in this matter Of the Legislature is con-
sidered, the public school system has done
little 10 elevate the aspirations and ambitions
of the race in a direction in which the best
talent Of the whites has always been displayed
If there had been any real ability in the
negro race Of Virginia it would have come
out in our State assemblies. In these assem-
blies their representatives have steadily fallen
of in number until now not one remains.
Those who have held seats in the Legisla-
ture have beer simply dummies, and now the
dummies have disappea ed. having made no
beneficial impression whatever upon the past
legislation OF the State.