The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-16
4 NEW SYSTEM IN MISSISSIPPI.
The New Constitution. Providing Against
lniternte Voters. has shut Ont the Ne.
Eroc., Only s.olS Having Rex,~tered In
the Eutire Stnte-rhis Years Fun Vote.

tile Entire Stntc-Thla Years Full Vote.
NEW ORLEANS. AaS. 1j.-The new reyistra.
tiun Of Mississippi. upon which il will vote at
the coming election. shows that tho negro has
been substantially eliminated from the politics
OF the State. The negro vote has been cut
down by the new constitution from 40 to
S.tlo. and now it cannot o,ett more than u few
constables in tho entire State. The colorcd
registration continues to decline at every cleo
ton. Attic Congressional elections two years
ago there was q colored majority in ore county.
Bolivar. That is now gone. and Bolivar Is now
white. like tho Others. The negroes cannot
elect q single member Of tho Legislature. or o
sirgle officer OF amy kind except Justice OF the
Peace or Constable. The negro vote for Con-
greSs will be less than 1000 in each district
except in tho shoest:ins district. composed OF
tho negro counties along the Mississippi.
where the registration amounts to 1890 and
tho vote may be 1.2oO.
In Lowndes county one negro in each 80 OF
the male negroes over 81 years of age is reg
istereL: in YaZoo. which, OF old gavea Hepub.
lican vote far up in the thousands. there are
only nine colOrea voters registered. o: one to
each 600 possible voters. while in NoXubee.
which beats the record. there a:c four co!ored
voters registered. or one to each 1,3+O negro
men. There are more negroes IN Noyubee
than these four entitled to the ballot: but they
have lost interest in elections OF late. and IL
large number OF them have refused to avail
themselves OF the privilege OF tho ballot Of
fered them and have failed TO register.
The reduction ia tho negro registration and
vote OF Mississippi has been brought nbou. BY
this adoption of tho new Constitution. which
greatly alters tho electoral franchise in Mis-
s!ssipri. BY limiting the franchise to those
who can rend and write. 10000 negroes. or
four-ffths OF the co!ored vote. we-c disrran-
chised. The provision whici rec uires the pro-
payment OF tho poll tax has had an mother de-
torrent effect.
The illiteracy provision cuts Off 10000 white
voters also. and as that Was though. to be n
hardship. the famous Understanding
| clause WAS inserted. by which any llliterate
voter can obtain his ballot by proving that lie
understands the Constitution. A section OF
that organicla law is read to him by tho registrar.
and II he can properly explain It no Is entitled
to vote. This provision will continue oniyto
1898 The ignorant voters have six years In
which to learn to read and write. II they do
not learn in that time they are permanently
disfranchised.
OFT the 100000 i%lliterate white and colored
voters. only 2.122 have awaited themselves OF
1.-THE I'm Outstanding ~clausc.' or. rather. only
2.122 have passed n successful examination Of
their knowledge Of tho Constitution. or these.
1887 are white and Loss colored. showing
that no discrimination is allowed Ion account
OF race or color"
Besides these colored voters who get the
franchise under tho understanding clause"
only 1880 were registered as able to read and
write and having paid their taxes. making a
total Of S.Gl5 colored against 1927 white
voters. or a grand total OF G.742. 1t will he
noticed that the new Constitution has materi-
ally cut down the white vote also. perhaps
49,. H.. 49, - a a.. -.r Ao ~, AL-A
ofthe negroes.
At tho ordinary rate OF voting in Mississippi.
that State will cast between 10000 and 5o.-
600 votes for President and Congress this fall.
with q Democratic majority OF between 49,
900 and Al. 200.