The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-04
RESTRICTION OF NEGRO SUFFRAGE

In another column this morning we
publish an exceedingly interesting COM
munication from prominent citizen of
Charlotte county on the subject of I'M
restricted negro suffrage in Virginia. The
writer graphically and wildly shows UP
the evils which this suffrage has worked
in Southside Virginia in general and in
his immediate locality in particular, and
portrays a condition Of affairs which is
most deplorable.
He says that unrestricted suffrage of
the negro has destroyed everything like
principle in politics in the locality of
which he writes, and reduced all party
contests to a question Of race. The
negroes hold the balance Of power, and
any party which desires to win, must
cater to their support, and, as the negro
has no idea Of principle this means that
corrupt influences have 10 be used TO the
degradation Of our politics, and the
threatening Of our very civilization. AS he
so well expresses it, these influences ZEN
tail decentralization on the whites, which
posons the very foundation of enlightened
seif-government, and makes every politi-
cal contest struggle between civilization
and barbarism."
What Is here depicted as the condition
Of affairs in Southside Virginia, is true
of every portion of the State where the
negroes are in large force. The negro
votes the Republican ticket generally
only because he has a vague idea that it
was the Republican party which gave
him freedom. He has no appreciation
or notion of political principles or issues,
and after nearly thirty years of emanci-
patton. during which time he has been
offered as good, and probably even bet
ter facilities for education than have his
white contemporaries, he seems 10 make
no progress worth the mentioning He,
therefore, soon begins to look upon his
right Of franchise as the means Of max
ing some money for himself. as he has
long despaired Of Republlcanizing the
South. and Of receiving pecuniary reward
from the Republican party, and, there
fore. in all close and important election
contests. ne is willing to put himself up
TO the highest bidder, and cast his vote
for the party which buys him.
SO long as this state Of things is allowed
TO continue so long must Virginia suffer
beyond conception. There can be mono
of these great battles for principles which
in the earlier days of the Commonwealth
mace her politicians and statesmen in
tellectual giants who lifted her into the
proud position she occupied In the family
OF States and made her the leader 10
which all her sister States looked for
guidance. What contrast TO those days
are the present. when instead OF states
men. heightened gentlemen and intel
lectual giants giving dignity TO the ballot
box, we see hordes of lazy, idle worth
less creatures hanging around the polls
from morning till night. doing no good
to themselves or the world, and polluting
our politics. Our correspondent has drawn
so faithful and life-like picture OF this
that We refrain from injuring 1t by less
skillful strokes OF the pencil.
Surely something can be done to check
this barbaric influence In our State.
Other States, suffering from the evil Of
which'we complain In greater degree than