The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-08
A WORD MORE ON MIsSIssIPPI,s
ELECTIONS

We print elsewhere this morning a very
intelligent discussion by the Springfield
republican OF the movement in the South
ern States for fair elections. We are COM
PEELED TO admit that the Republicans estt-
mate of the case is about correct. The
most ardent reformers in the South nave
no expectation that any part of the South
will fall under negro domination. This
may sound "a little inconsistent, and pos
sibly ii is so. Nevertheless The Times
and those who think with it are deter
mined that our elections shall be honest,
but we do not contemplate having negro
rule. either. The Times is satisfied that
il we treat the negro with perfect fair
ness and justice and are kind to him we
run no further risk now of anything Ike
concerted action amongst them to assume
political control.
Mr.. Bankhead. of Alabama who repre-
sents Democratic district in Congress,
i'm speaking of election methods ana the
need of reform in that State, recently
told a correspondent of the Baltimore
sun:
There will also be other legislation in
tended to bring the system as near per-
lection as possible and which will / be-
lievc. give thorough satisfaction because
il viii provide for absolute fairness.
There Is not the slightest danger OF negro
domination in Alabama, and 1T has. there
frore. ceased to be considered in connec-
ton with election methods. The negroes
are like other laboring classes. They are
influenced to a large extent by their en-
ployers, and vote for their own interests
in both State and national elections with
out much regard for party.
We agree with Mr.. Bankhead. and IN
sist. at any rate, that a trial OF this
shall be made. and no resort had to any
thing that might be thought questionable
in its character.
We stated on Sunday that we had read
in a newspaper that there were 20 90
voters in Mississippi, but that the device
for requiring all applicants for registra-
ton to prove tfat they could read and
understand the Constitution OF the State
had so discouraged them that only $1,000
votes were cast in the State i'm the re-
cent tlectloh'- once tnen we nave gotten
a detailed statement Of the election re-
turns there since, 1872. The largest vote
east in that time was In 1876. for Presi-
dent. and it amounted, Republican ana
there are that many voters in the state
In the election last November for Con-
gressmen there were cast only 3e,S4S for
Democrats. Republicans. Prohibitionists
and Populists. In the Third congressional
district. that represented by Mr.. Catch
ings. there were cast 1864 votes in the
election Of 1855. In the election of last
November there were cast in this district
only 1852 votes, Of which Catchings re-
ceived LOO. But in the election of 1883
MIR. Catchings received S2j2 votes in the
same counties. which shows that since
then 6652 white men In that district
either refused TO vote or were disfran-
chised, leaving entire control of the dis
trict 10 l,6OG white men.
This is not a satisfactory result OF the
election reform there. Mississippi's de-
vice for tricking the negro has prac-
ticaily ended popular elections in that
state. The people no longer take any in
terest In them. and control Of them has
fallen into the hands OF the few local pol
iticians who hang around the court
houses watching to pick up some crumo
of public patronage. And this Is the state
to which the advocates of constitutional
convention would bring Virginia! We pro-
tast against IL.