Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1895-01-05
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
ARGUED

II
The Petersburg, Va, INDEx-AP-
PEAL says admirable things some
times, and seems to be actuated by
principles of right. equity and jus
tice. In It's Issue of the 9th ult, it |
says
ssThe Baltimore Sun oilast Tuesday
printed a lengthy article, sent from this
city on the subject of ballot reform in
Virginia, in which it is assumed that the
proposed constitutional convention in
this state will consider the feasibility of
an educational test for voting as a
means OF ballot reform in Virginia and
| for the preservation of certain sections
of the state from Negro domination.
/ The Sun" editorially approves the sug-
gestion as possibly the rest thing that
could be done under the circumstances.
Just why so radical and sweeping a
measure of political disqualification
Ishould be enacted at this time Is not
clear to the understanding of per-
sons who consider such matters from
lother viewpoints than that of party ex
pediency. The application of such a test
a quarter a century ago or more, when
the Negro was first admitted to citizen
ship, would have been proper enough,
but the average Negro is not now what
he was twenty-five years ago. 1t is not
, true that he is STEPPED in barbarism and
ignorance, but, on the contrary, he has
made wonderful progress in learning
and in the accumulation of wealth, and
Iif the democratic party were wiss
] enough TO give him the proper encour
: agement, he would speedily solve the so
called Negro problem by dividing hil
vote between the two parties of tn,
country"
The above is unquestionably true
: and so is what follows. Here 1t Is
Unfortunately, the democratic party
to an OVERLOOKING extent in the south,
= a ring-governed party, and the very hi
OF the ring depends on keeping the Negr
= in opposition and then bowling aboU
l. safety of our civilization"
If Thank Con there is at least OF
white citizen In the South who vote
the Democratic ticket and sees thi
" And again
NEGRO domination at the ball,
~ box does not mean the elevation
ne power of illiterate men, for in Il
nature of things it is one of the ina
liable conditions that the ofilce-hold
must be able to read and write. In da,
O. OF carpet bagism, when the Negro hi
absolute control at the ballot-box, viii
men were put in all places of hone
On emolument and responsibility, and o
ar civilization persisted not. The same W
true under the Malone regime.
The above has been our conte
tion right along. He speaks tru
when he says
a. "But the condition operates not q
o" against the Negro, bat also against |
rs. unlettered white man who has never
no. the degrading influence of slavery. a
who never had the advantage of
'no schools in the days of his youth q
IN. poverty. There are thousands of 81
m men in this state-upright men, &c
- citizens, and many of them considsra
la5 tax payers. These men may be requi
to take up arms, and to fight and die
defense of the government. They are
nd so assessed and taxed for the support
-, the government. Is there no recipro
nis obligation on the part of the COVE
TO- ment further than to govern these I
!, % and to tax them ? sit right that
lers ment, be taxed in support of the gov,
us- tment, and yet have no voice in the {
+, troll of that government ?"
not The questions propounded art
de- the point and admit OF no evasi
But how well this editor returns
hat the charge:
hat :,
''The correspondent of the ''Sun" {
re that this argument sounds demagC
GUS If this is demagogic, then Mr.. Jeffel
and all of his compeeTs who sis
the declaration of independence
and who aided in the establishment of
ant great republic, were demagogues. Z
great chart of liberty-the declara
iAlle Of independence--wh forms the CO
+one of this government Of ours. la
d, =. as a cardinal principle that
ernraen. DER ve. their just powers
UTN- the cOnsel. e governed. That
Ell sent can be uately and justly
ttor pressed only L. Oailot-0ox
Uion was one of the on which
this colonies justified IL 81
) all that the king OF 6rt
posed taxes on them
nich sent; and the same argu lad
hich used by Bacon, in Virgin hun
~ years before to prove the stice
opposition to the exercise arbi1
ie. power. The iDIputation of demago
rood cannot stand in the light OF such
- precedents as these, and the attem
SUI deny suffrage to men, who have no
nent Feited that right by crime, merel
ming cause they have not spch sma u
nlcn and write after q fashion, is nothing
t he than usurpetion and exercise of art
10 of ~ power. The right of the govern
a voice in the government, throug