The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-19

Though the suffrage PLAN reported
TO the South Carolina constitutional con-
vention by its committee caused q good
deal of spirited debate, It has been adopted
without essential modification, and the
opposition on the final vote proved to bs
insignificant. There is no doubt that IL
will stand as part of the constitution when
that instrument is finally adopted as q
whole in the convention, and as the Mis-
sissippi plan of PRONUNCIATION without rati-
fcation by the people is likely TO be pur-'
sued 1t is safe to say that It is to be accept
ed ms the South Carolina solution of the
suffrage problem, with q view to main
tanning white supremacy" in state hav-
ing q majority OF colored citizens.
The suffrage article contains many do
tails ordinarily left to legislation, but the
important section IL that which deals with
the qualifications of electors. There must
be q registration of all voters, and after
Jan. /, 1898, there is TO be an alternative
educational and property qualification for
all not registered prior to that date. After
that date an applicant, "if otherwise quail.
flied" must bo able TO "read and write
any section of this constitution" or to
''show that he owns and has paid all taxes
AhiihS AhO DioNious stoI Oh
property in this state assessed at $500 or
more"
During the two years before 1893 there
is TO be "a general registration of voters
based nominally upon intelligence. Rec
ords OF this registration arc to be kept, and
the persons registered are 10 receive certifl-
Gates of the fact and TO ''rernnin through
life qualified electors unless disqualified
hr ~ hon D~nrf,tn,a 81 thta .utt.la - .,,ok
ms conviction for crime, etc. The test OF
intelligence Is to be ability to "read any
section I'm this constitution submitted to
them by the registration officer or under
stand and explain IL when read TO them
by tho registration officer"
IL will be seen that this suffrage plan
contains no discrimination on account of
trace, color or previous condition OF servi-
tude, " and its provisions are not open TO
criticism on the score of conflict with the
federal constitution unless that is true Of
all restrictive qualifications of the suffrage
impartially applied. If any question of
constitutionality is raised, il must grow
out Of the method of executing these pro-
visions rather than their mere existence in
tho organic law Of the state. 1t was said
in the debates in the convention and In
tbo tufItit ulStAlSSlOu III SUZUKI 1uTOllDh
that this plan of applying a test of intelli-
gence TO qualify electors before applying
the permanent qualification of education
or ownership OF taxabtc property IN %justfff-
able If 1t be applied with absolute justice
and jmpartiality.
That seems TO US to be quite true, but
the chance of its being applied with abso-
lutte justice and impartiality is exceed
ingly slim. AS tho avowed purpose is not
to suppress the illiterate vote or the igno-
rant vote, but the negro vote, and as it was
loudly proclaimed during the canvass for
the election OF delegates to the convention
that white supremacy was TO DO maintain
ed without DISTINGUISHING any white man
except for crime, IL is greatly to be feared
that boards of registration appointed by
the governor and representing only one
party will find q white mans explanation
of q selected section OF the constitution
more satisfactory han a black mans in
most, IL not in all, instances. Here Is
whore the unjust discrimination will come
In, If anywhere, and unfortunately suspi-
cion Of IL will not be due merely to the H.
ability of such q provision TO abuse, but
to tho avowed purposes Of those who doyis.
ed it.-New York Times.