New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-04
THE NEGRO DISFRANCHISED.
PRACTICAL. MEANING OF SOUTH CARO-
LINAS NEW SUFFRAGE PLAN.

vENTIoN SETTLES THE POINT FOR WHICH
THE BODY WAS CALLED TOGETHER
TILI.MAN AND HIS WHITE ST.
PREMACY" IDEA IN FULL.
CONTROL
Columbia s c.. Nov The week just passed
has been the most eventful. so far the political
status Of the State Of South Carolina Is con-
cerned that the State has had since the stirring
days Of 1876 The Constitutional Convention
has had a great wrestle with the suffrage
problem. and has settled IL by putting the u'i-
derstandng" proviso In for two years anu
then leaving an educational and properly auai-
hcation Whether this settlement OF the dii-
nculty is going to stand the test of judiciai IN
quiry or not is still open question
/ The convention was called for the avowed pur-
pose of DISTINGUISHING as many negroes as pos
/ slble without DISTINGUISHING any white men, no"
it Will operate and be operated are also matters
/ for the future.
The convention has had lively time adopting
! the scheme Senator Tlllman made a vigorous
speech and strong speeches were delivered o!
! Whipper, Wigg and Miller in defence OF the"
race. Reconstruction period history was lu.N
reviewed and some light was thrown on H.
II was seen early in the proceedings that all
| amendments presented were TO be voted Gown
as they were. The fight for woman Suffrage
was merely an incident to the weeks dis
cussion. nothing more. CHANGING over the out
look now. it would appear that the convention
| ought TO complete it's labor in about three
weeks time.
Naturally considerable interest has been
manifested TO know how the negro delegates,
the leaders OF their race consider the suffrage
plan. as adopted. viewed with respect 10 the
future Ex-Congressman Miller who has 's-
ured in State politics for over twenty year,
was asked last night for his opinion ne sall.
In deciding what are 10 be the conditions IN req,
ton to elections south Carolina IN me .u, 80
* necessary to review first he sent electOn laws
with the niquitous system MAJ we nov n ne rs,is
wit. the eght-oox law ana the very M, ~
tlalon laW. by which fraud mas Deen MA etI3
ard the fraudulent manpuIator paceI aoS nsen,
bove and Irresponsible TO the ia" Inc presell,,
election machinery founded upon the preselin.
CONSTITUTION which guaranteed the suffrage TO al
male citizens. not disqualified by crime VINO were
Indsr the old law possible black OF 1900
has been reduced 10 about 300 1--we votes Wnat i
BY live votes 6so sse in ne b e0i s H "a g
I mean by tins that there are not over 5000 white
IN hss rs4gcrd the pe6cratic vote to $500
and the Republican vote to l9G0 what hope have
You for honest elections, under he PROVISION now
adopted that a shall be able to read and write
and be able 70 understand and explain any sect on
Of The Constitution read to him by man. perhaps.
" Sno Is interior the applicant in integence?
This is an xtraordinary case. a constitutional
provision requiring applicant TO vote TO explain a
constitutional provision. requirement that judges
10 exercise All of the battles of this country have
grown out OF the fact that school Of constitutional
stution TO mean thing and another school have
interpreted the same section TO mean another ana
entirely different thing. - g. -
Under this provision no sane man hopes pes 70 for AN an
the capacity to read and write and will see
readily that very voters who do not ACT ana
mink as the party in power wish them to will be
b 70 a. pet thair names upon the books OF regisra
| ton whether they are white or black IN snort me
Understanding clause Of the Constitution creates in
the person of registration officer an absolute mon
arch who might be called the emperor OF SUN ase III
| his county II may be argued that from this ae-
cision there is a speedy appeal provided, but II ma
been decided time and again that there s no appeal
from questions that grow out OF powers that are
absolutely discretionary Hence the appeal cam
relate to the discretionary claaSe, oyis,on An,
man who can read and write l. to be ACCORDED ne
prvege Of Tegsrac oa snI made aSt the Judge of
mans capacity TO read ana write, ana as 'Ie "a "
Ioes not state what how far the man snoulu Dc
able TO read write TO enabe nln 10 vote 'ei ~ ~
power to read and write Is TO ne JIdged Dy t''
Then again. the Constitution says that aftel
voter snail have registered before ne can Vote ~
lection cicers that he has paid all taxes ineludns
BON HIRE The election officer made the judge as
to the proof necessary to suhstant tns am o.
Maid All taxes due This is another Discretionary
power in the hands OF distinct ana separase LII
istration books shall be closed at least sixty aAy
previous to election against all voters VINO ma
their ma ior!tv after the books have been regular
g From the discussion on tl4-S SuD-oe. -
rho floor OF the Constitutional Convention IL j
made evident that the inquitous portion OF ne pres
emf registration law IS TO be retained. 10 VII. ina
portion which says that II man moves out OIL or I
house to another the same LOT or Plantation III
loses the right to vote. although he is registered
The suffrage pan just adopted IS the MlsslssIpp
plan with separate and distinct features Si opps
Sion and fraud added thereto. Under the Mlssls
sppi plan a white in that state OF more tndi
one hundred thousand has been reduced TO no NOR
than 5000 and negro. or Repnb.ican yo'e OF n mr.
than 10000 10 less than 5000. Under this neN con
stitution suffrage plan passed lest nlsnt. III.
l. | man who dreams Of fair and honest elections II
" South Carolina Is lit subject for pace IN 2, .
| lunatic asylum. and Il would be pity 10 turn MN
l. | loose on the community. We have spent all ou
| energies in the last nineteen years IN conceNhl
| pans under which fraudulent election methods car
be made safe and easy. The clause passed las
night makes absolutely certain the pacins m opeia
ton Of every form OF cheatery and fraud az nv
elections tina, has ever been conceived by the mos
fertile Imagination OF any man who has been en-
gagged in this class OF legislation during the las
& | thirteen years | hope, absolutely no nope
for us in South Carolina ever 70 have fair and non
= | est elections long the men In control se'
imaginary evils coming through the channels o
honest elections and fail 70 rise 10 the occasion AM
t. | make honest. simple election laws.