The true Democrat., 1897-11-20
Correspondence.
Why The "Nis>issippi E'ian"
Snonid Not sc Adopted.
Editor Ir'!c i}c"'u"rat

! Eu!tnr tT'!e Nc::'u"rat !:
IL slavery 20 precedent, or tho disposi-
tion to copy, We tiitl q ;ct',rl'ng influence,
refining III All movements in the direction
OF noro perfect political or sevial institu-
tons. The disposition would be more
partonanlo if thee cs1tld DO cited moro
cases which happened to possess all Of the
conditions present in those which must
now be dealt with; and which, to our
certain knowledge, has been treated with
perfect wisdom Bat the ciescst and most
intelligent observers of human affairs
must realize that it seldom happens that
two cases are exactly alike ; that however
close IN analogy might exist among some
Of them it rarely happens that careful
investigation fx;ls to reveal certain con-
ditions in each one different from those
which affect all others h.x>wn. Thus iu
order to deal successfully with the grave
problems, especially those of political
character, VIII c1l confront each generation
of men, it is necessary that the mind bo
trained to rbservc in ovcry case all of the
conditions which happen to bsvo bearings
on tho particular question un4scr cousj,l-
erat"n, to- csti'n:sts' with a fairly close
approach to perfect accuracy TIE extent
of such bearings, and, finally, from cor
rect knowlc'' 20 Of the nature Of the prob
lem cvoAo the best method OF solution,
Now in the case Of the perpcxing suf-
fragc question we are eoll tlrrt we might
save ourselves all bother, all rerplcxiug
thought, by following - course already
marked out for us; that the .:':Mississippi
P!a'i' has been tyied and has produced the
effect desired; ergo by simply incorporat-
ing the suffrage clause Of the Mississippi
constitution into our own ss!,anic Iaw wo
can escape from orr present po]it cal ills,
and NOV" seroncly forward in tho dcyclop-
ment OF se.f:'l and political conditions far
superior to any known to us who have
come on 'the stage of action" since tho
reconstruction era. But aIl of us ,:e,,s6t
readily adopt this view, aaul to the minds
OF some, two very serious questions have
presented themselves viz: 1st. Was tho
adoption by tho white people of Nhssiss-
'pp' of tho present system anything but
4 choice between two Sfeas evils! 2nd.
Ei.,yc weany conditions to dealwitl which
lid not confront tho people of Mississippi
1t the tiplo of the adoption of the present
.onstitn: ION Vi hat state
The artici, of Tue constitution Of Mis-
ssippi, which deals with suffrage, no
'o"bt possesses some goo>'' features; bnt
hat the so-callcd understan>' ling clause
vas ever intended to be honestly ..'oplicd
would hardly be affirmed by its M, ,'st
ea'ons advocates. At any rate there is
70 doubt that the result of its practical
peration would l,avo been the substitu.
lou of unfair registrations for dishonest
Iections were it not for the fact that
1ter Its adoption, most Of tho class of
Oters intended to bo excluded by it's
rovls'ons realized that an attcmpt on
heir part to register would be utterly
title. 1t cannot bc denied That dnrinr i
10 time in which the plan has been on
''h flMlssissippi the epoli:ical asccndency
! 'he Caucasian race has been ettcctualIy I
in that state; but the methods
men were in vogue before it's adoption.
III which have been extensively nsel Ii
ouls'ana, werc also in the highest dc.
'ees successful. 4
III regard to possible difference lc
'ocn conditions which confront tn,
'ople of Louisiana and those which nv.
Ied IN the state Of Mississippi when it's :
eseht constitution was adopted. it can
observed that while vast muiorirv of
q white people ofMississippi have persjs.
''''y adhered to the Democratic party,
IS matter cf doubt about the Dcmo,
'tlc nominees for the several state of. =
~ Ill Louisiana receiving majority Of
votes cast by white men in tho state
'cton Of '96-it is conceded that if tbe,e p
Is such majority in their favor il was ="
'ery small one. And what were tho cir.
instances under which the election of A
was held' The lottery contest divided
people into opposing factions whose
lt"dc towards each otAcr was as hos.
as was over the Democrats towards l. /;
Republicans F.; and whose diff. IT.
ehces were not settled by the with
'w"' OF the lottery proposition, but had G:
DC fought out in the regular election
p'te the presence in the field of Repub.
ID ana Populist tickets. There is every
son to suppose that had the cxtraori. :,
y powers, which somo are in favor of =" ga
.oeStow'ng OH a comparatively fow u
sons, been then in the possession Of Dc
essors or examining boards, biased in
or OF either fuctinN 4bo,. ,,, lie