The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-12-18
The Suffrage Problem.

IL cannot be denied tllat the NcCnllal
conditions with which we have to deal,
require that we make some very decided
changes in,,the regulations under which the
right of suffrage is exercised. 1t is also
apparent that the change to-bu made must
involve the practical elimination of the
greater part Of the colored vote If This
state. Now how is this to be accomplish
ed3 Is there amy way by which the de-
sired result can actually be attained with
ont the surrender of a principle Chat OF
universal sntfrage) whose salient points
arc undoubtedly correct7
We are too close to the Goth century
to regard property qualification for
suffrage in any other light than as Anil
tringemcnt on human rights, step back
wards into conditions which We're born
of ignorance of the true philosophy If
government, and o. that e:i'roniery which
always results from the conjunction of
! Ignorance and accidental power.
While an educational test can he better
supported by political logic than prop
; erty qualification, it is not wise to give
partisan registrars, or examining boards,
power to make or unmake political ma
joritics. Besides, text book. knowledge
and proper sense of the responsible
ties of citizenship do not always 20 hand
in hand. AS Il matter OF fact, there is
every reason to believe that the adoption
of poll tax prerequisite, Ola certain kind,
would, OF tselt alone, result I'm the rclil-
punishment Oh the part Of tho vast majovj-
ty Of the negroes OF tho power Of suffrage.
1t would also have a beneiice:t effect in
keeping away from the ballot b0x man,
Others who have not awakened to Il proper
sense o. the voters responsibility. Whi,c,
OF course, the intellectual progress OF thu
age i'll which We live has carried the minds
OF Il vast majority of the thinking people
beyond the point ut which the proposition
that NAH derived Il right to a vote from
tho payment Of a tax conld be accepted as
Correct, SIT II all interest III the welfare OF
society evidenced by u yearly voluntary
contribution to public fund, for the dual
purpose OF assisting public education ans,
keeping ones self legally qualified for the
exercise Of tho tresman's preroya,i:e,
would be strong Indication Of fitness.
While the right to vote is Inherent, still
coexistent with this right, is II response.
bility, aud in the case of each individual
voter the right should bc exercised under
II we'll awakened sense of the responsible
ty, it really being i'll abeyanc. until a
properly Developed sense Of responsibility
is attained, Now while 10 one would de-
rive right TO vote from an annual con
tribution Of ~ dollar Or any other sun to
the school fund, yet at the present time,
IL requirement tnat Que must mako Snch /,
contribution i'll order to vote would beyond
q doubt operate in u beneficial manuel,
III keeping away from elections those who
have rs yet no proper sense Of the respon
sibilities of suffrage. While an annual
poll tax Of two dollars would PERHAPS have
a more far reaching effect than Il lower
one, yet, under different regulations, tho
present tax could be made productive Of
much good in the emergency with which
VIC have to deal.
Its paylnent,uhould be entirely option
III. While the loss of ones vote iii the
ensuing election should invariably result
rom st:ie default ofas nsle payment, there
should be no means by which it could he
collected from any unwilling to pay it;
because the case is rare indeed where
one who is unwilling, for the sake of his
t'eeman's prerogatiye, to make such !,
contribution does not belong to All element
whose presence in politics Is undesirable.
Payment should be made to the parish
treasurer.
In order to fully protect the freedom of
will necessary to tue successful operation
Of this plan, it is desirable that the pay
ment of poll taxes shoald be wholly di-
vourced from that of property t"kcs. II
the sheriff collected the poll taxes it
might DO that some, through Ignorance or
inadvertence, would not distinguish be
tween those TAXES whose payment should
depend on the disposition Of the citizen
and the other kidd. 1t is likely that a
sheriff DESTROYS fer any reason OF nas,ia..
largo collections Of poll taxes could ful
many of this class OF people; whereas,t!le
parish treasurer. not being required for
any other cause to come into contact with
thoss entitled te pay them, woulA Only
receive from those, who Of their or,, ",
lition. woald CONS forward to pay. Those