The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-12-24
Tho South Carolina Franchise

January lst 1893, South Carolina's
duplicate of Mississippi's famous ''pn'
dsrstanding clause" expires by limita.
ZION. For from and aftor that date tho
following is tho law. though oil persons
slready registered at that date. sre
FREQ from It's requirements; b..
Amy person who shall apply for roy.
istrntion after Jan. /. 1893. II other
wise qualified, shall BIO registered; bro'
vidod that he can both read and write
say section of this constitution sDb-
nitted to him by tho registration Of
Acsr or can show that he owns and has
paid all taxes collectable during thu
previous year on property In this stnto
assessed ut $500 or more"
This reads better than our under
standing" clause, as all will admit,
though under normal tests there IL no
material difference In effect All mon
who possess ability to read and write
ssa meet the requirements under both
sl.as. South Carolina enacts the altor
native Of property ownership, and Mis-
assippi OF being able to understand. "
Both arc engagements which, In prac
ice, are OF immaterial influence.
Despite tho equal results under the
two aims at settlement Of our Southern
suffrage disorders, the fact remains
that South Carolina's TO read and
write or own property" Is loss offensive
" the eye than Mississippi's TO read or
understand when read" clause, That
tho simpler method adopted by South
Carolina was more palatable and pleas.
Ing was clearly recognized In our
States constitutional convention. but
the recognition had to yield to the force
Of sentiment. The people Of Misslss-
ippi ore too thoroughly indoctrinated
with the true democratic faith In man.
hood suffrage as tho only theory con.
a.tent with the principles Of selt.yov.
ernment to countenance Its direct
contradiction. OF course they would
restrict this theory to tho white race,
Aud the problem before the constitution
makers was TO achieve tho end, but at
the same time preserve the spirit Of the
great Democratic franchise principle.
Hence our famous understanding clause.
Further than this delegates Of the
white counties would not willingly 80.
And there was no influence or dictation
Of leadership rs there was In South
Carolina, that could take them further
The idea Of a property suffrage enlarge
mont was particularly odious.
The imperative need Of paying due
Difference to tho sentiment stated. was
clearly shown In the proceeding Of the
Franchise committee Of our late Con.
stitutional convention That COMMITTEES
adopted o suffrage test similar TO the
South Carolina clause. II could. per
haps. have been carried through thu
convention. as II was in the committee
by bare majority. But such dissatis
faction was aroused by the action taksz
in the committee. that. after consulta
tion among themselves reconsidcra
ton was moved and obtained by thos
who had proposed such measure
That their action was wise We hav
never doubted.
Our Louisiana neighbors may stud,
Mississippi's example In this instance
probably. In dealing with this sui
fragc problem they are PRACTICAL.
united and intent on the one centfa
idea and purpose Of politically slimi
mating the negro. In dsvising th
means 10 that end no method should b
adopted that IL obnoxious to the body Q
democratic white citizens Of any clas
q section. - icksbug Herald.
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