The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-16
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE
SOUTH.

The Journal has received the brief of
the counsel in the contested election cases
in South Carolina. The ground of the con-
test is that the colored voters have been
deprived of the right to vote by an act
of the Legislature making an educational
and property qualification. If it can be shown
that this change in the law was made to
deprive the colored race of the right of suf
rage, then the representation of the State
in the national House should be cut down.
That is subject for the consideration of
Congress and the courts. While the House
is the judge of its own elections it does
not seem to be competent for the House to
declare an act of a state legislature uncon-
stitutional, as the counsel seem to assume
that it should. The experience of years
seems to teach that the wisest thing which
can be done for the colored man is to let
alone the issues and the contests in the
House which tend to make him the object
of persecution. AS long as it seemed that
anything could be done for the colored voter
by advocating congressional interference
with elections in the South, the Journal adj
vocated it, but it is apparent that public
sentiment is against it at the present time
and has been for several years. Some other
policy must be tried and that of Booker
Washington seems the wisest because it is
that of man who is the sincere friend of
his race.
AS for politics in the South generally, it
would have been a benefcent policy If
President Mckinley had been in position
to offer the important offices in that
section to gold Democrats and others who
are identified with the business and indus
trial interests of the South. Doubtless
pledges were given pending the Presidents
nomination which prevented his adopting
policy so obviously WISE The South is in a
frame of mind at the present time to make
possible the building up of a Republican
party of intelligence and character. AS it is
there is no Republican party in most of the
States of the South except a few place-seek-
ers who send contesting delegations to the
Republican national convention. Consequent
ly, the men of character and intelligence in
the South who are in full sympathy with
the Republicans will never become the fol-
lowers of the men who for the most part
make up the contesting delegations from
those States to the national conventions. 1t
would be a great thing for the Republican
party if the national committee should base
the call for the next national convention
upon votes actually polled, or if the COM
mittee could in some way invite gold Demo-
Gratis to attend the convention and vote for
the States in which all the Republican
party there is consists of two state commit
tees fighting for the offices. So long as such
men constitute the Republican party in
Southern States there will be no organized
and respectable opposition to the present
Democratic party such as all States should
possess. The organization Of such Repub-
lican party would in time restore to the
colored men the rights of which they have
been robbed by white minorities. Just now
the Democratic managers in the South fear
the growth of new Republican party in
the South, and for that reason they would
hail with delight the revival of the race
issue in that section.