Evening star., 1898-11-18
Unequal Sectional Representation.

Unequal Sectional Representations.
The recent events in North and South
Carolina, the declarations of the white
leaders of the two states explanatory of
these events and the manner in which
these extraordinary occurrences have been
treated by the negroes. by the northern and
western whites, and by the nation as a
whole, raise a question of political interest
to all the people of the republic.
Thoughtful southerners cOncede that the
North Carolina proceedings and others of
a like character constitute revolution
against the Constitution and law, TO be
justified only on the score of necessity.
The nation does not seem disposed to treat
this revolution seriously. and to meet force
with force in defense of the constitutional
rights of all American citizens without dis-
tinction. 1t is almost acquiescent- The ne
gro as voter in the south, IS practically
abandoned to his fate.
From these conditions arise gross Unequal
tties o. sectional representation in national
elections. 1t is not denied that the negro
voters in the south prevented by fear
or fraud or persuasion from casting effect
i've votes. The white people of the south
say openly and boldly that the domination
of the inferior race. superior in numbers,
however. in certain communities cannot be
and will not be endured, and that all the
necessary means, with a preference for
peaceable methods will be taken to pre-
vent it. AT the same time the negro popu-
latiOn which is not to be allowed to vote
effectively in accordance with its numeri-
cal strength is counted to the full extent
of its numbers in estimating the representa-
tion of the south in the national legislature
ard electoral college. The south not only
prevents the negro from voting in opposi-
tion to the local white sentiment, but 1t
uses him to enlarge the strength of the
national political party against which the
negro would. if he voted. almost certainly
be arrayed- The vote of the white IN
the south is weightier than the vote of the
white man in the north or west. because
the former votes not only for himself hut
as proxy for the colored man.
Now, 1t is evident that this inequality
cannot last. The white people of all parts
of the republic may sympdthize in sufficient
numbers with their race in the south il
the struggle against political domination
by ddrk-Skinned race to cond0ne the 10
'ilicaI suppression of the negro, and 20 re-
fuse TO send troops or pass effective force
laws to compel a recognition of the negro's
Constitutional rights. But they certainly
Will not permit their brethren in the south
to suppress the negro and vote him. too,
with the result of securing for the south
an unfair prep0nderance III national cleo
tions. Tney, may be willing by indtrection
10 permit Local white domination to be sub
stitutcd for colored in the south hut not
sn unfair minority southern domination IN
the nation. They may sacrifice the negro
selves. 1t may be well for the south to
consider these thirgs. and to provide sCme
remedy. lest a more radical and injurious
correction be in time applied. The su-
Preme interest of the south is the local con-
tIol # the states by the whites. The cx-
tent Of its representation in Congress and
the electoral college. and the way In which
It's votes are cast i'll national elections. are
minor matters. The south would doubtless
be glad to lose the political strength rep
resented by the negro vote by the repeal OF
the fifteenth amendment and a proportion
ate reduction of It's representation. But
the formal repeal of this amendment is
thing impossible. Connivance at its prac.i-
cal nulHfcation in respect to local elections
is ths farthest step that northern poll
ticiaHs will ever dare to take. The choice
is left to the south between assent TO some
sort of a force bill which will separate local
from national elections and insure the safe
voting and fair counting Of negro votes in
the latter. leaving the local elections 10 be
conducted as at present. and adoption of
some device which will constitutionally cut
of the negro vote and c0rrespondingly
duce the southern strength in national
elections.
The constitutional provision under which
the second alternative would be worked out.
avoiding in doing open violation of the
fifteenth amendment. is the following sec
tion of the fourteenth amendment:
Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several states according to their
respective numbers. counting the whole
number Of persons in each state, excluding
Indians not taxed. But when the right to
vote at any election for the choice of elect
OrS for President and Vice President of the
United States, representatives in Congress.
the executive and judicial officers of state
or the members of the legislature thereof,
is denied 10 any of the male inhabitants of
such state. being twenty-one years of age
and citizens Of the United States. or in any
way abridged. except for participation in
rebellion OF other crime, the basis of repre-
sentatiOn therein shall be reduced in the
proportion which the number OF such male
citizens shall bear TO the whole number of
male citizens twenty-one years OF age in
such state
This whole discussion is cold -blooded in
its disregard of the rights and wishes of
the negro as an American citizen under the
Constitution; but no suggestion of changed
policy toward him could oe more heartIess-
ly cruel than the actual facts Of the present
condition.
.