New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-26
A LOUISIANA SCHEME.

'rHoodlums. fortified against the courts anu
guaranteed against all interference from IN!
Source save their boss, to dominate 'ne Po,i
"tlcs of this great State" might DC thouE"'
to be description Of the powers WHO "nu,'
the ruling Of the New-York Court oi ApPe"iS
have been able to make their VIII III" III 'S
State, regardless Of the party whlch 'l'! "'c
supposcd to represent, but In reality II II Il IT,
mark Of THE New-Orleans Picayuhe Oh 'ne
suffrage clause which has been most strongly
nushed I'm the Louisiana Constitutional 'oh'eh-
ton It's adoption would mean the conIPie'e
abolition Of democratic government anu t'e
erection in its place OF despotism under 'ne
control of Commissioner of Education III e"'"
parish. The proposal IS apparently lh'enucu "
limit the negro vote as have been all the o'her
schemes brought forward, but this one Is so OUT
ragcOus that il has aroused the opposition Oh Tue
better class Of those who regard the negro vote
ms n danger to the State and would be glad 10
support any reasonable plan 10 reduce IT,
II il proposed that every applicant Tor regis
tration as voter shall prove 10 the registrar MS
ability to read and understand any article OF me
Constitution. or. II unable to read. shall prove
10 the registrar to the satisfaction of that oilcia
his ability to understand an article read to him.
in order to be qualified as a voter Having
passed this examination once, he Is permitted 10
vote at all subsequent elections. II, IN the
opinion Of the registrar or his deputy, the appli-
can. fails in this understanding, he IS to be for
ever excluded from the suffrage because the
examinations under this provision are TO close
on December next. From this opinion there
is no appeal Registrars, who are petty ofncers'
receiving 500 n month, or deputies, appointed
40 i,,vt ha
that sum, are to have absolute power to say
who may and who may not vote in the state or
Louisiana. Originally the plan provided for
review by the courts, but that has been done
away with, and now the scheme is for the erec-
ton Of these petty creatures OF the Governor
into despotlc body, with authority not only TO
exclude negroes but white men also from the
suffrage and It Is quite within their powers TO
decide that men who read and write do not I'M
derstand we'll enough to vote, and so deprive of
n vote anybody who is offensive TO them. There
is not the slightest redress even for the college
professor whom some registrar may wish to dis
franchise.
"The Picayune' declares that negro enfran-
chisement was wrong to the South, and It de-
sires white government, but It says: THE South
FERN States, including the State OF Louisiana,
1OrnldlIy anu Oluclhliy sIludliOH,
their acceptance having assisted to fix the out
rage in the Constitution Of the United States
"as the paramount law OF the land" and It adds
that It will not, Of its own motion, seek to vlo
Tate the Federal Constitution, will II aid or
advise others TO do Therefore It will not
give It's sanction to any measure that will
plainly contravene the Constitution or employ
dishonest means to do So" THE New Orleans
Times Democrat is equally outspoken:
We hear minute that fraud is contem-
plated and the next-somewhat Inconsistency |
that any fraud is 10 be welcomed enthusiastic |
caly that nullifes in any degree the Fifteenth |
Amendment. But this plea deceives one; and |
10 delegate would dare to present II seriously |
to his constituents The South Carolina plan. |
unless fraud and trickery employed 10 let in |
those the registrars want 10 let in. whether quail
fled not and to keep out those the registrars |
want to dsfranchse would be not only a hum |
bug and mockery, but positive danger. In |
Mississippi II Is Administered with reasonable |
honesty, with the result that more negroes vote |
under II than whites.
Everybody in the State understands the mat |
ter thoroughly-there is secret or conceal |
ment about 1t. The understanding clause is |
worthless to the whites without fraud and trick |
cry behind It, Instead Of getting rid. therefore.
Of fraudulent registration. we hoped 10 do |
through the convention, Will simply go into |
1t worse than ever.
Thus there seems to be a general understand
ing that fraud IN dealing with the negro means
fraud in dealing with the whites, and that It IS
not safe 10 adopt a scheme OF which fraud is an |
essential part. The white men foresee that des-
potic power may be used by political boss
against them, and realize that there may be
worse things than ignorant negro voters IN n
State