The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-10

be qualified or not under the new re-
strictions This is to be accomplished
rimply by giving tho ballot 90 all persons
who were qualified 20 vote under the
statutes IN force in 1858
Just how far this viii disfranchise the
negro. and just how far it will affect the
rhtey. We have no means OF knowing
but We take It that the members OF tho
convention know what they are about.
Il has been given out. and Il so undof-
stood that under fthe new constitution
the great bulk Of the negro voters VIII
be dlsfranchiscd while the ballo: will be
taken from only a small percentage OF the
whites.
n g. stated that the first three condl-
lions have the support OF large ma
iority OF tho best people ia Louisiana,
including the educated negroes.
The strongcs, argument In favor Of an
educational or property qualification pre-
scented TO the convention was by Professor
Booker r. Washington, the wei-known
negro principal OF Tuskegee (Ala) Col
ored Industrial Institute. \ delegate on
also Of leading Louisiana negroes went
before the convention. making the same
demand because they believed that an edu-
cational and property qualification would
be @ stimulus to make negroes learn 70
read and write and TO acquire property.
The state OF nliteIacy IN Louisiana
under the registration Of 1896 was this;
Whites
Literates ...........'....'.'.'.'.l5 oo5
Iliitcrgtcs ............ .......... 2S,3I
---l6l9'i
Negroes
Litcrate ...... .................. $500
Illiteratc ......... .............. H,4N3
---l2S252
Total vote 80. ......................290. 2j6
An educational qualification then would
disfranchisc $3.50 whites and 9tH9 ne
groes. or l22, $50, being little Jess than one
half the total vote and leave q white ma
sorlty OF 3eSoo.
Il is worthy Of remark that with few
exceptions here and there the northern
press has raised no objection 20 the LOU
isiana plan. and it seems TO be conceded
az the North that under the circum-
stances the people of Louisiana are justi-
fable in resorung to drastic measures
in order TO rid themselves Of the negro
vote.
AS for the people Of Louisiana them
selves. thoy have put OFF the evil day, but
have finally determined that it is necos-
sary that some whites shall be sacrificed
TO the public good. II is contendcd by
some that Virginia should pursue the
same course. II the same necessity OK
listed. we arc frank 10 say that we should
favor the adoption of the Louisiana plan.
But let us SEQ how the case stands
Taking the census Of 1899 and comparing
Virginia with Louisiana as 10 nlIteracy
Of population over ten years Of age eve
have not the illlterate voting population
we find
virginia. Iliterates 7. g.
Whlles.. ....ivb.@13 lV1ViN lj.H
Negroes ......l'',bN lhN1'S BE-
Total ....i,zIi,'jt ol'ti'b 0l'-
Louisiana
Whites .. .. ....f020h s0.19 2Dl
y Negroes. ....5HZ,hi- [si,-iJ III
Total .. .. ....tN,bsj "Di.lat DOS
10 seems. then. that with less than two
thirds The population of Virginia Louis-
anan had about the same number OF IL
litorates.
I'm Louisiana the negro population with
y per cent Of niterates about equalled
the white population. while in Virginia
the negroes with 81 per cent. OF illl'erates
were as 9 to of whites. In Louisiana,
out Of population two thirds that Of
the educational qualification
would disfranchise actually morn negroes
and fewer white people than the same |
qualification would i'm Virginia.
The situation. therefore. in Louisiana, is |
very different from that in Virginia, ana |
tho question IS whether there exists any |
necessity for disfranchising 80 many Of |
our white citizens IN order TO enable five
white people more certainly TO protect |
themselves from three negroes.
For ourselves We think tina, the situa- /
lion IS not dangerous TO white supremacy |
under any circumstances. and that the
greatest danger to The whites is that
wrought by themselves IN perpetuating |
fraudulent elections.