The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-28
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
SUFFRAGE RESTRICTIONS.
Atlanta CONSTITUTION.

Atlanta Constitution.
The Richmond Times calls attention
TO the fact that the bill providing for
Il government for the new territory OF
Hawaii excludes the japanese and Chi
ncse who are on tho islands from the
privileges of citizenship. They will
not be permitted TO vote nor TO partici-
pate in any way in the government of
the islands Commenting on this, our
contemporary says that after this whole
sale restriction of suffrage. 1.-The North
ern peopc will not have the effrontcry
TO offer opposition TO any eXpedient that
may be adopted in the Southern States
to undo the great wrong that was in
ticted by the North thirty years ago"
The Constitution has never believed
that the great mass of the white people
ut the North were in favor of placing
the ballot in the hands of ignorant ne
groes. Those that did favor the pro-
gramme knew nothing of the situation
and were misled by the violence of the
politicians. However that may be, out
side opposition to restrictive measures
by the Southern States would do no
good. Any State may restrict suffrage.
so long as the restriction is not based
on race or color or previous condition
Of servitude. In other words, so long
rs the restriction applies to both white
and black, the States are free 10 APP
ply it.
This has been settled by the Supreme
court, but it is n matter SO clear and
plain that mo decision of that court was
necessary to settle il. In fact, the
constitutions of several of the Northern
States have imposed restrictions on suf-
frage. Some have had both property
and educational qualifications. 1t was
not until the Southern States began to
take measures looking to their safety
that any Northern editor was ever heard
to suggest that a State had no right to
restrict suffrage.
The Constitution believes that every
Southern State which contains Il large
body of ignorant inhabitants should take
measures to restrict suffrage TO those
who can read and understand the or
ganic law of the land. This is really
no hardship. Those who are ignorant
but ambitious TO exercise all the rights
of citizenship can easily qualify them
selves. So far as the negroes are con-
cerncd. an educational restriction would
only provide them with a fresh incen-
tive for securing an education.
More than that, it would, for time,
remove the race problem out of politics
where it has proved to be such a dis
turbing, such dangerous factor; and
this alienation would go far toward
settling the whole question. This is
so clear that the most intelligent of the
negro leaders do not offer any opposi-
ton to plans to restrict suffrage.
A contemporary, noting that The Con-
stitution has been advocating IA consti-
tutional convention in Georgia. in which
this and other questions may be dealt
with and settled, says that 1.-The people
seem to be Indifferent about it." They
doubtless are, but they will not be in
different when, at some future time.
they are brought face to face with con-
ditions similar to those that recently
existed in South Carolina.
1t is true that this, at present. seems
to be remote possibility; but so it
seemed in North Carolina four years
ago Wherever there is a body of igno-
rant voters there viii Also be found
politicians INSCRIPTIONS enough to take
advantage of IT.