Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-27
Oh. BERRY & CO.,
Main and Tenth Streets.
Constitutional Convention.
New orleans Picayune.)


on the second Tuesday OF February.
which will be the Sth OF that MONTH the
constitutional convention, which was.
called by the people at the election on
the second Tuesday Of January. will as
semble in this city.
The chief topic TO be treated by the
convention is the revision of the suffrage
franchise, in order to take the power TO
vote out of the hands; frat, Of the igno-
rant and shiftless classes. and. second,
out of the hands OF foreigners.
With NEGRO population embraN1s
quite one half the total OF the people In
the State, almost wholly ignorant and as
shiftless as mentally benishted. but arm
ed with the ballot, the State II perpetually
overshadowed politically by black and
menacing cloud.
Such a situation demands prompt and
effectual relief, and It can only be Sc
cured by imposing on all voters an intel
lectual or educational qualification, with
the alternative OF a property requirement
for those who, while unlettered, have ex-
hiblted intelligence and thrift sunicient
to have accumulated property and TO nave
become payers OF taxes direct TO the
State. The crying need for the delive-
rance of Louisiana from the possibility
or DelnB OOmlndte0 ny Il vast ucPtdFcus
ignorant, and shftless element. Is too
imperative 10 be disregarded.
Francis Bellamy writing In the Illus
trated American, says: louisiana at
present has the loosest suffrage laws In
the Union. You do not have TO be a
citizen, or even a resident, in order 70
vote. You may be a subject OF foreign
King and on a visit 10 this hospitable
State; you can vote without naturaliza-
ton, and then return home.
This is almost literally true. Any
foreigner who has sojourned In the State
for one year and who shall declare In
form his intention OF becoming a citizen
may vote in all political State elections.
and there is no legal obligation resting
on him ever to become citizen. DOUBT
less. there is a moral obligation, but
moral obligations do not count In party
politics.
Such a state of things is monstrous
outrage upon all citizenship, for foreign
ers. with no interest in the State, are
placed above natives, who, in order TO
acquire the rights of citizens, must have
lived for twenty-one years under free
institutions; while aliens, with no nowl-
edge of free constitutional government.
after brief and temporary residence.
may vote without absolving their ellie
glance to the kings emperors. and other
foreign pQtentates whose subjects they
may be.
Such abuses Of the principle upon which
thu entire superstructure OF all free gov
eminent rests must end I'm its destruction.
unless a prompt and effective remedy be
applied. Constitutional liberty and free
institutions cannot long survive excess OF
political corruption and a prostitution OF .
the sacred suffrage franchise.
The ballot is not only a means for the
upbuilding OF free government; II Is also
a most dangerous weapon for its destruc-
ton. The ballot IS like dynamite. which,
while IL may be made a most useful SER
want in the hands OF those who VIII use
IL with care and intelligence. 10 secure the
best results of which II Is capable, De-
comes I'm the hands of the ignorant and
vicious classes a most destructive and
dangerous element. TO place proper re-
strictions around the use OF tho ballot Is
the first duty OF the convention.
There are various other matters which
will command attention at the hands OF
the convention. Among these is re-
organization OF the judiciary. The abro-
CATION OF the present system OF the dis
trict Judges, and the substitution In their
places Of a Judge for each parish or coun-
~ seems TO embody the best view that
has vet been presented for the REFORM
The authorizing OF cities OF the first
class I'm the State TO issue bonds ard
borrow money with which 70 construct a
system OF needed public improvements,
such as works for drainage, sewerage.
paving. and the like. is a matter that
will also be brought before the conven-
ton. IL is one which, when adopted.
will bring results OF lhe utmost i'm
portance 10 this city.
There are other matters OF moment
which will be considered by the conven-
ton, and which will be treated later: but
those mentioned are OF the first and most
imperative urgency. and they demand the
first care.