The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-02
TO D~ISFRANCHISE NEGROES
IoUIsIhNA,s PROPOSED oHlN9E IN
HBR contribution.


Prsnisea The Erect on state Politics.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 3o.-Jouisiana viii vote
on Jan. 0 on the question Of holding q Constitu-
tional Convention and at the same timo for
delegates to the convention. Tho convention 10
called for the avowed purpose Of DISTINGUISHING
the negro voters OF the State, some 12o,0oo in
number. There IL no concealment about IL, no
pretenco that the convention 10 for any other
purpose. Tho matter is discussed openly and
above board In the papers, which arc engaged
In q very warm debate just now as to the best
method of e~ffocting the purpose.
Tho matter at issue lie. Of course. primarily q
State one, but 1t is not wholly q State question,
and. in some respects, affects the whole coun-
try. 1t 10 true that two States, Mississippi and
South Carolina, havo already disfranchised
their negro voters; but the question in Louisi-
ana is broader and moro difficult than in these
States, because of race differences which do not
exist In them. Louisiana's action 10 expected to
net as O stimulus to other States, including
Georgia. Tennessee. and Virginia, which arc
squirting at the Acknowledgement Of the
negro. Louisiana has always been moro con-
servativo in the matter Of the suffrage and
in regard to politics than South Carolina and
Mississippi. which are the leaders in oil extreme
Southern movements The action of Louisiana,
therefore. particularly IL Acknowledgement
proVeo u SUCCESS, 10 ikeiy 10 nave iVs influence
on those States Of tho South that are still hesi-
tating as to tho course they shall take in rela-
ton to the negro.
Moreover, the Acknowledgement Of the negro
will exert a marked effect on the politics of
Louisiana. 1t is recognized by many of the lead.
ing Democrats that such action will place It in
the doubtful column. II it does not make it Re-
publican; and the chances are largely in favor
of it's drifting. sooner or later. into the Republi.
can ranks-how soon, will depend upon the ex-
tont to which the question Of protection enters
into future campaigns. Louisiana was not a
Democratic State of old, and is strongly proteo-
Zionist to-day. The negro question alone has
kept it in the Democratic ranks, and moro than
one. especially in 1884 and 1896 lin the State
electionlit very nearly broke away from tho
Democracy.
The present suffrage clause Of the Louisiana
Constitution is objected to by every one. Il
provides for tho most liberal suffrage In tho
Union. There are practically no limitations;
indeed, one need not be o citizen to vote. With
the idea of encouraging immigration. It was
provided that any person who gave notice OF
his intention to become naturalized. should
have the right to vote. Thus o newly arrived
immigrant can vote in Louisiana Eve years be-
fore he completes naturalization. The immi.
grafton of late years has been almost entirely
italian, and in q number Of the wards the
italian voters arc in q majority. and control
politics. There is a strong prejudice against
tho Italians among Americans and other ma
tionalities. as was shown in the Parish Prison
lynchings of O few years ago. and 1t has nj.
ways been particularly offensive to them to sec
tho polls crowded on election dayI and tho
s.. ..-t.s hr No ~ ,onn,t ,,.oL
electioh carriou ny iheh VIM e"hno' 1poSH
English. who are not citizens, and many OF
whom never complete their naturalization, but
49, A. -. H.. -. 80. A.,
return 10 itaiy 10 nve' a n'a nas oone W
New Orleans from Italy. vote at oil elections.
and return to his native lond the next year still
ecltizen Oh hins huhoe>'.
This 10 ono of the defects of the present SUI.
=. ~. =. -, ~. ho,Iot e. ~.
the "nite voters ID cna1 si'es II auo u
voted on in A few davs. ia called to devise some
,Ian hv uh,oh ,,o.t -, Tho neoroes can h. die.
franchised. The Federal Constitutional amend
mento probibit Acknowledgement because of
800 Ino.sn ,..nian. o.nd,,ion c.. iii
be taken to avoid conflict with this provision,
Init the convention will 20 as far in that direo-
tion as nossible.
'ion as possioie'
called. will consist Of 1871 delegates of whom
thirtr,sir a-. 70 bo o,octeI nv The St.ts at Iare,
thirtS'si1 arc % oe e'ectec u! Inc otate iarke
and ninety-eight by Assembly districts. 1t will
he almost unnnimously Democratic. There NAV
oIno"stnht panajis.a rrnn, nor,h Ia,,s;ano
be SIX or eight fopulists from north louisiana
1t is not likely that there will be a regular Re-
publican in it. The so-called sugar or national
- ii.
t'cpuo,cahs VIII nave " nun'oe vi ueie'
gates, but these Republicans are cooperating
cordially with the Democrats In Iberville there
% n ioin, Mica ticket and I'M
ID a Iolnt niocLaticth upiican I'ckct, anu mn
number OF parishes inc democrats are SUPPORT
ing inc nalionHI i,cpuoiivhm eahuiuates lot the
cohVehtlon. lnesc itSpuollcnns represent INC
element inter TNhe n inc sugar ,ndI SLY 8 no Ihteey
are slalWart w hl!e Lehguer5, ou.,iieTouing the
democracy IN 'hclr opposl'ion 10 metro sunraec'
ana Will vote ior my measure, however eA.
IRENE. that diSlrenchises tne negro. II mere
aFe SIX votes itne "a gains rnn th ier dis nr;ii 6n s OF
the negro IN inc convention ~ VII PC " Surprise.
inc only auestion ID as 10 aftalis. nat Is
Inc pes, pan Gn % nnnGtct , ,Jir Inc u hFS eIcra, w Eon:
stitution., and without disiranc9ising q large
numoer OF whites alsoI PIooaoit iorty aineront
plans have been suggested, OF which me follow
ing three VIII receive the ii'ost careful consider-
ation. ana one Oh theh Will ALMOST certainly DO
adopted: 81 .,,,o.o,,
!. 4 comolnea euucatiohhi anu properly QUAIL
F Ern ! the me v Prerc TO DC E en,e 10 fi re in shd write nn
IN all inc amehdLnents. pnt not German or
Italian, although there are 81, 900 OF the former
race ana ~ 600 or the latte- IN louisiana and