The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-07
Louisiann,s Problem.

The state of Louisiana viii vote in day
or two on the question Of holding consti-
tutional convention. There seems TO be
little doubt that the people will assent to
the proposition, and that the convention
will be held. The main object to be
achieved by the revision of the fuEdamen-
tai law of the state is the practical ellmi-
nation of the negro vote. No secret is
made of that purpose. It is conceded that
about all of the fraud and corruption in
the elections grow out of the fact that
the negro possesses the franchise, and II
is desired to remove the cause so as TO
cure the evil. Mississippi and South Car
olina have practically eliminated the
negro voter as a factor In elections and
since the elimination there has been no
good reason for supposing that the cleo
tons in those states have been otherwise
than perfectly fair and honest. In many
sections Of the south the fact of the exist
enee of the black vote presents a dilemma
of three horns, namely, shall the section
suffer negro domination through the hold
ing of the balance of power by the race,
shall the negro be brlbed for his vote, or
shall his vote be negatived through bal
lot-box stuffing? Persons familiar with
the facts know that this is just about
the situation. candidly stated.
Louisiana proposes to follow the example
of Mississippi and South Carolina in deal
ing with the dilemma by dehorning 1t;
cutting off all of the horns at one opera
ton. Negro domination in the south
again is, as the French say, impossible
while corruption, bribery and ballot-box
stufting are despisable and abhorrent TO
the majority of the people. The remedy.
then, is to remove the negro vote, or rem
der it harmless, so long as it shall remain
as ignorant and corrupt as at present.
How shall it be done? is the question
the people of Louisiana are asking them
selves They seem to be pretty much of
one mind with regard to the necessity for
getting rid of the negro vote. The move
ment is backed not only by the demo-
Gratis, but by the national republicans as
we'll In many of the parishes the demo-
Gratis and the national republicans are
running fusion tickets for delegates to the
proposed constitutional convention. and
many of the republicans are more positive
and vehement in their declarations that
the black vote must go than are the dem
ocrats. These republicans are Of the opin-
ion that the black vote is positive injury
to the party, as well as to the state and
the country. hence they are anxious to get
rid of it.
The plans adopted in Mississippi and
South Carolina, it is said will not suit in
Louisiana, owing to differences in the
character of population which would re-
quire too much space to explain. 1t is
thought, however, that the scheme adopt
ed will embody the educational and prop
erty qualifications, so arranged that VI hi,e
the black vote would be minimized the
white vote would remain practically in
tact The provision which apparently
meets with most favor is this, that all
voters must be able TO read and write
English or French, or If illiterate, must
own and pay taxes upon $500 worth of
property. Such a provision, it is calcu-
lated, would reduce the black vote from
10000 to 10000, and the white vote from
$4,000 to 100000, thus leaving the govern
ing power in the hands of the white peo-
pie by safe majority 1t is proposed
further, however, to improve the school
facilities of the state, so that all persons
otherwise qualified to vote but lacking the
educational qualification may have an OPP
portunity TO win the elective franchise
upon merit