Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-05-02
SUPPRESSION or THE NEGRO VOTE
AND IT'S CONSEQUENCES.

4 ~@s~
black man at the South will be ~ COM
pletely deprived Of the suffrage - in the
days before the abolition Of slavery,
while the white man will get political
advantages from his presence, almost ~
great az when hc was allowed an add
tional vote for q certain number OF
slaves. Nearly all the southern states in
which black men are numerous have
adopted constitutions which serve TO
eliminate practically all Of the black
vote, while scarcely white man Il Affect
ed, and 10 the small remainder move
ments are on foot looking TO the same
end. II is confidently predicted thst be-
fore another general election In North
Carolina the blacks will all have been
disfrsnchised by constitutional amend
ment, and Il Ia limited that the election
riots Of last fall 10 that state were gotten
up largely for paving the way to such a
contamination. In Baltimore the cry OF
negro domination has been raised with .
view Of consolidating the whites at the
approaching municipal election, and II .
riot ensues, which Il not at all improba-
ble, perhaps negrophobis will be stlmu-
lated enough TO make II possible TO get
q disfranchising amendment accepted by
the people. Il has been clear for many
years past that the elimination OF the
black vote from Southern elections was
only question Of time, and efforts At
the North 10 prevent Il were abandoned
years ago because II was seen that they
~ere useless. The only question has
been how II was to be accomplished.
The decision OF the supreme court affirm-
Ing the cons,itutionslity Of the Missis-
sippi plan settled that, and since then
the elimination OF the black vote has
beep very rapid. Though no two Of the
constitutional amendments so far adopt
ed are precisely alike, the different con-
ditions existing In different states neces-
stating some changes, they are all ar
ranged 80 rs to discriminate against the
black man. IL an educational test is set
up which impartislly applied would dis
franchise many whites aa well rs blacks,
II Is arranged In some way to apply it
partially, so as TO make II hit the blscks
only. II property and educational
test both have to be set up In order TO
elimin4 ate all the blacks, exceptions are
IN ,de, as 10 the case OF Louislsns, which
will take practically all the white vote
out Of Its operation. There is no pre-
tence Of concealment OF the purpose OF
these amendments, and no attempt to
cover up the fact that they are meant
not TO eliminate the ignorant vote, nor
the impecunious vote, but the black vote
and that only. The North long since be-
came reconciled TO them, and Il would be
.,tf RI aff q AT
against them. Indeed we are inclined
to think that most people at the North
look upon them with sort OF favor, a.
tending TO prevent bloodshed which was
the Inevitable concomitsnt OF the old
way OF eliminating the black vote by
force. They feel that inssmuch as the
blacks are bound TO be shut out II is better
for all concerned that they should be
shut out by the constitutional amend
meut, no matter II essentially frsudu-
lent. than by the shot gun and the tissue
ballot.
But there Is one thing to which we
believe the North, when II comes TO
thoroughly comprehend II, will not be
reconciled, and that is the effect In in.
creasing the political power OF the white
man st the South which the suppression
OF the black vote Ia sure TO have unless
some action Is taken by Congress 10 en-
force that provision Of the constitution
which declares that 'when the right to
vote At any election for choice OF Presi-
dent and vice-President, representatives
of Congress, the executive or Judicial
officers OF state, or the members OF the
Legislature thereof, IL denied 20 any OF
the male Inhabitants OF state, being
twenty-one years OF age, and citizens OF
the United States, or 10 any way aoridg-
ed, except for participation Ia rebellion,
or other crime, the bssis OF Representa-
ton therein shall be reduced Ia proper
ton which the numoer OF such male
citizens shall bear 10 the whole number
Of male citizens twenty-oue years OF age
In such state" without action to re-
duce representation In accordance with
this amendment every white elector In
South Carolins, Louisiana, Mississippi
and North Carolina will have twice the
optical power OF white elector 10
Maine and the electors OF those states
will hsve twice ss much representation
In Congress ss the same number oil
electors In Maine, and twice the vote in
the electoral college. A hundred white
men Ia any Of these states will have as
much voice In determining who shall be
President of the United States "a double
the number Ia Maine. Since we becsme
world power the tendency has been 10
overlook home questions or TO regard
them as unimporraut. But here Ia one
pressing for solution which touches our
government 10 vital spot.-Portland
Press.