The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-03-17
A NV mmEsESI

they have nude efforts. without sue
cess. 10 secure an effective rieht ~
franchise 90 t1e negro In the southern
states. iiut tines. states are gradually
DISTINGUISHING the negro by Constitu-
tional provisions. until the number %
negroes No disfranchised. amounts To
from forty 20 sixLy per cent ~ the
male adui, population.
As intelligent Republicans of ne
North have become familiar with the
qualifications Of the negro as a voter,
there has been n disposition 70 JET the
Southern people have their own way
in restricting the negro vote. At the
same time, fair men throughout the
south. and fair men in the North, dis
like the arbitrary methods Of execut-
ing this measure OF restriction. II Is
not the habit of the Anglo-saxons to
resort to undetermined ways In politics
ABOVE all things this policy conflicts
with the principles Of self-government
The Republican leaders now propose
TO enforce the Fourteenth Amendment
OF the Constitution, which Is substan-
italy, that IL any male citizens Of
State are deprived Of the right to vote
for any cause. which does not involve
crime then the number of citizens SO
deprived OF the right to vote shall b.
deducted from the total number of
male citizens in the State, and -he
number remaining after the deduction
shall form the basis OF representation
In Congress
The enforcement OF this provision of
the Constitution will operate TO reduce
the number Of Southern representa-
tives in the House, and therefore re-
duce the Democratic strength. The
Republican,, since the light Of Ex-
pansion has revealed conditions in the
tropical acquisitions which makes the
Declaration OF Independence and its
glittering generalities about selfgoy-
eminent, rather suspicious docu-
ment. now about to say: We have
believed in giving the ballot to the
negro as q measure of protection, but
he is not quite up 10 its proper use
So we will let him slide. take advan-
tage of the Fourteenth amendment, cut
down seriously the number Of Southern
representatives in the House. and hit
the Democrats in the neck"
There is no reason why this should
not be done. The enforcement of this
provision will not reduce the repre-
sentatiOn in the Northern States so as
to weaken the Republican strength.
The Republican Independents or Mug
wumps have advocated the enforce
ment of this Amendment for many
years, but the bosses, and the rank and
| file have regarded the suggestion as
one decidedly hostile TO the doctrine of
self-goyernment.
| But now the old Aristocratic idea
reyives THAI only those should share
in self-goyernment who are fitted TO
govern themselves, and the hour has
come for new departure.
II this Fourteenth Amendment Is
enforced, it may revolutionize the poll
teal thought of the South. While the
negro is turned adrift for some years.
the South finding its representation in
Congress reduced, will east about for
measures which will increase II. The
only practical way will he to amend the
constitutions which restrict the negro
vote.
The enforcement of the Fourteenth
amendment will not affect the South
ern States which have NOT amended
their Constitutions in order to limit
the negro vote. The Amendment will
not defeat the shotgun policy. II
reaches only 20 those States that en-
act Constitutional and lsgal imita-
lions on the negro voter.
1t is quite possible that some, how