The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-02
ELIMINATING THE NEGRO VOTE.


question that has. as yet, received very
little attention. AS far as we have noticed
it has not even been referred to in those
states which have adopted constitutions
which practically put the ballot box Who'll
ly in the hands of the white people.
These states are Louisiana, Mississippi
and South Carolina. On Wednesday last
the Democratic party of Alabama adopted
resolutions making the proposed constitu-
tlonal convention a party measure. The
first of the resolutions adopted contained
the foIowing I'VE favor the holding of
a constitutional convention for the pur-
pose Of so regulating the right to vote
as 10 perpetuate the rule of the white
man in Alabama" 1t is expected that
North Carolina will change her constitu-
ton in the very near future, with the view
of getting rid of ignorant negro voters. 1t
is not improbable that other Southern
states will follow the policy adopted. or
in the process of adoption, by the states
mentioned.
1t is admitted that the negro vote which
is cast almost wholly for the Republican
party in national elections, helps to keep
the South solidly Democratic. When
that vote ceases to be a factor of the
political situation. will the South continue
TO be soIdly Democratic? VIII the vast
majority of those who are now Democrats
continue 60 be Democrats? VIII not the
new issues which are arising all the time
bring into existence another strong party
in the South composed of white men?
Notwithstanding the danger apprehended
from the negro voter, the Populist party
gained a strong foothold in every South
ern state. If second white mans party
was started and became strong while
the negro was in full possession of the
ballot, what will be the result when the
negro voter is eliminated?
The Populist party is practically dead
1t will not cut any more of a figure in
the next national election than the Pro-
hibition party. But with the Populist par
ty virtually out of the way and all APP
prehension Of danger from the negro vote
removed, will not there be strong move
ment among the white people towards
the Republican party?
There may not be. but there are some
reasons for thinking there will. The Pres
ident has said that he has no policy in
respect to the Philippines, but his party
has. 1t is a policy Of expansion. With
that policy there is a strong sympathy
in the South. Some of the ablest of the
South's public men are outspoken in ia
vor Of a. II is cartaiD tbat tba nap,ocrat
ic party will declare against il. 1t was
thought a few months ago that all matters
pertaining to the Philippines which could
be made a political issue would be settled
before the meeting of the national con-
ventions next year, but it is evident now
that the expansion question will be as
open a year hence as it is now.
Another reason why the Republican par
ty may find recruits in the South is the
differences among the people on the mon
ey question. In the cities particularly,
there is strong opposition to the free
coinage of silver. Without any other bond
of sympathy with the Republican party,
1t is probable that the great majority of
the Democrats in the South who are
against silver would vote with the Demo-
cratic party, but, differing with that par
ty on other questions, they might be-
come members of the Republican party
Still another bond of sympathy between
an increasing number of white voters in
the South and the Republican party is
the tariff. The manufacturing interests of
the South are increasing rapidly, and those
who possess those interests want all the
protection for them they can get. They
are even in favor of trusts, and the Re-
publican party is regarded as being kind
er 10 trusts than the Democratic party.
1t is true that the President, in his Home
Market speech in Boston, said that the
Republican party was not now concerning
itself so much about tariffs as about
markets for our manufactured products.
Southern iron and steel mills and cotton
factories are as anxious for markets as
are similar industries in the North.
1t may be that there will be no move
ment of Importance in the South towards
the Republican party when the negro vote
is suppressed. and the danger apprehended
from that vote is passed, but if there is,
for the reasons mentioned, it will not be
surprising.