The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-31
The Southern Race Problem.

The Southern Race Problem.
1t may be true, as Governor Gambler
of Georgia says, that "the greatest
crime ever perpetrated, not only
against American ideals and institu-
tions and human liberty but also
against the Southern negro, was when,
without preparation, he was clothed
with all the rights and privileges and
responsibilities of citizenship" Most
intelligent students of the problem
now admit that suffrage, far from be-
ing an inalienable right, is n privi-
lege to be earned by merit; and that
the throwing of this privilege open In
discriminatory to all kinds and condt-
tions of male humans, irrespective of
race, color, intelligence or anything
else short of absolute insanity, how
ever well meant, constitutes an injus-
tice alike to those who are fit for it
and those who are not.
This being admitted, as we think
it must be, it follows that reasonable
objection cannot be taken to the pro-
position to undo some of the mistakes
of the past, in the direction of a too
profuse bestowal of suffrage, by the
setting up of restrictive tests. Opin-
ion may divide as to how these tests
should be applied. Many who favor
an educational test, together with
some inquiry as to morals, halt at the
suggestion of a property qualification,
and vice versa. But upon the general
proposition, considered in the abstract,
that gross ignorance and vice should
not have the legal right to go to the
ballot box and by their votes, ignor-
antly or viciously cast, neutralize an
equal number of votes cast by intelli-
gent, high minded citizens there is, we
believe, among those who are frank
in the matter, substantial unanimity
of opinion.
There are two reasons, though, why
the public sentiment which recognizes
both the right and the duty of the
state to restrict it's suffrage to those
fit to exercise it views with disapproval
the attempts at restriction now fash
ionable among the states of the South.
In the first place it is panied to notice
that while advantage is taken of the
general arguments for suffrage re-
striction to get the necessary tests
imposed, the moment they are imposed
all pretence at a fair application of
them is dropped and they are used in
dustriously as a weapon to enforce
white political domination over the ne
gro race. This not only in spirit vio-
lates the constitution of the United
States and the American instinct for
fair play but it also represents an cleo
torial injustice to other states in that
the negro population is utilized to
swell representation in congress but is
in fact accorded none of the represen-
tatiOn secured through it. 1t is self
evident that under our form of govern
ment a vote in the South should not
receive a representation in congress in
excess of that accorded to vote in
the North or East or West yet under
the thimble-rigging suffrage laws
passed in the South to eucher the col
ored man out of his citizenship this
inequality does exist, sometimes in in
will have to be corrected.
The second ground for criticism Of
the South on account of its suffrage
restriction constitutional amendments
rests on the fact that after the negro
is legislated out of a privilege intend
ed by the United States government
10 be his for all time, those who close
the polls to him because he is ignorant
do not, as in fairness they should, open
schools for him in which he can quail
ify for citizenship or qualify his sons
for it. If the placing of restrictions
We're dictated wholly by honorable
motives the fact of an element to de-
bar would operate as an extra incen-
tive to the multiplication of qualify
ing influences. Honest men would re-
gret exceedingly the necessity for
keeping any man away from the polls !;
and If that necessity plainly existed
on account of the mans unfitness for
suffrage they would do their best to
remedy his untitness as soon as pos
sible. But in the South we are today
Nreated to the inhuman Spectacle OF
the dominant race saying to the infer
ior race,not only that it shall not vote
because it is ignorant but that it shall
remain ignorant so that ii may not
vote. The negros disqualification is
Intended to be permanent and in spite
OF honorable individual exceptions, the
dominant opinion is that in order TO
insure permanency of disqualification
he must permanently be kept ignorant.
Apologists for this policy say it is
necessary for the negro's safety If
he shows ambition and tries to rise
in life, he will come into competition
with the whites and their hand will
be turned against him more severely
than ever This is not true in other
cases, The Latin-American who builds
borhood is not set upon and stoned
but welcomed as an equal. Even John
Chinaman, when showing capabilities
is encouraged; and the higher he
climbs and the better he behaves, the
more he is esteemed by his Caucasian
neighbors. We do not believe that
the negro is an exception in this res
pect.
Finally, in the dark chapter of sex
crimes charged against the black man
under the repressive policy adopted
by the South-crlmes so horrible that
well may civilization shudder-we see
that policyis puInnipating condapona