The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-04
THE TIMES. RICHMOND VA. SATURDAY NOvEN1BER4 1899

require that color shall not exclude. but
that a reasonably high standard OF edu-
cational plus the possession OF a certain
amount OF property shall be the qualiii-
cation for a vote. "in this way" says
the Spectator, mot only IS the pure saw
axe kept out. and also the loafing con-
vert who has learned to read and write
and but little else, but the well-educated
man OF color. who has thriven and has
got a stake in the country Is treated fair
" and given position in the state. He Is
M, unfairly depressed into a lower cate
CORY. but allowed instead 10 rise into
higher. A vote arranged on such terms
is safety-valve."
As between the two, under our condi-
lions, the ownership of property is a bet
ter test Of fitness TO vote than the capac-
ity TO read and even a moderate amount
Of property would eliminate nine-tenths Of
those who have been the real or pretended
cause of our political troubles in Virginia.
We know that it will be very difficult
to pass any such law, and that it will
be stoutly opposed by the white counties
in the Western part Of the State, be-
cause their illlterate white voters viii be
especially affected by IT, 1t will also be
opposed by the political leaders in many
Of the black counties in the eastern part
of the State. because they are now what
Lord Beaconsheld termed the "beati pos
sidentes"-the happy possessors-of all the
political power they want and they are
perfectly content with the situation as It
is. We believe. however. that our situa-
ton has become so aggravated that many
persons like ourselves will IN desperation
accept such a solution rather than con-
tinue upon the volcano which is now I'M
der US. We doubt not that many OF the
better class Of negroes will be found TO
advocate this qualification Of suffrage
upon the simple reasoning that st IS bet
ter for few negroes TO vote and have
their votes counted fairly than to have
all the negroes either absolutely disfran-
chised or their votes liable to be counted
in a way they never intended.
In this connection it is proper for rs
to say that although we believe the ne
groes Of Virginia. taken as a whole and
compared with any equal number Of ne
groes in any other country, are the best
Of their race anywhere in the world we
cannot forget the shocking experiences
which were suffered in Virginia when
they were organized under Malone and
made the means Of accomplishing under
his malign leadership a situation to which
the people will never again voluntarily
submit.
The recent experiences. too, I'm Mary
land. especially in the city OF Baltimore.
where negro suffrage Is unqualified and
the Republican party captured the State
government. have been such that al fac
tons of the Democratic party, gold stan
dard and silver standard alike have been
driven firmly together In State elections
for the avowed purpose Of securing good
order. and Of avertlng negro rufiianism,
not merely I'm the country, but i'm Balti-
more city itself.
These are the reasons which are I'M
polling the while people Of Virginia to
a most serious consideration Of the imper-
ative necessity Of such a qualification Of
suffrage as will secure the administra-
ton Of the State government TO those
who have a stake In the state.