The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-08-24

cuban S2sAsAft@ f1LA0 Dsaaei fsssst VI hat
the AzaaSf ssa sstiae vac 81 saspah-
ern ssstea al sse e.ss9s. ms 1Istf d ar
That salisston 81 j .aistaTe ana that dis-
positic tt nsasG - go fl eaae ii gnD9,
will pI RAJ hsang /, lbs 5eTa'5Eseaa larty
strong sslgno1 fsu sa,ssg sts fsBsnfsa-s or
congress AIum the Olavn tine oOn&h.
I The SUPPORT of these men will make 1t
impossible for the Democracy next year
to make Cuba an issue, even should an
nexatton be accomplished.
And the strongest and most suggestive
corollary of all Is this that should re-
stricted ballot adopted for Cuba, stand the
test. of time. 1T WILL BE DEMANDED
FOR THIS COUNTRY-by the South unani-
mously. and by large element. both Re-
publican and Democratic, in the North.
which believes that the negro question can
never be solved under the present arrange
ment. r~.a
+ The educational. qualification WOULD. OF
WHITE IN THIS COUNTRY AS WELL
AS TO THE IGNORANT BLACK; but in
the South 1t would forever prevent the re-
currence of thoSk scsnes which have for
years been the disgrace Of our civiliza-
ton. The educated negro is the equal OF
the white man, landf can defend himself;
the uneducated negro is helpless and with
out power of defense
1t is probable that congress, after de-
Gliding who shall vote in Cuba, will fix
date for the general election which is to
decide the islands fate. That election will
II possible come during the approaching
dry season. 1t is almost foregone conclu
sion that the island, under a restricted bal
lot, will favor annexation by large ma
Jority. 1t might favor it under universal
suffrage, but that Is more uncertain.
This whole question of the census OF
Cuba. OF the action which congress is likely
tG take tEis winter, and of the general cleo
tion to be held in Cuba next year, is in
tensely interesting to all public men in
the United States, because of it's probable
reflex influence upon general home condi-
lions, and it's direct bearing upon the per-
picking negro question in the South. A
restricted ballot would work infinite good
in the North we'll as in the South. In
large cities like New York, Chicago and
st. Louis, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
IGNORANT FOREIGNERS who are no
more deserving of the right of franchise
than the ignorant Georgia negro, and who.
besides. are a CONSTANT MENACE TO
THE SAFETY OF THE REPUBLIC.
These men would be shut out together
with the ignorant negro, under restricted
ballot, and the republic would be safer to
just that extent.
Having once established in the United
States this restricted suffrage" then
the argument will be that the capacity
W ICdO duU WIlJ0 is no measure OIL IN
telligence; that even idiots and imbe.
Giles can be taught that much, and thai
there must be commission in each
ward or township to pick out those who
are fit to exercise the right of suf.
frage. And they would exclude 'the ig
| norant foreigners" and generally al
those who were not the servile sup
porters of the plutocracy!
Today every Populist would be shu
out. Then belief in some particular
church would be held to prove lack q
intelligence, and they would be ex.
cluded.
The outlawed classes would soon be
come pariahs, with no rights that any
rich man was bound to respect, and thu
republic would sink in sea of blood.
Is any man so blind as not to see the
abyss to which we are advancing?