The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-15


II the debate on the Philippine question
continues much longer enough Republican
senators will take the position that the
superior race must rule 10 Justify the con-
clusion that their party never did believe
that il acted wisely and with justice to
the people Of the South when it conferred
the right Of suffrage on the negro. SEN
ator Plat Of Connecticut, in has effort to
show that this country has the constitu-
tional right 10 govern the Filipinos, stated
that the consent of all the governed
wasn't necessary to clothe governments
with just powers.
Senator McLaurin of South Carolina,
in his speech in the Senate on Friday, call
ed attention to this admission Of the Con-
nectcut senator. Indeed, all Of those who
are proposing to govern the Fflipinos with
out their consent take the position that
they are not ht for self government or to
have a voice in the administration of their
own affairs. Senator McLaurin in calling
attention to the Philippine policy of the
Republican party, and especially to state
ments made by Senator Plat, said: THE
experience Of the South for the past thirty
years with the negro race is pregnant
with lessons of wisdom for our guidance
in the Philippines. 1t is passing strange
that senators who favored universal suf-
frage should not now advocate imperial
ism. There is a glaring Inconsistency in
these positions. If they are sincere in
their views as to the Philippines, they
should propose an amendment to the CON
sutution which would put The inferior
races in this country and the inhabitants
of the Philippines upon an equality as
TO their civil and political rights. and thus
forever settle the vexed race and suffrage
questions in this country as well as in
the outlying territories
"How can they consistently, justly, and
/ might say, constitutionally advocate
policy for outlying territories, embracing
races so nearly akin to the negro, which
differs so radically from the policy adopt
ed as to that race in the South? There
can be but one answer 10 that question,
and that is that they substantially admit
in the light of a third of a centurys eX-
peflence, tndt UNIVERSAL suffrage Is u mon
umental failure.
THE senator from Connecticut has most
amply indicated the South, perhaps unin-
tentionally but we thank him the more
heartily for his complete announcement
of the divine right of the Caucasian to
govern inferior races"
Some of the Republican senators have
indicated a purpose to insist upon a re-
duction of the South's representation in
Congress, because of the action of a few
of the Southern states In restricting negro
suffrage. In view of the position which
they are taking on the Philippine ques-
ton 1t is difficult to see how they can
consistently contend that every negro,
however illterate he may be, shall have
the right to vote or else the states restrict
ing negro suffrage shall have their repre-
sentation in Congress and the electoral
college reduced. If we are not mistaken
the tendency of this discussion of the
Philippine question will be to hasten the
elimination of the negro from politics in
the South until such time as he shall be
prepared for an intelligent useso of the bal
lot. No such result of the Philippine dis
cussion was thought of when that discus
sion was begun, but it is the unexpected
that happens.