New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-15
THE PASSING or THE RACE ISSUE.

THE PASSING OF THE RACE ISSUE
Attention has already been called in these
columns 10 the wholly inexcusable effort maze
this wear i'm Maryland by the Democratic state
Convention 10 drag the race ISSUE Into politics.
Unwilling TO affirm or defend the prlhcpleS To
which the party is bound by its latest Natloial
tlatform. and reluctant 10 face with courage OF
decision the newer issues created by the spans"
war the MARYLAND Democrats could ma u"
more plausible ground on which 10 base 'heH
comnoirn than a half hearted avowal OF dls-
satisfaction with the results of negro suffrage.
Tho avowal was half hearted because the state
Convention. timid and evasive in all things
could not bring itself TO suggest negro as
francbisement rs the remedy for the evils
# described and dcplored. In the Baltimore
nlatform. adopted August ,. this misleading ana
feehle.forcible declaration is solemnly made:
The Republican party depends almost entirely
for its success upon the support Of the large
negro population in our midst, and relies upon
them for the election of its ticket and the con
tinuance Of its supremacy. without th'r 'o''9
II would be a hopeless minority
This fact has created the belief by large mum
hers Of the worst elements Of this class OF our
nonulation that political Influence viii read"y
10 cverted 10 secure for them immunity from
punishment for violations Of law has accor ing
" led to an alarming increase in many speyies
~ crime and is constant menace ~ 'l' fN''
and good order Of the state.
Such n doplorable and dangerous condition or
affairs cannot he ignored or treated win IN
diforence and while We distinctly pledge our
selves 10 DO equal and exact justice {" all WIN
ont regard 10 race. and To guarantee 10 lh'
colored people Of the state the fullest protection
I'm all their rights. we are not nsenslple ~ ,re
perils which such n situation Involves nor u"-
mindful Of the obligation which ii imposes
safety and protection from those evils can
only be found in the return to political power OF
sfli
the vast majority Of the intelligent MANHOOD
Of the State.
It is highly creditabe TO Maryland opinion
whose intelligence and sobriety were distinctly
challenged by this picture Of the imminent
perils Of negro suffrage that il has never taken
very seriously either the warnings Of the BATH
more platform makers or the curious palliative
thcy have prescribed for the evil when
threatens the peace and good order OF the
state" Since the present campaign began no
voice has been raised so far as We know, in
tho conservative Democratic press to second
This demagogic appeal TO race and color preJ-
udices through which the Democratic managers
homo 70 VOL the Weaknesses and inconsistencies
of their general policy. Possibly no serious de-
fencc could he made Of plank which 50 patent
IL cxogpcratcs the influence Of the negro voter
in MARYLAND politics THE Baltimore sun pun
uehod Yesterday the results Of census OF that
citv,s voters which has just been completed by
tho nolice II shows that there are in Baltimore
131 ol1 persons entitled to vote at the fall cleo
,ion OF these 10 10 are white ana Only -'-p'
colored And as the ratio Of colorcd 10 whit"
nonulat;on is larger in Baltimore than it Is III
thc counties Of Maryland 1t Is probable that out
! ~ fine total vote 10 be east in tho state next
| fall barely II or - per cent can come or WI"
como from the negro race.
Such evidence Of the numerical dSproporuoh
| NJ the two races ought to put an END 10 the
! fonciful contention that "the peace and good
order" of Maryland are mcnaccd by the power
If the negro vote. For how can one-nfth
MORO minority in any electorate possibly
| threaten tho interests or security of white
majority OF four hfths? 1t Is time, indeed. that
tho ghost of the race issue should be laid den
nitoly in Maryland. West Virginia and Ken
tucLv have put aside the race issue rs obsolete
and meaningless, and there is certainly nothing
IN ,,rescnt day conditions in Maryland 10 justify
;,o sudden rccrudcsconce Its Righteousness can
he as completely proved by the freedom of
Republican leadership from any faint OF race
enbseryiencv as its emptiness Is established 10y
tho sicni6cant disclosures of the recent census
Of voters in Baltimore.
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