The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-02
THE SENTIMENT
OF new ENGLAND
In Regard TO Universal Suffrage Has Un-
derSOl0 a Change.
SOUTH is NOT CRITICISED
As In Days Of YOre Tor DiSiranChlSlnS
the Iiliterate Negro.
AN EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
Is Advocated by Congressman From the
North as a Bar to Indiscriminate
Suffrage in the Newly Acquir-
ed Hawaiian Islands.

Washington, February 1.-(Special.)-The
New England delegations are opposed to
giving equal franchise to all people on the
Hawaiian islands and are using their joint
influence in congress to have an educa-
tional and property qualification inserted in
the laws which are being framed for the
government of the islands. This question
is very interesting one and really repre-
sents the modified views of the people of
New England
Nearly everyone remembers when the
states known as New England advocated
the equality of man in its EXTREMIST form.
Even until very late day have the repre-
sentatives of these states in congress Bit
terly denounced every effort on the part of
the southern people to place some limit to
the franchise in order to debar the ignorant
and superstitious negroes of the southern
communities from gaining entire control
of the county and town offices.
A Change Has Come.
OF late, however, there has been little or
no protest from this neck of the woods
There was some criticism of the new consti-
tutions of Mississippi. Louisiana and South
Carolina from some quarters. but it will be
none at all, from New England This ST.
lence on New England's part created some
surprise, especially as that section was
wont to rise, as the man in zone Night
would say, like a human yeastcake at the
bare suggestion of placing some sort of
qualification upon the rights of the negro.
1t might be suggested that this change
came over the spirit of their dreams when
the white population of Hawaii, which is
composed mostly of New Eng .anders, came
face to face with the problems in our new
Pacific possessions. The trouble with this
change is that it would not be founded on
fact. as New England, through its public
men, had changed their views long before
the question of governing Hawaii came up.
The Bare Fact Remains.
But whatever their incentive is, the fact
remains that the new constitutions of the
southern states which restrict the voting
power of the negroes have received the
practical endorsement of the New England
states.
Apropos to this A. Lawrence Lowell has
an article in the February Atlantic Monthly
bearing directly on this question. 1t is i'm
portant, as Mr.. Lowell, more than any liv-
ibS 4>cW NSHSllliu HIilSl, ISiSClS Tie SSilli-
ment of New England. In this article,
which is well worth any ones time to read,
he frankly admits that the New England
people have modified their views very
greatly ON the question of the right of
franchise
He says that the north, and especially
New England have come to the conclusion
that the south is right in it's contention
that there should be some educational and
property qualification placed on the right
of franchise.
The constitutions of South Carolina Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana, if they have not
received the avowed approval of New Eng
land, have been tacftly indorsed by the
New England people.
The Enlightened Should Rule.
Mr. Lowell expresses the belief that the
reins of government should be rested In
the hands OF the enlightened and the people
who pay the taxes. This view is in absolute
contradiction to the former opinion of New
Englanders, who at one time claimed that
every one living was equal before the law
to every other being; and that the theory
of the equality of man extended to the
Chinese and all other nationalities who
took refuge In the country.
That this principle is becoming archaic in
New England is illustrated by the fact that
its thinkers approve the course of the south
ern states, which have placed some limit to
the voting power of the negro, and further
by the action of the New England delega-
tons, who want the property and educa-
tional qualification Incorporated into the
laws of the United States for the govern
ment of Hawaii. A. w. B.