The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-04
THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION IN
VIRGINIA.

As its position seems to be misunder-
stood The Times wishes to make a clear
statement Of its views upon the question
OF qualifying the suffrage.
As a Democrat Of the old school and
under old conditions it would be in favor
Of the broadest right Of suffrage for a
homogeneous Ango-Saxon population. It
accepts unreservedly the principle that a
white man who is good enough TO fight
for his country IS good enough 10 vote.
and so IL contemplated with repugnance
akin 10 resentment the idea of any quail
fcation Of suffrage which would have the
effect Of DISTINGUISHING any Confederate
soldier 1t has held 10 this view even in
the face Of the intrusion upon our suf-
fraga Of an element utterly unworthy Of
the right 10 vote 1t has so bitterly OPP
posed the idea Of depriving a white man,
worthy Of suffrage, Of the right TO vote,
that It was prepared 10 take chances with
negro suffrage as it now exists in Virginia
under fair election law. But the views Of
The Times have not prevailed, and the
necessity for qualification Of suffrage is
accepted by so many and such Influential
men fin the political life OF our State that
ms a matter OF necessity we are constrain-
ed to accept. though most reluctantly,
a qualification Of suffrage which would
strike those whom we would most gladly
have protected from any deprivation Of
this political right.
The giving of the right of suffrage IN
Discriminatory 10 the negroes Of the South
as a consequence Of reconstruction. we
have always regarded as one Of the great
est crimes ever committed against socie-
~. an outrage against the South. and
fraucht with the most direful conse-
quences to the North. Under these laws,
passed al the point Of the bayonet
Southern negroes. many Of whom could
speak only a gibberish Of language. and
who hardly knew their right hands from
their left, were made citizens and
voters, while their cultivated white
masters were DISTINGUISHED. II is
that the disabilities then imposed
upon the whites have been entirely
removed, but the undeseryed right
Of the negro to vote has been pre-
served to him by the fifteenth amendment
This amendment has been the fortress
which has protected negro suffrage. Our
view was that # that could be beaten
down and the negro taken up by each
State upon his several merits. we would
then have a normal and satisfactory con-
dition. II seems. however, 10 be accepted
that the repeal Of the fifteenth amend
mont is out of the question, and therefore
under its terms We are obliged to treat
the negro politically exactly as we do the
white man.
In this view Of the case and in view
Of the determination Of the controlling
political party in this State not to try
the experiment of fair election law with
such number Of negro voters as we now
have. The Times considers a qualification
Of suffrage which shall be effective and
impartial as better than the present con-
dition OF discomfort with the prevailing
and legaiized frauds in election When
we say frauds IN election. we DO not mean
10 say that these frauds are everywhere.
OF precincts. But We do say that they
exist al so many precincts and are so cas-
fly put into effect at all the precincts. and
that the election law itself Is so obviously
an unwise and unjust law that some heroic
sacrifices must be made to put the poliu-
cal affairs Of this State upon a sound and
firm basis We shall. therefore. earnestly
advocate a qualification Of suffrage. which
shall be fair. square. impartial and effec-
tive. We will not tolerate any jugglery
or trickery, but insist that when a man
Is given right TO vote it shall be in
terms which may be understood Of all
men and shall not be subject To the ca
price OF a vicious or corrupt partisan.
TO accomplish such result we believe
that the educational qualification will be
utterly insufficient. The public free
schools. which have now been at work
in Virginia for nearly thirty years. have
given the power to read and write to tens
OF thousands Of negroes who are still I'M
worthy by any just standard OF the right
10 vote. The plan adopted by the English
In their South African colonies, where
they are confronted with exactly the
same conditions as we have here. is to