Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-04
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 4, 1895
RESTRICTED SUFFRAGE.


The northern Republican papers, as n
ule. show disposition TO exact as the
penalty for what is called restricted SUI
hago in the South that the States so
egislating shall drop proportional part
IF their representation in Congress. or
,ourse If any such rule be adopted, it
must apply to all the States, 80 the
northern as well as 70 the southern
Several OF the Northern States. we be-
Heve. have qualified suffrage.
But the question arises. Does an educa-
donal or property holding or taX-paying
prerequisite come within the terms OF the
fourteenth amendment? A man who
iannot read this year may qualify him
elf 10 read I'm the course Of a twelve
Month. So. too, a man who does not
,ay a tax upon 500 worth Of property this
rear may do so a year hence. Or
nan who is unable to pay a dollar poll
lax during the year 1899 may be able to
pay it in 1900 Thus it would seem that
none of these persons are permanently
ssqualided from voting.
Would the adoption by North Carolina,
for instance, Gf constitutional proyi-
zion based upon any one CT these devices.
or a combination Of them, subject the
state 10 the penalty of the fourteenth
amendment?
That amendment provides that when
the right 10 vote at any election for the
rhoice Of electors for President and Vice
President OF the United States. represer-
bn ~
cial officers of state, or the members
Of tho Legislature thereof, Is denied to
my Of the male inhabitants of such STATE,
being 2l years Of age and citizens Of the
United States. or in any way abridged,
except for participation in rebellion. or
other crime, the basis Of representation
therein shall be reduced in the proportion
which the number Of such male citizens
shall hear 90 the whole number Of male
citizens q years Of age in such State"
A number of the Northern States have
had, and no doubt some Of them still have
cpecial qualifications prerequisite to suf-
frage One for a long time excluded all
persons of foreign birth. Others had or
have an educational qualification; others
a poll tax qualification, etc. Was any
serious attempt made to apply the four
,eenth amendment 10 the cases Of those
States? We think not. Why then. IS II
proposed TO apply It to those Southern
States that may seek to better them
selves by adopting constitutional provi-
sions restricting suffrage upon bases
(which have been recognized at the North?
We do not thoroughly understand why
this question is being agitated at this
time. unless IL be that the suffrage ques
tion is being considered in North Caro-
lima, and because the Republican party
will be in full possession of all branches
OF the government at Washington after
March ith OF this year.
However, we do not recognize any con
dition In the South which would warrant
Congress In reducing our representation
in the Electoral College. or in the House
OF Representatives When Congress uu-
dertakes the consideration Of that sub
1ect 1t will have big job upon it's hands.
IL win be a more troublesome task even
than the force bill legislation was.
we much mistake II the administration
does not soon realize That II has Plenty
20 do managing the filipinos, the Cubans,
and Porto Ricans. and the Sandwich
islanders. without interfering with south
ern AFFAIRS
The present agitation upon the subject
proceeds. we guess from southern poll
tlcians who want seats in the House
and cannot get them; nor even the slight
est ground for making contests for them
before the House For a time their angry
vociferations will attract attention. but
the unreasonableness OF their claims viii
abundant employment in legslating for
other wards of the nation"