The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-24
RA1DING THE SOLID SOUTH.

RAIDING THE SOLID SOUTH.
1t is now many years since the Ameri-
Duke on Republican national politicians
as the result Of their effort to impose
the burdens Of the infamous force bill
on the necks Of the Southern people. Had
that rebuke never been administered we
would have had paternalism in govern
ment presenting itself to view in its most
militant form whenever national cleo
ton took place. But the rebuke seems
to have passed from recollection of the
new school of imperialist politicians, and
the batting of white Democrats in the
direction of their rights as citizens is
not unlikely to be advanced during the
coming session Of congress as a part of
the imperiallst political programme.
Notwithstanding the temporary defec-
ton of states like Kentucky and Mary
land it is as well established as any
political proposition can be that the
Southern states dre likely, during this
generation at least, to remain faithful
to their Democratic traditions and his
tory. Their electoral votes will always
remain the nucleus of Democratic
strength in presidential contests IN
der such circumstances it naturally pre-
sents itself to the judgment of the more
adventurous imperialist politicians as
splendid stroke of policy to reduce If
possible Southern representation in con-
gress and In the electoral college. The
way Of doing this is quite simple. 1t
needs little more than a reasonable sup
ply of those peculiar qualities which have
won for statesmen like Messrs. Hanna,
Quay and Plat their present high emf
nence in the councils of the nation.
The lineaments of the colored gentle
man in this particular political wood pie
will be readily distinguished after even a
scant perusal of the fourteenth amend
ment to the federal constitution, as fol-
lows:
among the several states according to
their respective numbers, counting the
whole number Of persons in each state,
excluding Indians not taxed. But when
the right to vote at any election for the
choice OF electors for president and vice
president of the United States is
denied to any of the male inhabitants of
such state, being tWenty-one years of
age and citizens of the United States,
or in any way abridged, except for par
ticipation in rebellion or other crime the
basis OF representation therein shall be
reduced in the proportion which the num-
Der of such male citizens shall bear to the
whole number Of male citizens twenty
one years of age in such state.
Now, the right to VOTE if not actually
denied, is certainly abridged in many
Southern states. The several states have
the right to abridge the exercise of the
suffrage in any manner not inconsistent
with republican form of government,
and as they deem necessary to their own
well-being. Accordingly the iIliterate,
the criminal and the pauper classes
among the Southern negroes are very eff
fectively prevented from asserting them
selves too strongly in political affairs on
election day. If the representation of
Southern constituencies in which the ne
gro is thus excluded can be cut off as
the fourteenth amendment says it may
be, that troublesome factor of the
vote Of the solid South may, of course,
be made much less troublesome
The G l o b doubts whether those who
are engaged in engineering this undertake
ing have counted we'll the certain cost
Of it to themselves and their party. But
it is safe to say that they will not have
proceeded very far in their undertaking
before they have thoroughly realized
how extremely hard and dangerous a
task they have set their energies to &C
complishing.