The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-19
TO VOTE OR NOT TO VOTE.
"A Qualified Suffrage for All the States
Suggested by the Writer.

10 the Editor: Have those who mr.,
advocating the restricted suffrage il
North Carolina given a,,o o;oh+ :,
the collateral effort which is now bcin.
mace IN Congress to exclude illitcrat,
i'iiiiis ANTS from the United States. N
MEASURE oi protection TO the common
"e,'i'h' III SO, it should give comfort
an" announcement to the earnest move
men, Whlch North Carolina is making
ior iier own preservation. Bodies OF
Irresponsible voters. like Destiferou>
"eeus on q farm, are dangerous 10 the
pupIc welfare and good order. Fur.
.herihore, residents of whatever nativ.
ny or status, who do not read OF
speak the language of the country. and
manifest mo inclination TO learn. who
nave no respect whatever for it's tradi
mons, and would not understand them il
they had; and who have not sufficicn'
property holdings to keen them 10 thci,
allegiance, have logically no right tc
voice in its councils. or n hand in IFS
policy. If possible they should be OK.
ci'ueu altogether. To adjust the suf-
rage therefore, on basis of equality
anu pupiic safety is the problem of tho
hour.
It is gratifying to be able to report
good progress.
fouf postulates are now conceded
"hicH were not admitted ten years
ago:
l. That the bestowal of suffrage upon
the negroes universal sutfrage). was 4
mistake, and that as an ameloratina
proposition it has miscarried. whatever
might be claimed for it as a political
factor. Hence, it behooves us all. fol
the good OF the body polite. to undo as
speedily as possible the mischief which
has been done.
= Inc objective fesideratum can be
reached only by establishing restrict
ed suffrage on humane and equitable
lines; and the deduction is. that however
little or much the principle of voting
may be esteemed. no injustice or hard
ship can be imposed by taking away
from people whatever they misuse tc
the detrment of themselves and others
a wilful. stupid or careless child is
better off without his gift gun. Grant
ed privileges are not necessarily perpet
ual perogatives. Let them have all the
civil rights they want. but not suffrage
In respect to the Anglo-African con
tingent, all native born and identified
with the industrial economy of the
country. it is not denied that a cOnsid
cradle per centage of them are intelll
gent voters, to whom the ballot may
be us safely intrusted as to the average
educated white voter. Prominent in
dividuals among them. so far from de-
preciating restriction of suffrage. have
averred that they stand ready TO abet
such measure, for it would not only
elevate and give consequence to such as
are already qualified. but it would slim
ulate the efforts of worthy aspirantS
who might be for the nonce debarred. tt
earn the privilege of the ballot. ano
thereby to appreciate it the more.
The negro can be made to work as
cordially with The white manein eclectic
politics as in the field No race an
tagonism need appear and the color line
will not be drawn in campaigns to come
Mutual respect would be engendered
and while the laggard will remain con
tent to delve, the aspirant for civic
honors may win them, and deserve
them. too Demagogues gam sinai
footing except among an ignorant ant
sbiftless following. Assuredly, senti
ment has no place in the equation, es
necially when we behold such an in
teJligent community rs the District OF
Columbia cheerfully submitting to dis
reimbursement. year after year, for u,
sake of that boon which W. o. Nort'