The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-03-24

can be given. No. Why should he?
What is there in existing conditions to |
warrant him in voluntarily surrendering
his political rights? Why invite him to
do what the Revolutionary sires refused |
to do-submit to tsxation without rep
resentation? It is estimated that the |
negroes in America pay taxes on 1884,
0O0, 900 worth of property-the accumu-
lation of less than thirty-fve years. Are
the owners of these millions entitled to
no representation in political affairs?
Shall they contribute to the support Of
the Government and yet be barred OF all
share in the management of its con-
Germs? Some so-called leading (')
negroes may announce their willingness
to eschew politics. but no manly negro
will do 90. In the exercise of his suf-
frsge the negro has always been prompted
by motives that he has regarded as
patriotic. The rank and file have never
placed . money value ON their vote.
Not all Of their leaders have been wise
but some of their leaders have been wise
yea, majority of them.
His misfortune has been that he has
been forced to array himself against the
dominant element in the midst of whom
he lives, and to him this has been
continual source of regret. The "white
Democratic primary" in the South is as
much of q Chinese wall barring the full
operation Of the negro voter as is the
trades union in operating against the
negro mechanic. No negro, though he
be q Democrat, can vote in q white
Democratic primary in the South. His
citizenship is ecorned and his right to
exercise it is denied. Therefore, if the
negro does not vote with the wealth and
intelligence of the South, it is because
that element refuses him the opportunity
to do 30. When he seeks affiliation with
, this class, he is invariably met with the
cry, "This is a white mans country"
The suffrage of the negro in the South
may be suppressed byarbirtary constitu-
tional amendments, procedure which
cannot obtain in the North. There he
can vote at Republican, Democratic,
Populist party primaries, and his vote
will be counted. Today he holds the
balance of power in Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, Pennsylvania. New Jersey and
New York; and unless party politics are
reorganized on lines radically differing
from those of the present no political
party can win in q presidential election
without his support If the South insists
on suppressing the uegro's suffrage il
will eventually lead thousands of them
to migrate to selected parts of the great
Northwest, to the remaining Territories
New Mexico, Arizona, etc., and help tc
make them solidly Republican. What
will be the reeult? A solid political
North against a solid political South,
with the latter always in the minority.
Now, the negro does not take kindly
to the thought of being forced to leave
his Southern home. He fully realizes
that the Christian white people in the
South are in a position to help hin
forward much faster than are the peopl,
il any other section. he is anxious
that no strife should exist between hin
and those who furnish him the employ
ment which yields him his daily bread
He would gladly help to readjust politi
cal lines go that he could have represen
tation in the management of poiitica
affairs according to his character, intelli
gence and property interests. He vii
never protest against an educationa
qualification in State and nationa
elections which will be applicable to al
in every essential and in every detail
In municipal elections he would no
object to a property qualification il
addition to an educational one. 1t is b.
no means happy thought to the negr
that while his suffrage is dishonored b,
the Democratic leaders of the South
it is courted and honored by tn
Democratic leaders of the North
James Matthews, negro in Albany, N
Y. holds twenty-yesr tenure position
with an annual salary of S. 900 by tn
Democrats; and the highest diplomat
: position ever rendered negro was tha
of Minister to Bolivia, which was offere
to @. II. J. Taylor by former Presiden
Cleveland. The suffrage of 5000 90
people cannot be permantly suppresse
in republic; neither is it desirable this
1t should be, if it could be.
II Negro Domination,
No intelligent negro has ever dreame
of trying to reduce the mythical teri
NEGRO domination" to an actuality. ]
is a bug-besr-s ghost that was nc
born in the womb of his imagination
however distorted at times that M. b
have been. He has never sought nc
desired to dominate in political affair
but to parcipitate. He would not coz
j troll to the exclusion of the white ell
ment, if he could. His generous natu,
and his love of justice and fair pla,
: would forbid his Withholding from an
person any right or privilege to whic
{ he might be entitled, and which woul
contribute to his well-being in pereo
: and property. He knows full well tn,
, slavery did not furnish him with
Q knowledge of statecraft, and that tt
i opportunity to gain such knowledge,
q an adequate degree, in single gener
7, ton is not sufficient. He is, therefor