Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-10
TUESDAY. JANUARY 10, 1899.
SUFFRAGE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

We learn from the Raleigh News and
Observer that the suggestion of con-
sututional convention in that State
seems to have been abandoned Our
contemporary says this Legislature has
as much power and as much brains TO
deal with the question as any consttu-
tional convention that could be chosen"
True The present Legislature of North
Carolina is of unusually fine material
we are Informed.
1t seems now certain that that Legis-
lature will frame and submit a consu-
tutional amendment on the suffrage
question. and that i'm most respects 1t viii
follow the Louisiana method. mo white
man Will be deprived of suffrage. says
the News and Observer, and that posi-
ton seems to be in accord with the
pledges of the party made in last years
canvas. Mr.. Winston. OF BERTHE, has
offered In the House bill, or resolution,
proposing such an amendment. 1t is
modelled largely upon the Louisiana plan,
with some features Of the Mississippi
and South Carolina constitutions, and
lome entirely new features.
We shall watch the proceedings Of the
North Carolina Legislature ON this sub
feet with great interest. The State is
fortunate in having a Legislature fully
equal to the occasion. The only question
is as to whether the Democratic party
Of North Carolina is a unit, practically
Speaking, in favor of restricted sur
trage. If so, the course is clear; If not
not. The Republicans may be relied
upon to oppose any change. Unanimity
upon the part of the Democrats of the
State, therefore, becomes essential to
success.
We take it that the Legislature Will
feel It is its bounden duty TO submit to
the people an amendment to the Consti-
tuition, so as to confine the electorate to
whites and to intelligent and response
bic colored people, but the fate Of that
amendment may be foretold, unless II be
imported heartily by the Democratic
party as a party.
Meanwhile, we may as well make up
bur minds that some of the Republicans
are going to try intimidation methods in
Congress; that is to say, as an onset 10
restricted suffrage they will threaten the
South with loss of representation in the
electoral college and in the House. How
far they will proceed depends upon cir
cumstances-upon how much, or how lit
tie. absorbed they are in maintaining or
der I'm our conquered territory 1t may
be the activity of the conquered peo-
piles will so engage the attention OF Con-
gress for some years to come that Con-
gress will have no time TO give to mea-
sures intended TO harry the southern peo-
ple. In that event, the 'forcible annex
alton" which The President has charac-
terIzed as terminal aggression will not
prove to be an unmxed evil.
BY the way, we had hoped to see some
Of our northern contemporaries discuss
ING the point recently raised by the Dis
patch-to-wit whether requirement
that n voter shall know how to read, or
shall be possessed Of a few hundred dol
lars worth Of taxable property would
be in contravention of the fourteenth
amendment and would justify a reduc-
ton of the States congressional repre-
sentation? And. if so. why has not that
rule been enforced against those States
in the North where such prerequisites
10 suffrage obtain now, or have obtain
ed in the recent past?