The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-20
ELIMINATION OF THE NEGRO.
Republicans Apply Doctrine Unconstitutional
to New Colonies.

Especial Dispatch to Baltimore Sum-
Washington, May 1S.-As the movement
in the South toward the political elimina-
tion of the negroes is assuming definite
form it is quite noticeable that it is re-
garded largely with indifference by
NOrtherners and Westerners at the Capt.
tol. The proposition OF Bourke Cochran
at Montgomery, Ala, last week to repeal
the fifteenth amendment to the Constitu-
ton is an Illustration of public sentiment
in the North Mr.. Cockrans suggestion
is not locked upon as a practical one,
but at the same time it is realized there
are easier and quite as effective methods
to accomplish the object sought after
There is an undoubted disposition to see
IL the South cannot settle it's great prob.
lem wisely and in manner which will
restore the suffrage to it's illiterate
masses when they can exercise that
privilege intelligently and without dan
ger to society and good government. The
Republican leaders have at last reached
the conclusion they can never divide
the South until the fear of negro DOM
ination is removed. Furthermore, the
whole Republican policy since the acquisi-
tion of colonies has been directly con-
ttrary to its doctrines and professions
since the era of reconstruction. 1t can
not pursue it's policy toward the people
of Porto Rico and the Philippines and
claim the rights which it denies them
for the ignorant negroes.
ION this line a prominent Southern
Senator spoke very freely to Sun CORE
spondent yesterday. THE experience of
the last 30 years" he said, should have
amply demonstrated two propositions:
first. that the negro is incapable of gov
erning. and, second that the white men
CT the South do not propose to allow him
to govern them. 1t would have been i'm
possible within the time named to so
educate or train the negroes of the South
land, even with the best of facilities, to
make them the equals of the white men
in governing capacity
APPLIED TO THE FILIPINOS.
THE question of putting sufficient re-
strictions on the right of suffrage in the
South without violating the spirit of the
Constitution attracts a great deal of at
tention all over the country. and the
greatest interest is shown in the various
propositions advanced. Even the Repub-
llcans are beginning to see that the old
position of their party is untenable in
these times Why, if you should read
some OF the speeches delivered by the
Republican Senators and members on
the floor of the Senate and House Won
might think you were listening to some
fire eating Southerner right after the war.
TO be sure their arguments apply to
another inferior race, the inhabitants of
the Philippines, but they are now adj
vancing the identical arguments which
we have been using for years against ne
gro suffrage in order to maintain their
position in regard to the Philippines. Not
long since General Grosvenor made a
speech in discussing the Porto Rican tariff
in which he said: But we would not con
sent-and that is your trouble, my friends
we would not consent that you should
drive us to admit that the people Of
Porto Rico and the people of the Philip
pine Islands were upon equal footing with
the people of the United States. We
would not consent that shiploads and mil
lions and millions of Malays and all those
people might come over here and march
into our labor markets, and we will make
1t warm for you before the campaign is
over. You voted that the Constitution
OF the United States carried equal citi
zenship to the Malays and the Chinese
of the Philippine Islands and that is your
position today. 1t is your Complaint that
we would not let you do it, but in due