The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-24

L. y
LOUISIANA AND NORTH CARO-
LIMA A GOVERNMENT THAT
THEY WILL NOT TOLERATE IN
THE NEWLY ACQUIRED TERRI
TORIES?. If IT is TO SECURE
THE NEGRO VOTE FOR THE RE
PUBLICAN PARTY. THEY WILL.
NOT SUCCEED. UNLESS YOI,
WITHDRAW 4 PART OF THE
ARMY FROM THE PHILIPPINES
AND AGAIN MAKE \ MILITARY
CAMP OF THE ENTIRE STATE.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE REVIEWED.
Review the history of negro suffrage
in Louisiana. When first exercised by
the negro. he fell under rhe power of
the carpetbagger The entire negro VOC
was moved by one influence: it was one
aggregation. 1t was kept selid by CON
tinuors. unremitting attention, by prom
ises of land and mules, by threats of 4
return to slavery. by promises of social
equality with the white. by the encpur-
agement of race prejudices. When The
power of the carpetbagger WAS broken.
the negro fell under the domination of
the whites. He was tractlblc as when
under the power of the carpetbaggeF. lie
voted Just as his immediate employer
in the country dictated him to vote. tie
had no Will of his own. In SOME locali-
ties it was SO we'll known that the entire
vote on the plantation would be cast ac-
cording to the views of the proprietor
that the presence of the negro ut the
polls WAS dispensed with. in fhe CITIES
and towns whe.e they were MT employ
ed in large numbers Icy any oae pei son.
they soon learned the money value of
their votes, and thfol III Il chosen laadt'
would sell to the highest bidder.
The Republican party existed only III
name. composed of Il few stragglers III
New Orleans who kept up simulated
organization for the purpose of sending
delegates 10 the Republican national con-
yention Ii is only since the regulation
of the suffrage that the party begins to
show some vitality by attracting to 1t
some intelligent and respectable white
citizens and negroes who have sufficient
intelligence and responsibility 10 eXer-
else the right of suffrage. Old time but
respectable Republicans and Democrats
and the more intelligent Of the negroes
demanded change in our political con-
ditions and 4 reformation of the suffrage
THE LOUISIANA LAW,
The members of the convention which
adopted the constitution of 1898 We're
able and conscientious. They were con-
fronted with Il serious problem. and, in
my opinion. they solved it. The suf-
frage article Of the constitution provides
that every male citizen 21 years of age.
a bona fide resident of the State for
two years, of the parish one year. and
of the precinct six months shall be en-
titled to vote if he can read and write,
of if he owns property. real or personal.
assessed to him to the amount of $500,
The qualification 10 read and write is
tested by the ability of the voter to I'LL
out the blank application to register,
which is as follows:
Il aim citizen Of the State Of Louis
lana. Ny name is -. / was
born in the State TOR county, of ----- ----.
parish Tor county, of ------. on the -
day of , in the year | am
now years - months and --
days of age i have resided in this Sta-c
since -, in this parish since
and in precinct No. -, of ward No.
--. of this parish. since and |
am not distinguished by any provision of
the Constitution of this State"
This test is simple enough The dis
franchisement has reference to article
202 which enumerates the causes 10 be
conviction of crime the punishment of
which is imprisonment at hard labor; in-
mates of charitable institutions, except
the Soldiers Home; those actually con-
fined in any public prison. interdicted
persons. insane or idiotc persons
With the exception of this disfran-
chised class, any citizen, white or color
ed who has the qualification Of residence
can vote if he be able TO read and write
or possessed property assessed to him OF
the value of $500. No constitutional Oh
jections can he urged to these quaitica-
tons. The constitution. section ., az
ticle 1917. eXcclss Il certain class from
the qualifications above stated. 1t is
this article against which complaint is
leveled because it is said it dis"riminates
against the negro. A like provision is
contained in proposed amendment 10
the constitution Of North Carolina, which
is the occasion Of the resolution offered
by the Senator from that State. Section
) is as follows:
SECTION FIVE.
NO male person who was on January
1. 1867. or at any date prior thereto, en-
titled 20 vote under the constitution or
statutes of any State of the United
Staes wherein he then resided. and 70
son or grandson of such person not less
than 21 years Of age at the date of
adoption of this constitution, and TO
male person of foreign birth who was
naturalized prior TO the 1st day of fam
uary, 1898. shall be denied the r:ght 20
register and vote in this Stare ny rra-
son of his failure TO possess the educa-
tional or property qualification as pre-
scribed by this constitution: Provided,
He shall have resided in this State FOR
five years next preceding the date at
which he shall apply for registration, and