The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-20
Another Paramount Issue.


Another Paramount Issue.
Some Of the Southern newspapers
which heartily commend the North
Carolina method Of multiplying one Sec
tion Of the constitution OF the United
states by refusing to the negroes the
right TO vote are becoming almost hys-
terical with fear lest other provisions
OF the constitution be enforced against
them Says the Knoxville Sentinel:
This question of Southern represen-
tation II the paramount issue in this
section. The south's political life is at
stake. and 1t Is a time when every man
Of Southern birth. whether Democrat,
Republican or Populist. bimetallist.
gold standard. expansionist. imperialist
or not. should put aside all differences
and vote for the preservation to our
great section Of an unimpaired repre-
sentation in congress and In the cleo
toral college"
The point OF all this Is that the con-
stitution Of the United States distinctly
and In terms which can by no possibility
be evaded. makes 1t the duty OF con-
gress to cut down the representation in
congress of any state which abridges
manhood suffrage. In precise proportion
as such suffrage is abridged In other
words, under the constitution as II now
stands. representation In the lower
house Of congress. and consequently in
the electoral college. Is substantially
based on the number Of qualified cleo
tors in state. not upon population.
Several OF the Southern states have
passed constitutional amendments
which result In denying TO large share
OF their male citizens OF full age the
II would not be right to apply the plain
provisions OF the constitution 90 them.
Not risht7 Every member Of congress
who would refuse TO vote for such
law would deliberately violate his oath
OF office. whereby he pledges himself to
support the constitution.
Here is the deliberately announced
and advocated programme that the
Democratic party. IL II secures control
OF congress, shall proceed to defy and
anRal mandatory provision Of the
constitution Of the United states. Yet
with rank hypocrisy the same Demo-
cratic party Is shouting It's devotion to
the constitution. Does not the constl-
tuition apply 90 the territory south OF
Mason and Dixon's linef IL this the ar
gument which these Democrats orators
bring forward while In the same breath
they assert that the constitution does
not extend 20 the phiiIppinssg Time
and time again has the attention Of Mr..
Bryan been called 10 this attitude ~ the
southern states. to which he looks for
the majority. and possibly all. Of the
votes which he Will receive In the
electoral college. How does the brave
and fearless leader o. the new Democ-
~ Nsft't' "u 1tt~ EFol"Nileht AhfrS
he advocate tho multiplying Of such pro
visions % the constitution as do NOT
suit his friends IN the Southern states
or DOES he advocate the dotns hy con.
gress % lts svqrn duty IN tire urem-
ises7 Not single expression az opln.
son en- this subject has yet come from
Mr. Bryan. or from any nemosra, IA
any state outside Of those where one
provision OF the constitution has been
nuluned. ana where they are asking for
the election Of a congress which will r..
fuse 70 put another mandatory provl.
sion Of the constitution IN operation.
This talk aboat the south's political
NE being AZ stake Is outvorn tolly No
other section o. the Union prosesses
stand solid In an politioal matters. ana
yet an manage 90 survive politically
and. what Is more they have honest
elections. In which every citizen has his
vote recorded and counted as cast. The
actual material interests 81 Oregon ana
Washington are far more closely united
than arc the interests OF Virginia ana