The sun., 1900-11-24
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70 rur fntoR ~ russuS ~ III ed''orlnl
~ fHr S'N ~ ~ d'v m Tho DiaffRnohisina
state AID ~ Constitution WI cninin'nd
" " 10 thnu1u da ~ our ct, ron u sirib"s
Nv" Go nor" ~ v"'t rri'ua du"supn hn'
mu't Inevitably enliat n attention ~ reflect
inR ripd, sou' hi ~ vol ~ Nor,b Tho wonder
I. ~ no more h'. boon IA nbnuI "
III" an siinn isno' mercy ~ disfrarcNiae-
mont ~ ,matlclr oii,'r-i In Ger ain southern
Sinie-. bu' te inius leo ard vtor dome 10 The
reat ~ NJ" cIuntty ~ Rdmiiins a. Congress
so-rallcd RHrtrscr tive, Who do not repre- fspnt
an vho vii be here Nv oten violation ~ tho
fonrte. .nh Amendment ~ III" Constliu' ion.
We Who lvrd through that per od of h,trr
aei'n'ion ~ g 4 NJ n, Cv'l Ws- cannot forget
that shat tns onlcd the "three nfths clause of
the 90, stl'u'ior" vas one Of tho erea, con-
tribuHrs caus"s 90 tho overwhelming
growth Of abol ton sentiment PeoTle
AZ the North G implanted Justly that
while negroes were considered ne rnerN O. mt
tel. their owners were allowed t'rce votes for
every nv" slaves Nhil' no such Power was
granted 70 the owner. Of horses or cattle In tho
free stat a. T. ether words. REPRESENTATIVE
from slave-holdlrg States occupied s~ats In
ConGre's that did not represent any body. II
allowed one slave owners vote TO equal those
OF three freemen at the North.
Was II any wonder that this state of things
created alarm and resentment a. pslpsble In
justice7 II wa imperialism In an ugly form.
II gave unfair political advantage TO q mere
sec,ion Of the country. and was at last corrected
by a devasta tating war. Yet the wrong exist I'd
under the forms OF law. Now the CASE 10 worse
by far ia those States which have disfranchised d
millions Of citizens.
First. there is a plain violation OF Constitu-
tional provision with all the attendant dangers
OF an evil precedent.
Second 1t works greater injustice 10 the
other Ststee OF the Union. Instead Of permit
ting only three votes cast in those Southern
States to equal five cast In the free States, a.
formerly. It now makes one vote In those dis-
franchising States weigh as much as nve and
even ten votes In other States. Tor proof OF
this statement any one has but 10 compare the
votes cast in Louisiana. Mississippi and the
Carolinas with those In any Northern State bav-
ing the same repres ,ntaton In Congress. II
shows that there are single Cor gress districts
In the Northern states that cast more votes for
Presidential Electors and members Of Congress
than the total OF any one OF the States which
have suppressed the votes Of colored citizens.
Compare the districts q Minnesota with Missfs-
sippi. OF West Virginia with North Carolina.
lHe question OeIOIe inc hInSr1cdH poople
must be: Shall this state OF thing be allowed to
c)ntlnuep Politicians may try to postpone IL.
Men governed by party considerations or mo-
tves Of mere expediency may try 10 Ignore II,
but like the ghost Of the murdered king 1t III
come up constantly to mar their feast They
may seek 10 eyade the question Of a new appor-
tionmsnt. but when these men from Loulsiana, n,
Mississippi and North Carolina knock at the
doors Of Congress for admission. people who
love fairness. honor and justice. viii ask, by
what right do you come here? Whom do you
reprcsent7 Where i your constituency
The article OF the Constitution quoted by The
Sun leaves no option a. to how representation
shall be apportoned II In msndatorv upon Con-
sres, "lf the right To vote at any election for
the choica OF Electors TO- President or vice-Pres
ident Of the United States. Representatives in
Congress. &c, shall be abridged then the
basis Of representation therein shall be Re-
duced." tnot may be reduced, "in proper
ton. &c
Now. how can members OF Congress
sworn 70 obey the law. and sitting In Com
mittee OF Rsapportionment. say that this
subject may he left without correction? No
question is ever Sc tied until Il Is settled right
new YORK. Nov. %, G. II. VAN ANTWERP.