Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-04-28
THAT NEGRO sUARE-oRew.

ing Useu 10 oivert attention from an
entirely different purpose. The Negro
hsters, all oblivious of the real inten-
ton OF the master hand behind the
scene is swelling the chorus in his call
for the Acknowledgement OF the Negro
by the means of the constitutional
convention.
The Richmond, Va, DISPATCH is
leading the fight for 9 constitutional
convention and some Of the utterances
quoted were rsbidly anti egro.
State Senator CARTER GLASS is
quoted - follows:
Constitutional revision is need ed
primarily to abridge suffrage. and to
that extent, simplify the race problem
and end political rascslity."
That any man could believe that
Political rascslity csn be ended by the
exercise OF constitutional rascality ia a
surprising thing to us. It is only pol.
luting the source OF all law and in this
makes the situation worse instead of
better. 1t does not end political rss.
oality, it tends to perpetuate it by en-.
grating it upon the pages of the law
of laws.
A man might get authority fro n the
legislature to kill other men. He be-
comes tired OF killing others only By
the authority of the Legislature. He
comes to the conclusion that he can
case his conscience and shirk the re-.
sponHbility, by getting permission
from the people themselves to commit
the crime.
1t is no less q crime to rob man q,
their votes BIZ constitutional enact.
ment than it 10 by the WALTON law.
where then is Mr.. CHASSIS tustifics-
hon for his plea either in morals or
ethics2
State Senator Asa D. WATKINS took
high ground when he said:
Our elections will always he CON.
Quoted as at present, unless the intel.
ilgent property ownership controls
matters may get much worse unless
something IL done to prevent the ig-
norant aud earnest voter from exercis-
ing rights which none but she true
citizen should exercise"
He regarded his oath to the extent
OF b asing action upon the condition q,
the voter rather than his color.
he would bar the ignorant white
voter from the exercise of the right n,
franchise as much SO as the colored
one.
Attorney General A. J. MONTAGUE
was equally discreet in his uttsranees.
MI s. s. p. PArrRsoN. however, ignored
his oath of offi,e to the extent of vir-
tuaily declaring that he did not pro-
pose to represent all of the people, blu,
only class of them. What else does
this language mean?
The chief reason why a convention
should be held is the Negro snffraga
question. 1t is of the n,u,ost
Importance to the State that Negro
suffrage should be limited SO that in
telligent voters Gao divide on hath
Stase ard national economic measures
whenever they think proper to do &C. %
Let Mr.. PATERSON name q state
hich has divided uren either state or
national economic measures since the
adoption OF . new unconstitutiopal
constitution.
The only result has been q furt her
plea for the right to order the colored
people of the face of the earth. Mr..
PArTEsoN continueu.
ut should be so dealt with as to put
white supremacy in every precinct in
the State beyond the possibility of any
danger"
GOULD lower and more sordid ap-
peal be made to race prejudice? He
would accord to the depraved, the vi
cious and the ignorant white elements
rights which he would deny the Ne
gro.
Every nationality on the face of the
globe is invited to participate in our
government while the people who
have made the South what it is By $50
years of unrequited ceM are told to
stand back and submit to grevious hu-
Mutations.
ALI right, Mr.. PArTEsoN. all right I
We will meet you on the hustings, and
in other public places; but the las:
great rally will be before the bar of
God, where race prejudice aud petty
hatred will be cast aside and the in
Equity Of your position fully exposed.
Mr.. JOIN E. EPPs, laboring white
man, whose share in this worlds goods
is as limited as it is possible for a MAI
in his position to be, INDUCED in this
flag at other lsborirg meR:
Laying aside all other con sid era
tions, the question OF the ia dietary
and cDunty OH ,ers and ressric sion OF
the suhcage, and all that, tn ere are
two reasons for convention that
sh )dld make every W aite IN an ia VIr-
gInis al advocate OF it. rhs Fl rat ia a
provision thst the
am lunt o. money paid for the support
OF public schools snail bs diVId ID be-
tween tbs two rsces in proper ton TO