The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-28

whites. The Constitution does not forbid
that. The Supreme Court has expressly
sustained the Mississippi suffrage provi-
sions which disqualify more negroes than
whites, this being their admitted purpose
Larceny throughout the South disquali'
ties vastly more negroes than whites
The number of disqualified does not af-
fleet its conStitutionality. A State can
not deny one man the right to vote on
account of his color, race or previous
condition of servitude, but it can deny a
thousand the right to vote for other
causes.
SAYS NO MORE THAN 1T MEANCC.
4 reading of the amendment discloSes
no reference to race, color, or Servitude.
Those who adopt it and those who con-
strue it will know that it says what it
means, neither more nor less. Its enc
mics often ignore what all must concede,
that in the essential requisites of the
best and safest suffrage, one race is,
and inevitable so, from its dtions and
history, its environment. its nature and
condition superior to another and that,
under any reasonable rule intended to
separate the fit from the unfit voter, a
larger proportion of the inferior race viii
necessarily be eliminated than of the SUI
perior race. A State has the right to
adopt any reasonable rule, qualification,
or eXpedient to separate the fit from the
unfit voter not violative of the fifteenth
amendment No rule will be perfect; no
law will admit every fit voter and reject
none, and reject every unfit voter and
admit none. The proposed amendment,
under present conditions, is as nearly a
perfect rule as wisdom is apt to devise.
Its extension of suffrage to more whites
than negroes is natural and necessary III
distinguishing the fit from the unfit
voter.
A voter should be patriotic, desiring
his cOuntry's welfare; conscientious, low
ing right above all things; intelligent,
fairly understanding the general princi-
pies of government and the ordinary
matters presented for his suffrage, and
fearless acting upon his best judgment.
He should vote honestly, without fear,
favor, or corruption.
The ordinary unlettered negro is not
prepared for the duties and responsible
tics of suffrage. He usually knows moth
ing of and cares nothing for public is
sues. Appeals by bad leaders to his
fears, passions. and ignorance usually
control him. He has little pride in the
glorious history of his country. He
dares not vote openly contrary to the
mass of negroes.
SUPERIOR TO UNLETTERED Ne
GROES.
The unlettered white man, on the con-
trary. has the courage of his convictions.
He is intelligent. At his fathers feet
and the duties and rights of citizens. He
is superior to the unlettered negro in
and intellectual grasp. He
has for generations attended the courts
and habitually heard legal and political
discussions. He understands American
fundamental principles He is patriot.
He fought at Kings Mountain at Gull
frd, and Trenton. He was with Wash
ington, at Yorktown, with Jackson at
AppomattoX. His moral faculty and
hrnness Of purpose exceed those of the
unlettered negro. He has claimed and
exercised political rights for hundreds of
years. Seven centuries ago he wrung
the great charter from tyrant King John.
he made Luther'S reformat on success
full. He shouldered his rifle. builded
his cabin on the frontier. and laid the
foundations of the country's greatness.
Is he not better qualified to exercise
patriotic, intelligent, incorruptible ballot