Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1900-02-03
THE BLACK BELT.

logical argument on a question
that is now agitating the minds of
the taxpayers in what is known
as the "Black Belt, composed ol
the Southern Maryland counties.
1t will require wise and judicial
legislation on this question, for it
is like two-edged sword, it cuts
two ways. Therefore it is well to
consider the question well. That
there should be some remedy for
the tax. ridden people of this sec
ton, there is not the slightest
doubt. We fully agree in the argu-
ment set forth in the following
editorial in the Republican:
There is among the democratic
members of the General Assembly
strong, indeed, "a unanimous senti-
ment, to do something to rescne
their brethren in the "Black Belt
from the negro domination which
has come upon them. What form
the legislature will take is uncertain.
Many think that some sweeping
measure like ballot reform which
will practically disfranchise illitera-
cy is the proper method. Others ia
yor the passage of special laws de-
signed to give control of the finances
of these counties to the people who
pay the taxes. The next week will
probably determine what manner of
relief is to be given.
Much can be said for AMI against
the proposed change in the election
law and it is matter which needs
TO be well considered. 1t seems to
be generally conceded that the illit-
crates make up the bulk of the white
purchasable vote, the ''floaters." "
Lately, there has been shown dis
position on the part of small per-
centage of colored voters to break
away from the republican party, but
we are informed, that this break has
greatly added to purchasable votes.
If this be true and the break should
assume larger proportions and the
floating vote be correspondingly aug
mented, then, indeed, we must pre-
pare ourselves to face an appalling
condition, the entire and absolute
control of our elections by the white
and black ''floaters," whose votes can
only be had for cold cash and which
90 to him who offers the most cold
cash.
Let us illustrate and, for the pur-
pose of the illustration, we are going
to deal arbitrarily with figures, not
pretending for one moment that they
represent the actual state of affairs.
for we have no means of knowing,
Let us suppose that there are now
600 white fioaters in Anne Arundel,
that the break in the negro vote is
going to dump 600 negro floaters up
on us, both of which we believe to be
low estimates. What does such a
state of affairs mean for us? 1t
means that the party which can raise
money enough to outbid the other
party and get 500 of these votes is
certain to carry the election. But
bribery and corruption at elections
begets bribery and corruption. The
white floaters have been constantly
on the increase and under our pres
ent law they will continue to increase.
When any considerable proportion of
negro voters begin to vote the demo-
cratic ticket or the republican ticket
only when paid to so vote and are in
the market to the highest bidder the
negro floaters will increase much
more rapidly than have the white:
for the caste fear once removed from
the negro voter there is an end of the
solid negro vote and it is, we think,
conservative to say that more than
half of them will be in the market.
At every recurring election the float
ers will largely increase until cold
cash will be the only argument of
the political parties. If this view
be correct, ought not something to be
done? If it be true that the litter
ates are in the main the fioaters and
that the ranks of the tloaters are be-
ing now augmented by large numbers
of black floaters and We are threaten
ed with deluge of them, had We
not better eliminate the illiterate
voter. black and white, by some form
of ballot which it will require intel
ligence to vote? Will not such a
ballot be in the interest of good gov
eminent, morality and decency?
Then why not adopt it? The only
arguments which We hear against it
are purely partisan. Some demo-
Gratis oppose it, because they fear it
may result disastrously for the par
ty. Pretty much all the republicans
oppose it, because they fear the ne
gro cannot be taught, at least for
many years, to vote it so that their
votes may be counted for the repub-
lican party. OF course, there is
higher ground upon which it may
be oppos d, namely, the curtailment
of universal suffrage. But this ar