The Portland daily press., 1900-07-04
A DEFENCE OF THE SOUTH
Credit wanted FOR What Has Been Ac-
complished Underl adverse Condl-
ttons.

oompltshed Undcrl EAdverso Condi-
lions.
Under the heading "a Southern Re
publican Defends the SOUTH ex-Gov-
ernor Rufus B. Bullock contributes the
following article to 'Leslie's Weekly;
Your issue of May goth contains an ar
ticle by the Hon. John 5. Wise, "What
Should the South Dof' This able paper
is based upon extracts from remarks by
the senior Senator from South Carolina,
in the Senate Of the United Sattes. Dir.
Wise asks, "What does the South pro-
pose?' In reply leo me say that South
Carolina, by its senior senator, does not
represent 1.-THE South" " and that each
state in "the South" viii act separately
within constitutional limits, as deter
mined by the supreme Court of the
United States. for what she deems 70 be
for the best interest OF her people
As a Georgian and a National Republl-
can / protest against the assumption that
this state has unjust or undue rcpresen-
tation in Congress. All the provisions of
the fourteenth amendment are complied
with in Georgia. The small vote cast ia
congressional districts here. AS compared
with Iowa, is not evldence Of either dis
franchisement or unfairness Under our
system the active contest is Ia fho prim-
AIRY election which decides who shall be
the candidate. That issue having been
deternincd, the actual voting in tho for
nal election is without interest. all
though the ballot boxes are open % every
Hoo and q.
tlcipated In the primary election lor
nomination arc AZ rErtect liberty 60 vote
for any other canaliuafs thnn che nufuiuee
III un oTposition candidate 81 sufficient
character and prominence 90 command
confidence should offer. there would no
doubf-be an active canvass and large
vote pollcd.
II a small vote indicates the great out
rnEe upon rprresenutivo Rovcrnmrn
suggested by Mr.. Wise. why dnn4 nrf
Congress investigate and report me facts.
No one viii dispute The right of thl
House 70 judge Of the election 81 ifs own
members. ft is well for your readers -
rplneuber TINT the enlarged rerree. ntn-
tion ln Congress, based upon black en.
lfanrhtsement, was not OF the south
seeking. IL s. safe % say that this ln.
crease was not Dy the acceptance or our
white voters. The fourteenth amendment
was adopted by the south because under
/ the Republican Congress rs.consfrurffor
]
vote, while large aud influential eie.
ment ol white pcupie-those who held ans
i oiuce before the war ana aided the Con.
teuerncy prohibited from voting.
AZ che acceptance or rejection 81 this al.
/ ulhonM representation. based upon negro
eninnchlsemcnt. had been decided hg
oar white voters it would have becn ~.
Jected.
The duties and the dangers OF the fran.
ehise were thrust upon the negro hy the
II +.lf !. |8.aH4
has not had the courage 20 maintain fhf
| logical consequence of its own lcxisla-
/ tOn IL has thrown upon "the south
the burden oi fitting our late slaves hs
education and training for the high and
| sacred duties oi the franchise. We have
accomplished in this direction within
/ the thirty years that have elapsed Tar
more than was believed possible in 1SVn
| Not one dollar o4 the cost ol this necessary
Il preparation has come from the national
treasury, by and from which every cent
should have been paid. When tha var-
oict IS being made give the south creiit
Tor Whnt she has accomplished under al.
/ verse conditions. There 81 no recorded
hlstoIs oI advance by any people from
Slavery or -erioom that VIII cumnnra witch
iale prcgress made by the colored neonis
OF the south during their thirfv-iiv.
| years Of freedom and cifiznn.hfn. III fho
| recent irachise leri Station in south Cnro-
lima, Mississippi aud Louisinun il rense.
nhnt To the fourteenth amendment Iai
Congress wipe IL out under the authorifs
\ granted 20 10 by that amendment put
do not hold the South guilty of unla.xfn
representation or ask us to voluntarily
abandon what has been forced upon ua.
When any state shall violate the prorla.
ions OF the United states constitution a.
not indulge In faultnnding or thraat'
/ against the south. Apply the legal rem,
/ edy. Tx-COnfederafes arn lnt.abldfns-
| Mhen we gave our uuroles ut Apuolunfos
ana at Greensboro we agreed ninonr ofh
en- things 70 "obey the laws in foroa
where we resided, and we meant tt.
We have kept our parole.