The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-25
In the south-Rev. Z. G. Murphy
Takes Exceptions to Some of the
pog+,jc+ions of the Intelligeucer.

In the South-Rev. Z. G. murphy
Takes Exceptions to Some of the
Restrictions of the Intelligencer.
To the Editor OF the IntellIgeucer.
SIR:-Under date of May 10. in your
editorial reference TO my philadelphia
address on the negro question, you
quote me as in opposition to such suf-
frage test at the south as will apply
evenly and fairly to both races. You
imply that my appeal for the modifica-
ton Of the Fifteenth amendment is in
order to disrranchise the illiterate negro
without DISTINGUISHING the illiterate
white man. 1t seems TO me that even
the most superficial reading OF my ad-
dress must have made evident the fact
that II / urge the modification OF this
amendment 1t is largely because ! see
that II has so lrritateG the southern
mind with its implication of federal CO.
erciOn as 70 cause the very discrimina-
ton It was Intended to prevent. l VIII
gladly mail copy of the address 10
anyone who may be Interested in see
ing statement OF my real position
AS TO the policy Of the southern states
lOWNfu lllt utbTpt NY AlNlAuNN 40 ~
completely the reverse OF the position
which you attribute to me that l
earnestly ask that you VIII accord me
the privilege of quoting here from one
of the leading passages Of my Phila-
sdelphla speech:
"rhe south must, of course, secure
the supremacy Of intelligence and prop
erty. This we shall not secure. how
ever, II we begin with the bald declara-
ton chat the negro Ia to be refused the
suffrage. although he have both intel
iiEpnce wand property, and that the ~
literatc white man Is to be accorded the
suffrage although he have neither.
Suclr'a policy would, upon Its face. sus-
tain the charge that we are not really
interested In the supremacy of intelli-
gence and property, but solely In the
selfish and oppressive supremacy of a
particular race. Such course, through
its depressing influence upon the edu-
cation and Industrial ambitions Of the
negro, would but increase his idleless
and his lawlesSnesS, and work injuS-
tice to the negro and to the state.
"If on the other hand. we accept the
administration OF an educational and
property test which Is to enfranchise
the negro on his acceptance OF Its pro-
visions, and Is to enfrnnchisc the white
man whether he accepts them or not.
we shall have adopted measure which
will be an injustice and an insult to
the white citizenship OF the south. 1t
will be an Injustice to the white man
for the reason that 1t places for the
negro a premium upon knowledge and
property-inalIcs for him an incentive
to the acquisition Of an education and
home, leaves the white BOY without
such incentive. makes the ballot as
cheap in his hands MS Ignorance and
iileness, and through Indifference to the
God given relations between fitness
and reward, tempts the rnce which Is
supreme TO base its supremacy more
and more upon force rather than upon
merit. To the white boy such pro-
vision is an insult, as well as an in
justice, for the reason that It assumes
his need of an adventurous advantage
over the negro. For US TO ask the ne
gro boy to submit to n test which we
are unwilling to apply to our own sons
would be, in my judgment, disgrace
to the white manhood Of the south. My
own boys would be ashamed to enter
into the enjoyment OF conditions which
would give them an advantage over the
negro that would further add to the in
herent advantages Of intelligence and
blood and race. The policy which metes
out test TO The negro which We are
unwilling to apply to the white man,
suggests a reflection upon the white
population Of the south; and our peo-
pie. wherever IL may be attempted by
the politician Of the hour, Will come to
so regard It. The absolute supremacy
OF intelligence and property, secured
through n suffrage test that shall be
evenly and equally applicable In theory
and In fact to white and black-thls
viii be the ultimate solution of the
south for the whole veXed problem OF
political privilege"
EDGAR GARDNER MURPHY.
Montgomery, Ala. May u.