The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-10-12
The Negroes and the New Injection
Law.
From tho Easton ledger.

The Democratic party has no apologies to
make for the passage of the new election law.
1t has acted solely for the best interests of the
State-socially morally, intellectually and
financially. 1t has striven to place the ballot
in the hands Of those best capable OF using it
for the public good. To this no good citizen
can reasonably find objection. 1t is only
those who hope TO profit by the purchase and
use of the ignorant and the venal negro voter
who complain of the operations Of the new
laws.
The conditions existing in this State, more
particularly in the lower counties, where
large and increasing ilIiterate negro popula-
ton is yearly becoming greater menace to
the safety Of the persons and property of repu-
table white citizens, and to the honest aud
economic administration Of local affairs. inn
peratiyely demanded some radical legislation.
Not only are the social and industrial con-
ditions of these sections most disastrously
affected by the presence Of this element, but
the evil is great enough actually to drive away
the better class of laborers and leave these
counties dependent upon a laboring class that
is at once ignorant, indolent and lawless. The
population in these counties of recent years,
where it has not decreased, has increased in
proportion far lower than anywhere else IN
the State.
In spite of the fact that Maryland has a
system of public schools that compares most
favorably with those of other Eastern States,
the proportion of illiterates is unfortunately
large, and the difficulties and danger resulting
from the presence of an Ignorant element are
felt in every county. Experience has shown
that wherever there is a large percentage of
purchasable voters. Thus illteracy strikes at
illiterates there is a large percentage of
the very root of our social system; its banetul
influence is felt in the selection of our officers,
in the framing of our laws and in the admin
istration of our local affairs. And yet the dis
tinction must be carefully drawn between
those whose lack of education renders them
source of danger to the community, and those
who in spite of this drawback have made them
selves respectable and respected citizens.
The real purpose of the law is to put a stop
to the colonization in this State of ignorant
negroes who are seeking homes here because
Of the restrictions placed upon the right of
franchise in the States further South. The
class coming to this State is undesirable and
if they continue to come in the same proper
ton that they have for the past few years,
they will soon be in the majority.
According to the Federal census of 1900
there are 62,208 negro voters IN Maryland.
OF these "a, 425 or over 20 per cent. are Tilt
crate. The increase in the population of the
State from 1890 to 1900 was TAI, $50; but the
increase in the registered voters was 81, l02.
The ordinary ratio of voters to total popula-
tons is / in 4, but the actual ratio, as shown
by the Federal census, was q or an excess of
"a, 189 voters over the number there should
have been, and this number is just 236 less
than the aggregate illterate negro vote. In
1890 the registered white vote was 1S6, 1921;
according to Federal census of 1900 it was in
that year 207, III literate and IL, 1877 iliterate
or a total of 8,968, an increase. of III per
cent. in ten years. In 1890 the registered
negro vote was 45, $50; according to the Fed
eral census of 1900 it was in that year 35, 1888
literate and "a, 425 illiterate, or total of
60, 20S-an increase of about % per cent. in
ten years.
In the election ofl895 when Lloyd Lowndes
defeated John e. Hurst by 1867 there were
81, 472 registered negro voters. If the 40
per cent. of illiterate voters prevailed in
1895 as in 1900-and there is no doubt that it
did-then of the 81 ,472 registered negroes at
least 20, 470 were illiterate; and this number is
400 and odd more than the majority which
Mr. Lowndes received. In other words, with
out the aid of these 0,480 illiterate negro
votes the Republican party could not have
Now, there are "a, 400 of these same filter
ate voters. Ii they vote, they vote the Re-
publican ticket. They are ignorant and with
out the slightest concern about good govern
ment Indeed. they do not want good gov
eminent, because good government Restraints
their vicious tendencies and Furnishes their
misdoings. Banded together under designing
leaders, who use them mere voting ma
chimes, they are thrown in solid mass to turn
the fate of aa election. They are u menace
to society, TO good order, and to the safety of
the community, and if the new ballot law ex-
cludes them from controlling an election, as
the election of 1895 was controlled, so far
from the law being infamous it is in the high
est degree meritorious.
1t is not pretended that the negroes are in
a majority in this State, but they compose
fully one-half of the voting strength of the
Republican party. Their number is increas-
ing out OF proportion to the increase of popu-
lation, as the figures we have just given indis-
putably show, for in ten years the registered
negro vote increased about 80 per cent. whilst
the white vote increased but III per cent.
This disproportionate increase is doubtless
due to importations from other States where
the illiterates are DISTINGUISHED, and unless
some check is put upon this padding of the
registration lists the evil will grow to such an
extent as to be unbearable.
IF the object of the new ballot law was TO
eliminate from the polling both the illiterate
and lawless element of the negro race, SO that
the government of the State may be in control
of white men chosen by white men, it can
hardly be said that the enactment is Infamous
if it accomplishes that result, unless it be con-
ceded that a measure designed to secure and
actually securing intelligent control Of the
State by white men is, in itself, infamous.
Such an assumption would be preposterous.
Because the Republicans assert that the
effect of the new law will be to disfranchise
illiterate negroes, they denounce it as in
famous. If this be infamous it will be revel-
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