The age-herald., 1901-04-27
Negro Dlsfranohisement.
rom the Kansas City Star.


 Although the vote in Alabama yester- day was light one a large majority of the ballots cast was in favor of the pro- posed new State constitution, and in pursuance of the plans thus indorsed q convention will be held at Montgomery, opening, May 2l. to draft a new organic law for the commonwealth. The only amendment of importance that is sought through this revision Is the disfranchise- ment of the negro voters of the state. Ostensibly the purpose Is to place an educational restriction upon he ballot, but there are so few qualified negroes on the one hand and such assurances that no white voters shall be disfran- chised on the other, that the result prac- tically amounts to strict observance of the color line at the polls.
 Educational publication as a principle Is just and beneficial. not only in its re- lation to the rights of citizenship, but also as stimulant toward general en- lightenment. The principle is not justly applied, however, when it affects ane race and not another. In several states of the South 1t already has been employed in such way as technically to guard against violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. In Alabama the real pur- pose of tn enew order of things has not
  speeches of the Democratic organization. Yet 1t is not likely that the Federal gov ernment will take hand against the dis franchisement of Southern negroes. While this denial of certain rights of citizenship cannot be defended upon ethical grounds, some good may result from 1t through the enforcement of higher qualifications upon the black race. Some of the leading negroes believes that 1t will result in good in the end. Booker T. Washington is of the belief that the race problem must work itself out. and rather welcomes the elimination of his people for time from politics in the South.
 The new constitution of Alabama can hardly make white supremacy more se- cure than it has been in that any other Southern States It will, however, re- move from politics tthe diagreesable processes of arbitrary or forcible disfran- chisement and give the cover of authori- ty to practices that hitherto have been violations of law. Just what effect this will have upon party lines is something for future developments to determine. It is held by some that it will eventually break up the solid South as it will leave the voters of that section free to consult their economic interests rather than be governed by their sectional prejudices
 As to the effect upon the negro as a necessary element in Southern life, that IS dn0tueT qutSlluH. Ou pOiut lne Rev. Edgar Gardner Murphy of Mont gomery, Ala, an advanced thinker and an influential Democrat has great doubts. He opposed the constitutional revision. He believes that his State must event ually protect itself by just application of the educational test to both whites and blacks. He thinks 1t highly probable that the valuable and absolutely necessary ser- vices of the negro on the Southern plan fationS in the Sh0Ds and elseWhara will be seriously demoralized by the unrest caused through disfranchisement He is afraid of the agitators who may bring about a period of alarm. On this point he says:
 Our negroes are not an ideal popula- tion, but they are suited to the industrial needs of the south. Most of them are going quietly about their work. A policy of alarm will not be policy of profit, It will not increase the value of the negro of Alabama. Anxiety. restlessness and discontent bring paralysis of efficient la