Evening star., 1901-06-18
The Virginia Suffrage.

The Norfolk Landmark taking for It's
text an editorial from The Star on the SUD-
ject of the Virginia convention, explains
WHY the members of that body when or
ganIzing refused to be sworn. The oath
prescribed called upon them to support not
only the Constitution of the United States
but the constitution of Virginia, and to
recognize and accept the civil and political
equality of all men before the law This,
the Landmark frankly declares, the mem
bers could not afford to do. They had as
sembled for the express purpose of draft
ing a new constitution upon lines which
would not recognize the political equality
of all men before the law" and hence they
could not subscribe to any such doctrine.
The Star did not in the editorial referred
to. nor does it now. attempt to settle the
question that controlled the members Of
the Virginia convention in refusing to be
sworn. But, with due respect to it's es-
teemed Norfolk contemporary, it inclines
to the belief that the di-.Iculty was regard
ed as greater in its relation to the United
States than to the state. The convention
has been regularly called in the exercise
of the peoples right They are entitled to
d new constitution at their expressed wish
under the rules fixed by law. The law Las
been complied with, and the convention is
in session. 1t may decline to recognize the
"pol.,lcal equality of all men before the
law" by prescribing an educational or a
propertr qualification for voters and if the
people ratify the new instrument at the
polls the Old instrument ceases to exist.
But the United States has this word to
say on the subject of suffrage: THAT the
right of citizens of the United States to
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
of race. color. or previous condition of
servitude.'' and that any state offending
against this provision shall suffer a reduc-
ton n it's representation in Congress ac-
cording to the extent of its offense. As it
was the demand to exclude the negroes
from the polls that caused the convention
to be called. and the execution of this
program is recognized as a very difficult
pi e of work, it seems not unreasonable
TO suppose that the members, in consider
ing the matter of the oath. halted more
particularly at what they stood forbidden
to do by the Constitution of the United
states. and yet what all but twelve of their
number had assembled for the express pur-
pose of doing. new constitution for the
state is one thing To violate the Consti-
tuition of the United States in drafting it Is
another thing.
The Landmark wonders that The Star
suppcsts the Constitution in this matter of
suffrage, and yet supports the Presidents
imperialistic" policy in the Philippine Is
lands. which the Landmark regards as un-
constitutional. The Star accepts the SUI
preme Courts decision in that matter, and
can see no difference between the ''im-
perialism" Of William Mckinley in dealing
with new possessions acquired by treaty
AMI that of Thomas Jefferson. Has II
come to pass that Thomas Jefferson needs
a defender In one of the principal cities
or Virginia, and from the attacks of one
Of the ablest and most influential news
papers In the commonwealth?