New-York tribune., 1901-07-05
PLANS TO LIMIT SUFFRAGE,

tied by Mason's and DixOns line. the wit OF man
is being brought into action 70 devise system EN-
constitution. and which shall at the same time
operate TO disfranchse the colored man All sorts
OF schemes have been devised, ana the raise anu
fraudulent pretenCe that education ana inteI4l-
the basis of the right of franchise is being in
sisted upon. In some instances. no doubt. this Is
stances the humbug of it and the fraudulent char
aCter of it too manifest.
The fundamental outrage of the whole tranSac-
tion is the taking away from the man OF tne rignt
Which ne mas enJoyeu- ~ tbis rassr5
he nevertheless pay his full share or the cost
of running the government. Why should man
barred from participation in the affairs OF citizen
ship?
shall advance with one-half the ratio that IL has
during the last thirty-stx years II seems 10 me me
that it will be Idle TO appeal 10 the people or the
country to reorganize the voting or the country o
cause harm has come TO the country oy reason ot U
Hteracy and Ignorance among the voters Has ~
harm TO the United States-oeen dlSioyal anu @ uh-
faithful the hour of her need? Is 1t the ignorant
repubiic9 II was not the illlterate men of the old
thirteen States that stood by King George and be
came Tories. and perpetrated war and murder
against the loyal people of the Colonies in the
great struggle for independence Were they
power of the United States in the prosecution n OF
the war menS Was T ignorant ana hitter
ate men who plotted in 1860 and back of that. and
made possible the great that should devasyate
the homes and destroy the fruits OF our civil
ization and overthrow the Union? Was IL tllterate
men. ignorant men, who in the war against spain
unanimous voice of the American people invaded -
the armies of soldiers and sought To promote
disruption and crime?
DANGER NOT FROM ILLITERATE.
Who are standing to-day in the United States of
America great insurmountable bulwark ol
patriotism and protection the institutions of our
country that we love? A great army OF educated
men, | admit. but also great army or men VINO
would be dlsfranChised under the Maryland law
There was no test in 1860 and 1861 when the gov
ernment cried out in its agony save or We
pershr'
from the first by the greatness and glory of the
education of the country or by the cooperation
and patriotism of the ilterate men or the country.
If by the latter, they should not De punished TOT
they have been true and patriotic. IL by the for
mer there is need of this legislation Either
we have TO this condition or glory by the
help of these ignorant men. and because they were
powerless to do harm, else we have come to this
condition and against their power to do
harm; and in either event the argument is simply
unanswerable.
government without making or that class enemies
of the government. Think you that the disfran-
chised will be fond of and faithful TO the IN
sttutionS OF Maryland and the United StateSt UT
will they stand aside. branded. condemned, as
sailed. a class second only to the imprisoned ana
the criminal and the vicious, and Will they not
hate a government that thus treats Its citizen
All have said of the loyalty and faithfulness of
the government of the tlliterate white men can be
said truly In as large degree, at least OF the
believes In IL. He will follow the men VINO are
loyal. The colored race has reduced the condition
of iliteracy 45 per cent, and that too. under all
the troubles and turmoils under which they have
labored, and II left alone and encouraged the
lliteracy among the colored men Will gradually
and indeed at last rapidly diminish