The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-09-01

susted with Democratic machips mcthodz
or dissatisfed with Democratic poncieu
they ars likely 20 vote with the oppo.i,ion
Just as they do In the North "a tnc We,
In counties where the negro populauoh y
large the ~disgruntled white voter sre-
luctant 10 identify himself with the Ne
publicans. He i most likely 70 show ms
di.approyal OF the Democratic party by
dcclininR 20 20 to the polls. by this course
he feels that 10 gives expression 70 ms us
satisfaction without losing eas.e, nut u"
vote IL lost % the Democratic party.
The machine. however. promptly re-
plac.. thi. loss. The illiterate negro voter
l. grist 10 the Democratic mill. His vote
can ALWAYS be- counted upon whiie pemo-
cratic Judges marx the ballots anu elccuV"
laws are framed Tor the ol srand
ing and protesting perjury u .,aua
IL Il not true hi all Democratic Juusr-
mr.. dishono-t. Many OF them are ahssoluteiy
fair and impartial in the discharge OF thclr
duties. Let this be understood The tacuS
are, however, a. ] have related their.
Now let the negro vote he clifnrhateu
a. n factor In elections and the Demo
cratic party will be rent In twain Many
thousands OF the most active and uncoin-
promising party men, who neithe, 49,
nor expect personal advancement oerla,'
without hesitation that they vote the Dem,
ocra,io ticket only because they regard
the race i.sue a. supreme In IN" Southern
States. Undoubtedly the prevailing im-
preston among the people u tnat' WIN
The negro out OF the way. the D.''nocratic
party would be driven from power. Inc
Opposition which o manifesto itseu py
keeping away from the polls would inme-
diately become active and aggressive.
To tho.e white men who now refuse 10 Note
the Democratic ticket would be auicu
many Thousands now In the ranks OF tlat
party and counted among the most reiianrs
and trusted Of It's veteran hete tneh
/. the problem which the constitutions
convention must cndeavor To solve hs
stated In the beginning.
Shall the Democratic party disfranchlSe
the negro and. leaving the white elector-
ate intact, trust its fat. 60 a ialr c'hte-t
before the whole body Of white men IN
the State or shall It p~erpetuate the poWer
OF the Democratic machine by depflNnhs
the people Of the opportunity 10 ehetoiso
the right OF self-government.
The latter result may lH attalheu ~
either of two methods The great body
OF white voters may be denied the right
Of suffrage 10y the direct method OF = ION
stitutional provision, or by the INDIRECT
but no lesa effective method OF leaNihg tho
Legislature 10 continue the present el"c-
ton laws. with tha dishonest practices
which they
IL l. unfortunately true that = majority
OF the whole number Of delegates elected
20 the Constitutional convention rePir,,
sent a constituency OF about on--thiIu
OF the white men OF the State There are
100 delegates Ia the convention. f1fty-
one OF the.. delegates majority OF the
.whole-represent a total constituency OF
lea. than one hundred and ten thousand
white voters Thus. IL will he sssn, that
the Representatives Of Constituencies az
.gregating 100 200 white voter- are out
voted In the convention 10y delegates rep
resenting only a small minority Of tho
white men OF the State. The apportion.
ment under which delegates were lec'ed
thus gives 90 the representatives OF barely
a third Of the white voters the power 70
frame the organic law OF the state ana
IL Is now claimed that they also poseess
the power 20 proclaim the Constitution
and 10 fas,en Il ~ the people whether
they approve II or not. b leading or
uans OF the Democratic party declare n a
sentiment among he memlers OF the con-
vention II rapidly growing In favor OF pro-
claiming the Constitution.
IL l. important 10 understand lust what
this NAV mean. There u undoubtedly
a powerful sentiment In the convention
which favors the most radical measures
Of Acknowledgement which shall apply 20
the white voters a. well IA Ia ia. black
Now, as l la We -aid. a majority OF the dele
gates can claim to represent barely one
third Of the white people OF the state. IN.
actual vote cast for Bryan last year In th.
counties and cities from which they come
was as .OD. or less than one fourth tine
total white vote OF the state. l have used
the vote for Bryan last year. not only be-
cause IL touches high-water mark for the
Democratic party In recent years. Tut t1-
can.e the vote for members OF the conNen-
lion cannot be had. The figures have
never been tabulated In the office OF the
Secretary a the Commonwealth. " u
well known. however. that the vote Tor
MEMBER Of the convention wa- very small
throughout the State, and merely nominal
in most counties where there was nc. OPP
position 20 the Democratic candidate
Nor u this all. The act OF the L.gi-lat-
ure under which the memhers oil con
yention were elected provides that the
Constitution shall Ia submitted 90 the
people for ratification or rejection The
Democratic party -olemnly declared In
favor Of submitting h Constitution and
against the acknowledgements OF any whit"
man This was in 1890 The delegates
were therefore elected with n distinct and
clear understanding ON the part OF the peo-
Pile, n.
the one hand IL is maintained that the act
Of the Legislature calling IN" convention
makes submission Of the Constitution Ga
a vote Of the people obligatory, that the
convention cannot do otherwise than re-
deem the pledges Of the Democratic party
solemnly made before an appeal 10 the
people. Tho-e who hold this view de
clare that 90 disfranchise tls poor and
III III III -
haps ~two-thirds Of the white and to
proclaim the Constitution would he a Stulti-
fcation Of every profession OF devotion
10 Democratic institutions which the party
mas ever made, a shameful breach of faith
A haze BETRAYAL OF tho peoples trust, q
fragrant u%surpation Of power 10y n hand.
full Of men and a criminal and traitorou'
attempt Ia deprive the people OF the state
of the power Of self-gov-rnment. the,
confidently declare that the convention
will faithfully observe the pledges Of tbs
Democratic party. that ~ white man vii
t@ denied a voice in the government anc
that the usople will IT, Afforded an oppor'
tunity To ratify or Ia reject the new Con
Etitution
On the other hand. Il II stoutly main
tanned nv the radical wing OF the Demo
cratic party that the convention u not q
representative. but a sovereign body
possessing absolute power. except 80 fai
as limited 10y the Constitution Of h Unitcc
States. that the Legislature had no powcl
20 limit the action OF the Convention; thai
the Democratic party's pledges are ia M
way binding upon the convention and tina
th. convention should not regard them
that the convention should Ia guided solol,
by ia. Judgment % n majority of it, mem
hers: that IL should proceed tn frame I
! Constitution. the suffrage CLAUSE Of which
should exclude. from the ballot boN al
CORRUPT. dan gcrou- and undesirable voter,
l. - ILL al NlaH H.. .An