The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-03-02
THE
POLL TAX.
says

to
tits mistaken notion the requirement of payment
keeps negroes from the polls They rarely voted before the
constitution of 1890, for number of years
After the government Mississippi resumed by its right
1876 the result of the election of 1885, followed
by the first administration of Mr. Cleveland of the Federal gov
eminent the negroes their liberty under
Democratic rule and longer moved by the fear induced by
carpet bag of from Democratic they ceased to
themselves about political elections stayed away from
the polls.
we'll known that the requirement of of poll
voting has little influence the
negroes concerned VOTE they they would
would be done for them Their absence from the
polls causes chiefly Indifference,
they found gain from voting and lost interest in cleo
tions.
only provision of real value in the constitution the
franchise is the educational requirement That excludes
great numbers Enforcement of the collection of poll would
desire among negroes parcp in elections for
fully qualified exercise the privilege.
1t news to us that after the first administration of
Mr. Cleveland to say nothing of going back to 1875 the
negroes ceased to themselves about political cleo
ons and stayed away from the polls" The prime object
of the last constitutional convention admitted by Its
abest members to be the elimination of the negro from
politics in Mississippi in far possible. II the negro
had already ost interest in elections and had ceased 10
vote there has been terrible fuss sred up nothing
And BY what process does the educational requirement.
of the the Gil considers 'the only
none was really needed at a"exclude great numbers
of negroes who have already os interest in elections
and who voluntarily say away from the polls" any ways
We regard it most serious mistake to tamper in
the least degree with any possible safeguard erected by
the constitution of $780, That the wisdom of the
trainers of that instrument of these poll tax the
payment of which intended to be discretionary the
Clarion-Ledger will not deny. The value Of its opinion
of the value of the provision, it will pardon for ques
tioning. In with many other Of the voluntary
acts of man, voting may be to extent matter Of
habit Many thousands of most intelligent EngIishmen
having never contracted the voting habit do not care
enough about sthe sacred right Of the ballot to qualify by
paying an income tax. And also know that of late
years many thousands of most intelligent Mssissppans
to have overcome the voting habit pretty
fully While the darkey may have dropped into the habit
staying away from the polls esteem it the part OF
wisdom to assist him by every possible in making
he habit perpetually hereditary.
We know from personal experience that where the |
question of the payment Of poll is raised with the
no. that of voting also suggested and believe to be
he best policy to refrain from enforcing the collection
tax the payment of winch is inseparaby associated in
very mans mind white black, with the idea of voting
it is entirely optional the negroes, mass, not
DING pay it It is not going to be paid for them