The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-20
FEAR BLACK SUPREMACY
Spectre, Perhaps, But Patent,
 Nevertheless.
Laws Restricting the Ballot to the Upright and Intelligent of Both
 Races Recommended
 by Georgia Jurist.

Buffalo. N. F.. Dec. 1s.-Emory Spser. Judge of the United States Court for the Southern District of Georgia. was the guest of the Independent Club at its sso- ond annual dinner tonight. Two hum dred guests, including Mayor Knight and other prominent men of the city. listened to an address by Judge spesr on the sub ject, "The Solid South.''
 It was undeniably true. the speaker said. that the political attitude of the Southern people toward the Governmsn, was directly asoribable te the swift be. stowal by the reconstruction acts of un- limited manhood suffrage upon the mem- bsrs of the African race. which, he as- serted, was no part of Linoeln's plan for the restoration of the Union. The solu- ton of the race problem. said Judge Speer, would be found in the enactment of impartial laws for white and black men alike, which would admit te the franchise the intelligent, the upright ana the responsible of both races, and ex- clude the vsnal. the ignorant and the worthless.
 Judge speer spoke in part as follows: Negro Domination" "The history of reconstruction has left an indelible impression upon the minds of the Southern people. The words, ne gre doniaation' can invoke a hiAeeus spectre which will not down. That it ia spectral merely has made little diRer. ence. In the recent election, by ma5ori- ties the most uneQuivocai, the policies of the Government have received the ap- rard b0 ffnn nf fhn nf HaRH h ern and Western stats. But the ssnd South has been immovable. Of the 12E representatives from that Homogeneous American population, oniy four are tu apparent synyuathy with those mecauros of the Government through which ths people of the United States have attained plane of prosperity unexampled and the country itself the attitude ee world power. at once so equitable and so ire sistible that the authoritative expression of the peoples will seems to have the force and effect of International law.
 While this Is truA 1t is also true that multitudes of Southern men of the most forceful character are in full accord with these policies. Our reflectinK people know that if the economic policies of the administration were reversed, Q wave of bankruptcy would everwhelm our ever interest. Yet they vote with the mechan- teal rsiteration against every interest.
 The fear of an impossible negro su- premaoy is the only obstacle. The rem edy seems to be as obvious as just
 Impartial Laws.
 Tt Is to be found in the enactmant of impartial laws for white and black alike, which will admit to the franchise the in- telllgent. upright and the responsible of both races. and exclude the venaI the iOnn n nd fhn measures need not be confined to the Southern States. The polyglot vote of our great cities. because more effective. seems not infrequently not less dangerous to sane government than the massed votes of the ignorant blacks.
 "A danger in the welfare of the South arn States is the possible reduction of the existing number of representatives aDportioned upon millions of this popula- ton. whose men of voting age are by State action denied the suffrage. This may any day startie the country as noth- ing has done since the reconstruction era. majority of the Congress, under the provisions of the fourteenth amendment have the power. if they have the viii.
 No measure, however stringent will be effective for good government CT sta ble prosperity if 1t sngenders the univur- sal hostility of a resolute people. But 1t is at least timely to stimulate, if we may, profound political thought among our people which may avoid the necessity of a measure so drastic. To stimulate such thought, understand to be tho mission of the Independent Club. Would that there were such an organization in every Southern community. all association of high minded and disinterested men whose love for the country and humanity prompts the conservation of their powers to the promotion of independsncs"