The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-23

July lulllDeE VI ITdHi
Lesle's Popular Monthly Hon
l. Edgar d. Crumpacker, represen
tative in congress from Indiana
writes frankly and fearlessly concern
ing the movement. with which he l:
prominently identified. to secure an in
vestigation of the suffrage laws of the
several states, with the view of placing
representation in the house and the
electoral college upon Il constitutions
basis. This subject, it will be remem.
bered, was recently pigeonholed- for the
present session through fear by certain
Republican influences in the house tina,
it's agitation at this time might excite
sectional bitterness. revive party feel.
ing among many old-line Democrats
recently in cooperation with the Re.
publicans on economic issues, and II
this way contribute a disturbing ele-
ment to the congressional campaign.
Judge Crumpacker recognizes the fact
that reasoning of this kind is tempor-
arily effectual in blocking progress ir
the direction indicated, but he consid-
ers that the subject cannot perma-
nently be evaded and that when its
solution is forced the justice of the
proposition bearing his name will win
widespread recognition and approval
"There are" he says, linen in public
life who are too busily engaged in cal
cuating trade balances or figuring
upon election returns to have time for
such matters as the constitutional
rights of citizens or the political equal
ity of the states. These scratch pad
and lead-pencil statesmen, however
cannot be said to reflect the best pur-
poses and the highest ideals of the
body of the country. Questions of JUS
tice and right will always find forum
with the people,"
Nor is he influenced by the threat
ened raising of a sectional issue
when 1t pertains to policies vitality
affecting the political equality of citi-
Zens,' he writes, "the cry of sectional
ism is not worthy of consideration
The current talk about the loyalty of
the South. While we'll meant is Il doubt
full compliment. Who disputes the 10y
atty of that part of the Union? 1t has
not been a debalable question for
twenty-five years. But what has that
proposition to do with the enforcement
of the Constitution? II any section of
the country, whether it be the south,
or the east, or the west, should have
undue representation under existing
conditions, it would be only natural
for it to find justification for the pref
erence. The best encomium that can
be paid the South is to enforce the law
there the same as in all other sections
OF the country. 'Sectionalism' is no
argument and it suggests desire to
conceal condition of affairs that will
not bear the search-light of inquiry"
After showing that the purpose and
scope of the inquiry proposed by him
self in a resolution yet pending in con-
gress We're not sectional but general,
having effect in all the states sinful
taneOusly, Judge Crumpacker devotes
some attention to Il frank consideration
OF the situation in the South. Follow
ing review of the various ingenious
methods by which southern politicians
have endeavored to disfranchise the
negro in circumvention of the Four
teenth and Fifteenth amendments, we
have this incisive conclusion, which
persons without regard to partisan or
sectional bias:
1T Is the policy of the South that
the negro must always occupy Il posi-
tion OF absolute subordination in all de-
partments OF life. If he develops intel
iectual and moral force, he will aspire
to a higher plane of life and will nat
urally contest some OF the fields of use
ful activity now monopoized by the
white brother, and that can never be
tolerated. The southern mind cannot
conceive of the advancement of the ne
gro In the arts of civilization without
racial fusion and consequent debuse-
ment of the white population. The in
evitable result of this philosophy is in
tellectual and political enslavement for
the negro. the sitting of every amb'
ton, the suppression of every hope.
Can such condition be contem-
plated with complacency? Is it not
possible for the negro to acquire the
sturdy qualities that are the foundation
of true manhood, and to improve his
condition without miscegenation and So
cial degradation? Social equality cam
not be created by legislation, and it is
not the necessary consequence of pollti-
cal equality. In the northern states
there is political equality, but it has
not resulted I'm any degree in racial flu
sion. Social laws and customs are ade-
quate to protect the purity of the dom
inant race against the inundation of
colored blood.
Let the negro have every right he
honestly earns and give him nothing he
does not earn. Let him educate and
advance IL he will and il he viola tas