The Washington bee., 1902-04-26
Cwrittsn Especially for The Bes.)

kfE11lGHG GSpCtidisg tOi &c bGSJ
My position With reference to gi ing
nquaiified universal manhood SUI
iTage to1hsacol0red race IN the South
at the; time, of reconstruction can be
stated briefly.
| believe in an educational qualifi-
cation for the elective franchise ap-
Piled without distinction OF race LE
color, as by that method | believe We
reach the most intelligent and desiTa-
bic representation. | do mol think the
colOred race as a whole were qualified
upon this basis TO exercise the right OF
suffrage and many whites v ould have
been excluded also by the same rule.
II suffrage had been based upon
such a qualification irrespective If
race, ana representation had been
based upon those exercising the eIec-
i've franchise, Inste d OF population,
It would probably have reduced the
repI esentAIion tr I'm some states at
least oue-hali, but the material would
ave been there from which with edu-
Cation. training and development The
Representation could have been in
creased by en- aTglng the basis.
Under such circumstances, the con-
Stdnt and selfish tendency IN order 10
increase their weight and influence IN
he councils OF the nation would have
Ooen 10 educate, tram and develop the
material and q Ialliy It tor suffrage.
he tendency would have been up
ward anu 0 lwdrd. On the other hand ,
the elective franchise having been
placed IN the hands of 50 great a num-
| yr ~ nj. riu
eTclSe II, great abuses we the elnevIt-
abe result.
we have now reached a condition
where, by various methods, the vote OF
the COlOred people Is largely sui press
ed, with the result that he white race
has thus become tpe dominant one,
exercising control. | VIII assume tOI
the purposes OF Illustration a repre-
SentatIOn which Is tw &C as large ds IL
would be If based only upon those act
ually taking paII III The erection.
In using Inls percentage do MOI un
drTJake 10 pass upon tual condI-
lions IN any state. l us. solely "
Illustrate the point.
Ii nifty per cent OF tbs vote has been
pTaCuCaiiy sur VSSsa IL gives the
while race UIs 2~Upur'IOnaIc control
aud IN such Case places in the hands
ot Unc-haI: The people the power which
really belongs IO All. AS the IheVita-
bic teRdenCy IS 10 retain all the power
One ernaS the tcnutnCy Vi SuCn CondI-
tIUn Is TO lead the white IaCe 10 Keel
tue COiOreu race suppressed ana unde
,eIopeu, ana mus SnaUl6 ,nr while
face 10 exercise This dis TOpOTuOndte
power. BY keepIng Inc CoIOTed race
In tins Condition Jney ptTpetuate lhelG
control.
The tendency of such a condition Is
| dumnNaTu anu backward TaLnvT than
| upWdTI dnd forward. instead OF ald-
| ng as qualified suffrage would iii the
| the soIuuUn UI wnal l believe To be one
OF the Creates Questions that now
| cOnirOn,s Us the tendency OF the pres
] enI condition Is 10 nIdkC lis solution
more difficult.
MS among others is one of the
eaSOnS wny 1 bell We that a mOsI
| gave mistake was madt IL giving UNI
/ vSTSal suffrage 10 The people OF Ihr
| South, white as well as IolOred auu
| especially The cOlOTed race. / belicI t
At was d positive injury 10 DUth TaCrs
| dnd II lnITc Is any Su slant al distinct
| ion b5tW cen The IwO IA this respect q
! sItateT Injury 10 the COIoIed race.
1t gave Il The respo Slbillly of the
| ltcIIVc franchise anu gave L abSo-
.Gte,Y 40 opportunity 10 qualify Ilsel
/ TO uvmOnstraIe Its aOIlIty to SUCCESS
| iuIIy discharge lndL responsibility
! 1 hat l. lalleu Is mol surprising, IN laCi
| IL would De very surprising II they
/ succeeded SUCCESS under such con
| dIuOnS would have demonstrated al
/ inherent capacity for elt-govsrnmrn!
| vastly superior 10 the Ang .U-SaXon.
hat theJ did not ouCceed unde.
1 Lucsc well nigh InsuInOuntdD. uiodu
vAnIages Is Gained ny any 10 dem
onstTaJe The entire aDSenLe u the IN
| heTenJ CapaCIty Tor seIt-governme-L
! hcos TttiUC.Iuu5 are now useful OnIN
As entoICIug The Necessity vi cXeTClS
Ing great Care III dealing with p.OD
lem by no means, settled, la order iha
Ike grave mistakes may not Le nIau,
| do not DeneVe inat The IS
| amendment Viii ever Dc TSpeaICd
| The great question Is, taking Iuto a.
| CuubI, the CvnsIIIutIOusI Ilgut5 Ui all
OF which none can DC rIgnuulIy &c
JrlVrd, and All Oi the pIaCtlCaI COhdI
liOns TaCIai anu Otherwise, ~ mai courS
can be pursued that wit al Ene euq
sOFk -Out Inc SISt5t and-IitU5t rtguI
eOuS result.
G. E. LIrrLEFIELD.