The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-20
AN INTERESTING CONFESSION.

The Spr1nEhcio IteFuphc&ANA1'
nhlest Of all the newspapers IN ne"
England, notes the Indifference with winch
Northern Republican newspapers ior the
-nost mart have regarded the recent &C
f,on of the Virginia Constitutional Con-
yention In proclaimins the now Consu-
tuition as law without submitting 1t to
vote OF the people. The Republican
observes that had the recent perfor-
nance OF the Virginia Convention taken
place as late as 1892, or even 1894. such
newspapers as the New York Tribune
would have been unsparing in their crit
icism Of the act Yet the Tribune has
been silent and no Republican member
of Congress has protested against 1t.
Even Mr. Lodge, the author Of the force
bi:l Of $780, AIDES the Republican, has
been utterly mute.
The concluding part of our New Eng
land contemporary article is so inter-
esting and so significant that we re-
produce it in full.
It is only fair, in conclusion. to outline
more clearly the defense of Virginia 1t
by The Richmond Times, whose position
during the discussion Of the submission
issue the past six months has command
ed the utmost respect. The Times Ia
yored submitting the new Constitution
TO the people, but when Its counsel had
been rejected It came forward to oHer
the best and most honest justification
possible for the policy finally pursued
It is "a defense that is unusually candid,
ed as possessed of some force by North
ern people:
..The democrats CT this State have been
forced. for reasons which it is unneces-
sary to discuss, to carry elections.
whether or not for white mans govern
.nent, and 1t was TO get rid of the nee
essity Of having to do this sort CT bus
fness that the Constitutional Convention
was called and a new suffrage plan
adopted The Times has made no con-
cealmcnt of the fact that the whole
movement was revolutionary. counter
revolutionary movement to Offset as far
rs possible the revolutionary enactment
of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Con-
stit,Ition of the United States lhat
amendment was worse than proclaimed.
1t was, TO use q vulgar but forcefui ex-
preston, rammed down the Threats OF
the Southern people with bayonets. Inc
they could, bat they finally determined
10 rid themselves of the incubus and
menace to the solid negro vote
Having adopted this plan, they deter
mined that the surest and simplest way
of puttjnE it into effect was the best,
and they have no apologies to make.
This is an argument based upon Inc
theory OF necessity. You people OF the
North say the Nirginians. forced the
Fifteenth Amendment upon the SCUM
at n time when the Sou. could not re-
s,st st. and when the question Of maxi
ing voters of the males Of the black race
could not possibly be considered with
cal-nness and wisdom by the Northern
neople a colossal blunder was COM
mitted by that act and we are now
compelled to undo the folly OF 1t, SO rar
as possible. y proceedings as unfair 10
the negroes as the forcing of the Eff
teenth Amendment into Inc CONSTITUTION
was unfair to us.
& II Is possible that the lack of interest
In the North in the recent proceedings in
Virginia is due, in reality, to feeling
that the Fifteenth Amendment was 4
mistake. after all. 1t is hard to account
for the present Northern attitude In any
other way.
We do not presume to put words into
the mouth of an Intelligent newspaper
Int this looks very much like confess
sion on the part of the Republican Does
our New England contemporary III fact
believe that the Fifteenth Amendment
was a mistake? We shall not insist upon
q reply, but If that is the Republicans
candid opinion it is by no means alone
in the view which it entertains. All
fair-minded Northern men who have
given this subject their earnest and in
telligent consideration, who have made
careful note from time to- Hme OF the
oneration of the Fifteenth Amendment In
the South, must long ago have reached
the conclusion that it was a stupendous
biunder and that it was curse rather
than a blessing 10 the black race.
In admitting that the Fifteenth Amend
ment was mistake. it is not Implied
that the black men should have been
kept in bondage. nor is 1t Implied that
ali negroes should have been excluded
forever from the suffrage. But to have
nut the ballot into the hands of ignor-
ant negroes just out of slavery and to
have clothed with the full rights of cit
,zenship men who had had absolutely no
training for civic life was to our mind
the greatest aDsurdity. not to say the
greatest outrage, ever committed by this
government. The worst part of it all
was that it was done in a spirit of ven
xeance. The Fifteenth Amendment was
= punitive measure and was designed to
punish and harass and humiliate the
Southern peonle.
There are white men in the State OF
Massachusetts who are not permitted
10 vote because they are not qualified
under the Massachusetts, law to vote.
Does the Springfield Republican believe
that all the negroes Of the South. or
any considerable number of them. Were
qualified to vote when the Fifteenth
Amendment was enacted? To assume
such an absurdity We're a reflection
upon the intelligence of this. esteemed
contemporary.
we tell our contemporary that the
white men Of Virginia, the Democrats OF
ytr:nia do not desire and do not intend