Evening journal., 1902-04-24

tically impossible for all negroes to be-
come qualified voters. and all this was
done under the guise of the necessity
of maintaining the ascendency of the
white man. That was the crime OF De
mocracy, but in the long run it did not
benefit the party that was responsible
for IT,
But what has been the situation since
the era OF Union Republicanism There
HAS been another crime, even worse,
perpetrated. and again the colored
is the victim. Instead OF denying to
many OF them the right OF the ballot,
there has been a systematic effort to
corrupt them. Denials will not avail
here; every man knows IT, He is poor,
and therefore ihe has been attacked at
this point. In justice let it be said that
there are many colored Republicans
and Union Republicans who have
never taken a dollar for their votes,
but unfortunately there are many
Others who have.
II men. white or black, are to bel
judged by conduct, men who sell their
votes must be regarded az disqualified
for citizenship. and when a number
or these are negroes, there is refec-
tion on the race. The man who
values his ballot so lightly that he puts
1t up to the highest bidder has no right
TO complain IL it is taken from him;
and If simple justice could be done.
There would be several thousand per-
sons. white and black, who would be
DISTINGUISHED. IL is not our purpose
here to discuss the briber himself i'll
is sufficient TO say that he is moral
leper who should he excluded from the
pale of society.
What are we to do about IL? Are we
to go around with smooth lie on
our tongues, and deny all the evidenced
that is before us? Are we to pat the
vote-seller on the back between cleo
tions and buy him at elections
Are we To lure him on to destruction,
all the while having a contempt for
his character. and distr1isting him in
every relation in life? And. above all.
are the intelligent, respectable and
God-fearing colored men to suffer be-
cause OF the corruption Of their breth-
rem? These are questions that need
TO be considered and not eyaded.
This is a question greater than that
of party politics. If any man, white
or black. conceives that mis- duty leads
him into support of the Union Repub-
lican party. let him take his position,
but let him not assume that he can
evade the responsibility for his acts
any more than his race can. II is ru-
mored from time to time that should
the Democrats come into power they
will proceed by grandfather clauses,
and other methods to disfranchise the
colorod man. Let us say here THAT the |
safety Of the negro lies in himself. III
he shall prove worthy of the fran
chise, no party will dare take it from
him. If. ON the other hand, he holds
IT as chattel to be turned into cash,
his privilege will always be in danger
The negro In the cottonheld or on the
farm who longed TO be a man, never
dreamed that his grandchildren would
sell their votes. The men who died
in the trenches for the emancipation
Of a race. hoped for full appreciation
The colored man has every incentive
to keep his ballot pure. TO avoid The
profane touch OF the seducer. and he is
no true friend of the race who 80 un-
dervalues his intelligence as to believe
that HE can be hoodwinked and fat
tered by falsehoods. The negro has
been fed on promises which have not
Deen fulfilled, and he should become
wearied Of being the plaything OF
those whose only concern is for his
vOfe