The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-28

a set of men who had qualified them
selves for the work by soleinnly
swearing to supnor the constitution.
which conferred no such power uDon
them, as was admitted by Thaddeus
Stevens. their leader.
Surely, then. ii cannot be claimed by
any intelligent and inst man that the
republican party has any moral right
to reap any benefit from its own
wrongs, and deprive the southern
states Of representation in proportion
TO their share OF the public burdens
Bue even if his amendment were a
valid part of The constitution. the re-
publican party has no just ground OF
complaint against any southern state
because OF any deficiency OF voters
There are four states in the union
made states by that party-whose ag-
gregatc population. according to the
census of 1890, was less han 325. 001. or
abou one-fifth Of that OF North car
DINA. One of these states C,evada)
had less than 1000 people in IL when
il was clothed with statehood. and a
IT not been for her three electoral
votes. Mr.. Tilden would have had two
majority over Mr.. Hayes even after
the electoral votes of Louisiana,
Florida and South Carolina had been
transferred to the latter. These four
states have now four members In the
house of representatives. and eight
members of the senate. and they cast
twelve electoral votes in presidential
elections. This unfair and unjust ad-
dition to the strength OF the republican
party safely entrenches it in power
even when it's policy and its methods
may be repudiated by a large majority
Of the people of the United States. OF
the popular vote. for example. in the
presidential election Of 1876 Mr.. Tilden
received $50. 900 more than Mr.. Hayes.
The justice Of depriving the threat
ened southern states of their equitable
representation cannot escape the dull
est comprehension when the figures of
the census have been studied. The ag-
gregate population OF the four states
of Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and Mon
tana, including Indians mot taxed"
is not equal to the white population
(about 400, 000) of South Carolina. the
least populous Of the threatened
states: and, excluding the colored peo-
pie altogether, the aggregate popula-
ton Of the threatened states North
Carolina, South Carolina. Mississippi
and L~ouisiana) is about $3.50, 600, or
more than eight times that of the
mining camps" In other words, one
hundred white voters census of 1S90)
in these camps" have as much power
in the house Of representatives as one
uuIIuT6u anu SIeNeH Willie NUltIS LII
the threatened states, as much power
in the election OF presidents as three
hundred and thirty-four white voters
in these states. and as much power in
the senate as eight hundred white vot-
ers in these states. Can anybody,
therefore, who does net hold hat
might makes right, justify any further
aggression on the birthrights of the
southern states by those who have
pr1rnnca1U hrnrOhf nhort chic trn~
cusable inequality?
But there is another view of the sub
ject which we must not lose sight of.
AS soon as the republican party found
itself safely entrenched in power, 1t
began to build up states in the west
and northwest bv donations OF the
public lands which belonged in part to
the southern states. and for which
these states had. under the operation
OF protective tariffs, paid considerably
more than their equitable share. Free
homesteads were offered Q,S62) to the
overhowing populations of Europe and
the northern states; millions Of acres
were donated for railroads, wagon
roals, canals and other works of in
ternal improvement; ard millions more
were donated for all sorts Of educa-
uonal institutions. And by 1888, as
the late Senator Plumb boosted. the
poAey q hlulLl-
piled, developed and strengthened the
north" This IS to say, the north"
had been Observation-Disclosures the
south?-very largely at the expense Of
the south. In all. up-to-date, it has
been strengthened by nine new states,
and these states are now assisting in
passing a measure. which could not
be passed without them, to compel he
toilers Of the country to make larger
contributions to the shipping interests:
and they are expected to assist in per-
fect1ng the Clumpacker plan to de-
grade the southern tates
Let us not suppose, then, that any
considerable numbe Of weli-informed
republicans in congress, having before
them the record of their party's deal
fngs with the southern people. win
consent to go back to reconstruction"
legislation. to revive the bitterness Of
that ~disgraceful period, and to serve
notice on the people of the south and
on their posterity that they can have
no assurance OF exemption from hos
tile congressional i~ntermeddling in
their affairs from sectional injustice.
The disfranchisement of the colored