The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-11
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a sectlon OF the CONSTITUTION, winch was
slmpiy q niecnaIlcdt aAd acaueIniS ihtee-
uretauonz OF worus, Wniie tne maJofity
pan required some inleAlgent construc-
rlon OF the pracucal duties OF c1tizenship
when wnlte men possessed oy instinct
or inheritance, ana the pest educated
negroes seemed unable TO comprehend.
Mr.. Glass reading and writing or under
standing clause requisite would prove an
o1renslve test to ililterate wnlte men.
for 1t was we'll known how sensitive
they were to an exposure OF their ma
fbilIty to read and write, no matter how
well they might understand anything read
to them.
Coming to the question of corrupt ad-
nlinistratton of the majority plan, ne
quoted Pope:
For forms of government let fools con-
test,
That which is best administered is best.
PURE ON IFS FACE.
The Walton law was as pure as Alpine
snow on its face, yet everybody knew
that its administration was what did the
work. Gentlemen had cried out against
Z a possible discriminating quality OF the
understanding clause, who were eating
the bread every day furnished them by
the administration of the Walton law.
Referring to frauds in cities, he declared
that they always had existed and always
would exist. The negro question was
begging the issue. He referred to election
frauds in Baltimore generations ago.
whereby Edgar Allan Poe met his death
by serving as a reporter in the different
wards, and said the Lord never intenuea
for mankind ozdwell in big cities, Tor
they were subject to earthquakes, fire,
pertilence. famine and election frauds.
A law will be administered according TO
the character of the people. Ihe Wai'
ton law was not perverted in some sec
tions of the State because the occasion
did not require It. The same would De
the case with the understanding clause.
Where there were no negroes, the test
need not Be applied. 1t could be used as
a moral repressor4 or a practical sup
pressor.
MARKED DISTINCTION.
The temporary understanding clause
Mr. Watson said would only act as a
temporary suppressor, while the pern'd-
nent feature would be a temporary sup.
uressor and possess the great value OF
permanent repression. making uhiieceS-
sary any further suppression
It was no solution of the problem 10
attempt to solve It on rules of addition
from Pixies arithmetic. The majority
of negroes over white voters was not
the, trouble. It was the fact that he
ALWAYS cast a race vote that made him
dangerous in the body polite and unfit
for government. The Republican party
and the United States Government had
distinctly recognized this fact by en-
ttrely .disfranchising him in the District
of Columbia for the maintenance OF law
and order and the protection of prop
erty rights.
Coming to the question of popularity
of the new Constitution. Mr.. Watson said
it would be preposterous for him to go
before his constituents and try to per-
suade them to adopt a Constitution that
had whitewashed the suffrage question
and ennbalmed for all time the principle
that a negro was fit recipient of the
[ electorate. provided he had the crudest
form of. education. which education was
also guaranteed to him in the same Con-
stitution out of taxes paid. by white men.
THE. WEST AGAINST TT.
Popularity for any Constitution could
not be expected from counties across the
mountains, for only five of them voted
for a convention. All others opposed any
change in the Constitution and could not
be expected to endorse a new Constitu-
tion if it contained nothing but the Ten
Commandments.
"While gentlemen have been warning
us of evils that might possibly come out
of an administration of the understanding
clause" said the speaker, they entirely
ignore the evils that harass every
day. actualities that drove the people to
send US to this convention to give them
practical relief. Forget not that Greece
lost her independence when she welcomed
the Macedonian to her councils"
Mr.. Watson was most enthusiastically
applauded when he concluded.