Evening star., 1902-03-22
The Crumpacker Resolution.

dirion of things to which it refers and con-
lure up a horror for campaign purposes. AS
evidence Of this the strongest writer for the
democratic press. Mr.. Henry Natterson' IS
now engaged in preparing his compatrlots
for their parts and showing them how to
held aioft and wave with effect the spook
of his creation. 1t is a shrewd scheme, and
one into which Mr.. Watterson may be ex-
pected TO put his whole soul He loves a
fight and is a good hand at planning one
Moreover he is int nseIy tired of support
ing men and issues wholly out of the range
of his sympathes. and a new line would
serve him well and bring out his heartier
qualities Any port in storm
But even so strong and brilliant man
as Mr. Watterson is at a disadvantage. in
this work His spook Is very far from
being convincing. When he talks about a
force bill and negro domination in connec-
ton with the CrImpacker resolution he in
vites a smile. For. as a matter Of the
easiest demonstration, neither one OF those
things could possibly follow the carrying
out of that resolution even to the point OF
enforcing the Constitution of the United
States and making representation in Con-
sress and the electoral college conform
to it, The whole matter is comprehended
In the simple proposition that disfranchise-
states be investigated and certified to by a
committee of Congress for the information
of the country
Now as to what would follow, where Is
there the threat of overturning local gov
ernments in the southern states? 1t Is not
only not on the cards, but such thing could
not be done. The southern people, so far
as their local affairs are concerned, Will
continue to conduct them in their own way
Capital whether Of northern or southern
antecedents. Will not be in the slightest de-
gree !nenaced or disturbed. and dividends
will continue regular and profitable.
On the question of negro domination, the
boot is the other leg If negro domina-
tion is a bad thing for a state, why should
1t be forced on the United States? That is
what the south is attempting to do. The
negroes in the south are denounced as unf1t
to vote for even a constable or a dog law,
and are shorn of the privilege. but are
counted to man to increase the south
representation in both the House of Rep
resentatives and the electoral college, and
are thus voted for national issues and for
candidates for the presidency. If it is said
that in the latter case their strength is
utilized by men who know how to employ
It, the answer is that in both 1896 and 1900
this strength was employed in an effort to
force free silver on the country and put
Mr. Bryan into the White House, when,
had it been exerted by the negroes them
selves under leadership of their own
choosing. 1t would have gone to swell the
power of sound money and protection.
There is no sectionalism in the Crum-
packer resolution unless the states of some
section have violated a constitutional pro
vision and subjected themselves to a con-
stitutional penalty. And in this contingency
1t is these states which, by their own acts
inject sectionalism into the controversy,
and not either the Constitution or the
Crumpacker resolution of inquiry.
The principle mo north. no south"
which is invoked against enforcement of
the Representations reduction provision of
the fourteenth amendment. logically de-
mands the equal and impartial enforcement
of the Constitution everywhere in the
Union. 1t means that there shall be no
discrimination in favor of and no superior
right or privilege based residence in
either north or south. All shall share
alike No difference shall be recognized
between the sections or between the states.
Evidently this principle Is violated by a
condition which, in defiance Of the Con-
stitution. gives the white man In a few of
the states several times the voting power
In the House of Representatives and in
the electoral college that Is possessed by
the white or black man in all the other
states.
Excited resistance to q mere resolution
of inquiry into the matter raises the rea-
sonable presumption that the vociferous
protestants against investigation are con-
cerned in or profit by violations OF the pro-
vision Of the Constitution to which atten-
;C aI J, thar OF III pnf oIo
opera suggestion In the indignant and de-
mandatory attitude of those who in con-
fessed violation of the Constitution exer-
else an unjust and illegal excess of power
in the electoral college and the House at
the expense and to the injury of all other
Americans? Are the millions Of Americans
outside OF a few states to submit indefi
nitely to this unconstitutional and injurious
discrimination against them in order that
the beneficiaries thereof may not be irri-
tated and that universal good feeling may
prevail?
The way to remove sectionalism Is to
obliterate illegal political sectional advan-
tages damaging to other sections. To in
sure good feeling between the states. those
which in violation OF the Constitution are
injuring the other states by the exercise
OF an unlawful representative power in the
NdtlOnal COUnCliS SnOulQ De required TO
conform to the law. The remedy Is not
to call upon the aggrieved states to keep
quiet about and to ignore the imposition.
There will be force bill and no negro
domination in the south. But it Is not in
the American nature or in human nature
that the men and states of the west and
north should permit the whites of few
states in the south to cast far weighter
votes than they. man for man and state
for state. In the electoral college and
House. when the Constitution specifically
provides the remedy against this injurious
discriminate
The Filipinos must not be regarded as in
a state of belligerence. They are merely
tnduiging in an aggravated case of disor-
derly conduct.
The Stitch in Time
The people of Washington are doubtless
relieved to learn that the authorities have