The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-15
CAT WISE ON
SlIFFR| GE Ian
Richmond Member Begins
Masterlv Argument on
Elective Franch lse.

There was not large attendance OF
members at the suffra ges conference 1ase
night and those who came We're tar6S, SO
that it was llalf-past o'clock before many
more than a quorum of members We're
present, although there was a large at
tendance of distinguished visitors, among
them being several ladies.
Captain George D.NVise was the speak
er, and the argument made last night
was a mastery exposition OF = the PM
losorhy of popular government, tounueo
upon the basic principle OF the electlVea
franchise. He had not more than COM
pleted this branch of the subject Wiien
the hour OF 10 arrived, and the conference
adjourned until tonight, when the eA-
Congressman will continue his argument.
Captain Wise devoted the largest poi-5
ton of his speech last night TO general
observation on the question OF suiIrdse-
lie sale. the people of Virginia were more
deeply interested in that SUBJECT tLah
any other, for on it's proper solutlol1 ue-
pended their future prosperity ana happl-
ness. 1t was the paramount issue, Wiia.-
ever might be said TO the contrary.
The speaker discussed the history OF
the elective franchise, its restrictions IN
the first Constitution, its enlargement IN
the second. and its still further enlarge
ment under the NV. anot Nv. amend
ments to the Federal Constitution. lie
said the admission of the principle OF
universal suffrage into the Constitution
would imperil the existence OF popular
government.
The right to vote was rot q natural
right, But a conventional one Otherwise
males and females as soon as they ar
rived at the age of legal, or moral, re-
sponsibility would, under the broad aeSis
of the Bill of Rights. claim the
right to exercise the elective franchise.
In considering the question, the inter
ests of whole communities should be con-
sidere6 as superior to the interess OF tindl-
v.luals. 1t was Almost difficult prob
lem in fixing a suffrage rlan to guard
the interests of the State and ct the
same time protect the privileges or the
individuals composing it. a. bailot III
the hands of any intelligent people was
better than sense Of wrong IN tnell
heads.
1t was impossible to formulate or safe
~ adopt D suffrage ordinance without
first considering the basic fact, that
what was wise for one State or one sec
ton of a State. was not wise for al.
Circumstances and conditions must nee
essariiy be considered
The chief object Of government was to
establish the security of life, liberty and
property, and even the right of suffrage
was secondary to this cardinal principle.
License was not liberty and even free
dom could hot be retained without being
! regulated by law. Captain Wise recited
the results Of the war and discussed the
amendments to the Federal Constitution,
saying that the clause thrusting indis-
criminate negr osuffrage on the States
was unconstitutional, and an outrage un-
parallela6 il all history.
Coming to the matter III hand he began
his argument by declaring that great
many in considering the suffrage question
before convention committed two serious
errors. One&was% t. suppose that it was
possible to disfrahehise. all the negroes
without DISTINGUISHING a white man; the
other mistake was. to. suppose that any
solution Of the suffrage problem by this
convention would solve the race problem.
He read from a speech of ex-senator Ed
munds in the Senate, in which he declared
that no republic could long exist or pros
per with two distinct races, one SO
superior to the other as to prevent as
stimulation, and there could be no such
thing as political or social equality be-
tween them long without a war of eN-
termination, when the inferior race woulu
go down in obedience to the natural law
or the survival of the tittest.
Captain Wise devoted five minutes to
the Braxton grandfather clause, and re-
ferring to the decision of the init
States Supreme Court in the Chinese
laundry case from California, said it was
SO clearly Unconstitutional he would not
insult the intelligence of such a body of
men by further considering that PROPOSE
ton. The speaker had just reached the
Glass plan and made only one sWipe at
al it when the hour of 10 O'clock arrived
and the conference adjourned.
The argument will be continued to-
night.
Chairman II. Walton Moore will call
up the legislative report, as amended in
Committee OF the Whole, in the conven-
ton to-day. 1t had the right Of way as
a special order yesterday, but was not
called UP, as Mir Flood, who will lead
the fight against quadrennal sessions.
could not leave his duties in Washington
until last night.
II Chairman Moore calls it up the first
thing this morning q strong effort will
be made Sto postpone consideration until
after the report on education is completed
To prevent having this report hung up
right in the midst of consideration before
the convention, a resolution Will be in
troduced providing that the final vote be
taken not later than u o'clock In this
way the legislative report can have two
hours of the session and the much dis
cussed educational matter will have been
disposed of.
A prominent member last night face.
tously remarked that he was not ready
to consider the legislative report until he
had had time TIC look up the record of pro-
ceedings in Committee Of the Whole sew
oral months ago He had forgotten how
he voted on many contested questions
and could not plumb his track then with
out refreshing his memory Ev an inspec-
tion OF his votes in Committee of the
Whole.
There NAV be other members who can
profit by this suggestion.