The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-14
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
The Growth Of Northern Sentiment In
support OF the South's Position.
From the Providence 10

FROM the Prortdence journal
In the rancor which followed the civil war
the experiment was tried OF admitting the
newly emancipated race to full and untram-
melled share In the electoral franchise. IN
doubtedly. some approved the experiment in
the delusion that it was an act OF Justice. But
justice played no part In Its enforcement dur
Ing the dark days OF reconstruction; indigni-
ties that most Sortherners now regret were
heaped upon the people OF the vanquished
South. and license rather than liberty was
what the negro INDUCED in. Most assuredly.
the experiment has failed No denial will or
can obllterate that fact. The negroes as
mass we're not then, and are not yet At for tho
suffragess It Is inevitable that they should
be deprived Of it. and any attempt TO oppose
the efforts In the South to find constitutional
means to eliminate them from politics will In
the end be OF no avail. II will do no more than
complicate and postpone the inevitable solu-
ton Of a problem that ought to be left to the
South. which understands II, to solve. The
relations between the two races are not prop
erly adjusted. Those who say that they can
be properly adjusted along the lines of the
Fifteenth Amendment are the blind who will
not see.
A COlOred Man on the Alabama Decision.
To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-Sr: We look
upon the decision as not only surrender to
the Democratic South OF all the civil and polit-
cal rights OF the negroes down there but Of the
dignity and sacredness OF the Constitution and
the honor Of the United States as we'll.
As / understand II. the State Of Alabama
admitted that its new Consti tuition was framed
for the purpose OF DISTINGUISHING the negroes
without DISTINGUISHING a single white man
and that under IL nearly all the negroes in
Alabama were refused registration, while
every white man who applied for registration
was registered and given q lifetime certifi-
cate, thus clearly and openly admitting that
the negroes were disfranchsed for no other
reason than their race and color, In direct
contravention of the provisions OF the Fiji
teenth Amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States.
The Supreme Court at least a majority Of it's
Justices, failed to say whether the Constitution
OF Alabama was in conflict with the Fifteenth
Amendment; but they denied the relief because
they say 1t was political and would be under
taking to administer the Affairs of the State
government.
Assuming that the Alabama Constitution
In unconstitutional in that It deprives negroes
OF the right to vote on account Of their race
and color. It seems to Us that It would be no
unjust Interference with the State govern
ment II the Supreme Court had issued an In
junction compelling the State officers not to
do what the Constitution has forbidden. espe-
cially when that provision OF the Constitution
was consented to by all the States.
II appears to us, also. that the Supreme
Court is the only tribunal to enforce the Con-
stitution and laws, and the Congress Of the
United States II the Fifteenth Amend ent
is not to be enforced then it Ii a falsehood a
deluslon and snare, encouched In the organic
Ia WE Of this nation, and cast a reflection upon
the American people.
The colored people have not forgotten when
Anna ntA m tutn
convicted OF preventing negroes from voting
In that State. and when the same case came
did not Confer upon ne nesro.. 9se
conferred upon them a civil risht to the same
thsy should Sot E d.eIl%nstsd against to" on
Rs al If S0 were sns
Color the suprsme coSqt says "
Polltical and II is unable to grant relief |
] ne American people ought to be bold, frank
them into the belief tSat they are ire citizens citizens
inder the Constitution entitled to equal treat
an sdrt e WITH the Pcles seaRSdinnvans Greeks
We come before the courts with a case plead
oower to enforce the Constitution and laws law we
ne oout4 couIu capture ana control the Gov
'rnmenf md enact similar Constitution and
Enforce II. depriving oil white men OF the right
o vote on account Of their race and color and
! case was carried . the Supreme Court like
han an altogether different ruling would have
,een made.
The negroes are not only sore and disap-
,,ointed at this decision from a Republican
supreme Court but they are INDIGNANT and
esentfnl 81 II. The United States has no
isht 10 cal upon the negroes to die In defence
u the country and then deny them the same
treatment accorded to the scum OF Europe.
Mess the Cons ress OF the United States viii
isht this national outrage imposed upon the
egroes by the Supreme Court Of the United
ttntes the negro from now on will be a
inerept citizen than h" has becn in the past
ZION Xpw y Vo was nnpeiIi' noThe Is horeless