The Scranton chronicle., 1903-05-09
Ihe NIglltmare VanI.hIns.

Ia his speech 10 TIE voters of Jackson
county last Reek Governor Longino EN-
pbaiieally declared that there ~as -
race issae. lie sad that The Conafia-
tiou Of isga. which bad been copied By
other southern states. bad settled TIE
race issue faf ali time. AMI that The
South need have no apprehension that
the people of the North wouid ever re.
peat the mistake Of 1888. Hardly had
the echo of his aofls died away when
his utlefanees met with the most unez.
pected continuation The New York
sun. one oi ihe ahlest aud most iudueu-
tiai papers Of the Nofth, aud sl one
time tie Biuefest Of the opponents Of
the South, said ediiofialiy ia ITS issue Of
the solh
The fifteenth amendment 10 the
constitution II thr United States incof-
pofaies what t..e nation Is rapidly com
ing II believe Was one of the most de.
plorablc mistakes ID cur history
The rights OF citizens Of the United
States 10 vote shall not he denied OF
L
State on account oi race, color OF pre-
yions condition Of serviiudc. The Con.
gfcss shall have power 10 enforce this
article BY appropriate legislation
The hasty policy which invested the
emaneipated males OF African descent
with the full right Of suffrage was part
~ the result OF supposed political ex.
pediency partly Of an ignorant ovetes.
innate Of the possibilities Of develop.
meut inherent IN the race The costly
experience of more Shan a third Of a
century the span of a whole generation.
has demonstrated the tremendous
double mistake The South has long
known it. the North is fast leaning II.
However far lie drciul couseqae ces
of this error Of national judgment IN 1869
aud 1870 uay be successfully avoided IN
the twentieth century by local expc.
dents. IN evasion Of the spirit, " not oi
the letter Of the fifteenth amendment,
the probability remains that sooner OF
later the country will have TO face
squareIy the question of its repeal.
Perhaps the sooner the better for the
dignity OF the instrument hat now cx.
hibits AZ fundamental principle OF the
American system a theory OF suffrage
impossible OF practical application with
safety TO the vital interests OF the states
chiefly concerned
When even the Supreme Court of the
United Slaies this very week, IN the
case of the clash OF the Alabama Con.
stilulion with the fifteenth amendment
declires 10 interfere and dismisscs the
appeal for the enforcement of the ne.
groes' right tn the unrestricted fran.
chisc, the time can not be far of when
American common sense will be ready
ogo iearlessly 10 the root OF the mat.
ter. "
In addition TO the sun such stauuch
republican journals as the Prov
ideues {R. u Journal and Springfield
Republican have declared the fourteenth
aud fifteenth amendments TO the Con
siiiution al the United States dead, aud
they advocate their repeal When
papers Of this character turn from their
long worshiped idols and seek the
truth. the South may res, assured that
the race question is buried and that
neither President Ronset cit nor anyone
else can ever again frsuscitate IL Gov
ernor Longino, like al, great men, Is
gifted with prophetic insight that
mysterious power OF seeing into the
future aud revealing what is there hid.
den.
Another significant fac, is that the
Supreme Court of the United States
lends It's powerful aid in quieting the
fears of the South by giving a positive
assurance that the Constitution of the
state is safe from all attacks from with
out. and will as stated by Governor
Lougino stand unalered until such
time as the people OF Mississippi see fit
to change il"