Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-06-27

negro, at least for limited time
This would drive away from the white
mans mind, all fears of negro domino
ton, and gradually the prejudice which
was the out growth of this fear, would
disappear. Disfranchisement would
have a good effect upon the negro,
because it would be more of an induce
ment to him to become educated, so
that he might be deemed worthy of
the ballot in She future.
But the negro, for all practical pur-
poses, is deprived Of the right of suf-
frage, and this is little to be wondered
at. Let me quote an extract from
McLaughlin's History, and then judge
for yourselves what kind Of a states
man he would make, for remember,
the right to vote, carries with it the
right to rule, where he is in the ajor-
ity. The following is the extract:
The majority of the Blacks quickly
learned the vices of politics. and show
ed remarkable aptitude in reaping
personal advantage from Office. The
States that had been impoverished by
four years of war were ruthlessly
plundered, enormous debts were rolled
up by extravagant legislation. La
South Carolina, where negro rule long
prevailed because of the great number
SIS, 500, 900 In 1868, to over 500, 900, 900
in 1873. Some other state suffered al
most as much. The Southern Whites
determined that negro rule must be
ended by some means, lawful or I'M
lawful. 1t seemed to them a matter
of self preservation. AS it now
stands. the 18th Amendment is violat-
ed since that permit the negro to
vote, but, if he were disfranchised law
fully, it would strengthen the Constitu-
ton, because it is always bad thing
for a country to have laws which are
not obeyed.
Now Is this not conclusive proof
that the negro ought to De disfranchis-
ed? The very welfare OF the Southern
States depends upon it, for in four of
those states the Blacks far outnumber
the whites.
The free institutions of the American
nation, are the outgrc with of centuries
of toll and strife. 1t has taken the in
telligent white race, thousands of years
to produce the civilization we enjoy to-
day. By a long slow process of educa-
ton and development through
the past, the white race mas reached
that stage ofprogress, where the mass
es may be entrusted with that priceless
yet perilous gift-the right of self
government. In the face of this fact,
can We suppose the inferior black race
capable of reaching a like stage at a
single bound? Is it conceivable that
the descendants Of race. which since
the dawn of history, has remained in
it's native land in condition scarcely
--descendents who are themselves but
one generation removed from a con-
dition of AFFECT slavery-is it conceiv-
able we say, that such race, under
such conditions, can by mere fiat
OF the Constitution. in the twinkling of
an eye. be created Freedmen, and en-
trusted with the sacred power of the
ballot, with any prospect of advantage
to themselves, or safety to the COM
mon wealth? The idea is preposter-
Gus! There is no royal, road from
savagery to intelligent citizenship, il
the American Republic. The way Is
long, and the path is steep and rugged,
and the black man, like the white man,
if he possess the genious for self-gov-
eminent, must pursue his toilsome
ascent alone and unaided, step by step,
generation after generation, age upon
age.