The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-04

surrender a portion of their representa-
, ton as he price to be paid for the
! repeal Of the Fifteenth Amendment
would be a gross injustice, because the
universal rule has been that represen-
tation Is based on population and not
on the number of voters. The provts-
ion in the constitution which gnfce
three-fifths representation to the slave
population, was no exception to this
rule, as the reduction was a compro-
mise made with those who denied the
right of any representation to that
population, on the ground that they
were not citizens but only property.
But while 1t would be such gross in
Justice, and while the North ought to
| be too magnanimous to exact It, still
II the repeal of the Fifteenth Amend
ment can be secured in no other way,
1t would, In my opinion, be better for
! the Southern states to pay the price
| OF a loss of a part of its representa-
! ton, rather than that this eternal con-
/ troversy over the negro, and the in
| evitable sectional differences and ami
mosities resulting therefrom should
continue during all the indefinite fu-
ture.
Costly Sacrifice to BE Avoided.
! The loss Of any part of our just re-
presentation in Congress would be a
costly sacrifice. one to be consented
to only in case Of absolute necessity,
| to accomplish a greater good. The
! loss OF a corresponding vote In the
| electoral college would be Of less con-
sequence, for unless there is a mate
rial change in the disposition and
temper of the North, II is a matter of
| little practical consequence whether
the electoral vote of the South be
greater or small. There will be no
political peace and harmony between
the South and the North so long as
the right of the negro to vote is fore
ed upon the South. The repeal of the
Fifteenth amendment, leaving to each
I state the power to regulate for itself
the negro question. would destroy the
sectional barrier which the South so
| greatly deplores and for the removal
| OF which II knows no other method.
Repeal Would Help the Negro.
No fears need arise in the minds Of
the genuine friends of the negro any
| where that this repeal would mean
i'll results to him. In fact If would be
| TO the interest Of the negro no less
than of the white man. An unavoid-
able irritation and antagonism must
/ inevitably arise when an inferior race
| endeavors through the ballot to gain
| the ascendency over a superior and
| naturally dominant race, or even to
share in the governmental power. To
| this effort on the part of the negro I'm
/ the South has been due nine-tenths OF
the friction between the two races.
But with this cause Of conflict remov-
| ed and the threat of negro or mongrel
| domination forever withdrawn, the
! magnanimous and kindly white men
Of the South would instantly recog-
nize and appreciate the changed re-
1 lr.k 4a.w. -
/ eternal interference of misguided
zealots at the North would then
largely abate and the proper re-
| lations between the races would be
promptly and fairly adjusted, with
fullest consideration for all the rights
OF the weaker race.
white Men Must stand Together.
Until this amendment is repealed.
the menace which must ever accom-
pany IL will require that the white
men OF the South should stand to-
gether upon the issue Of white SUI
premacy, and opposition 10 negro rule
and negro officeholding. II is within
the power of the Republican party IL
IL desires to do so, TO repeal the Fif-
\ teenth Amendment within the next
three months by securing the necessary
action by Congress and the ratification
i by the requisite number of State Leg
islatures. When they refuse to do so,
Il can only be because they desire the
continuance OF the opportunity for me-
gro rule and negro officeholdinR. And
IL while thus still beleaguering our
stronghold, they approach with soft
words and promises OF the favor OF
those who sit In the seats OF power. I
would cry 20 the defenders OF white
supremacy: "Bewarel The Greeks
are az the gates bearing giftsl"
A. o. Bacon.