The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-13
The Negro in Politics.

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4 writer In the July Atlantic discusses
at length the relation o. the South toward
the negro, and In the course Of his re.
marks says: 81 8
"Disfranchisemcn OF the negro Is bad I
for the South. It Is bad for It, In the
fret place, on account OF tho harm fl,l 4
effect produced by II Oh its black labor.
At makes a large proportion Of It's ahor-
,}nr population restless and disconnected
With their civil and social condition,
ana II will keep them SO. It makes It
well.nigh impossible for this restless and
discontcnted, labor class to make the most
and the best OF themselves with the Elim
tied opportunities afforded them, with
the soclal and political restrictions I'M
posed by law upon them"
on the contrary politics has been tho
negro's curse. The wholesale enfran-
chisement OF the ex-slaves Of the South
was about the greatest curse that the
Northern south-hnters could have visited tee
upon the negro race. No good could have
& come out Of It, for 1T was done in malice
and revenge toward Southern whites. Il
after the war the negroes had turned
their 5atlGUllOn TO "
their condition rather than to politics.
they would have saved themselves much
trouble, and sheir situation would be far
better to-day; and this they would have
done il they had not in tic beginning
been clothed With the right Of franchise.
At this late day the Southern States
have taken matters into their own hands
and disfranchised the great body OF 81
negro voters, but$at the same time are
holding out tho, suffrage as an Induce
5ment to the negro to fit himself for citi--s
zenship. Under the 5Yirg inia Constitution
here was a general registration In 1902
nd 1903, In which all negroes who paid
II, much as 81 In state taxes were per-
8initted to enter5their names upon tho per-
manent list, and Others were admitted
10 the suffrage wherever they showed 4
BY: their answers that they understood
the principles OF government and lad
sufficient intelligence and education to
vote. From this time on all negroes over,
twenty-one years Of age. havingathe quali-
7IlCdllUHs VIM ii0lS
Client education to make application in
their own handwriting. and who shall
have paid their poll tax six months lin
advance. Will be permitted to register and
the negro. He stands on the same foot
ing With the whites. II Is will be per-
mitted to vote whenEhe shows himself to-
be qualified, and this will be AN induce
ment 10 qualify. 81 is.5 !!
Public Spirit at Virginia Building
If Eirsinians who recently visited the En-
position at st. Louis were greatly plea cd
with the Virginia exhibits. In agrcul-
5turc. horticulture and in mining, the dis
play which Virginia makes ds.is most
creditab1e. and makes q splendid adYer-
stisen,ent for the Old Dominion. The
agricultural exhibit is notablyp. fine and
compares most favorably Wit III the cx-!
ihibits OF states that had two and three
times al much money to spend. SEN
iator5 Martin was enthusiastic In his.
praise, and said that the newspapers
OF Virginia should a $ q matter OF justice
.hestow unstinted praise upon the men
y no collected the article for exhibition
and arranged the exhibits That practi-,
cal results Will be Forthcoming from the
Virginia exhibit goes without saying.
Visitors were also a greeably surprised
in the appearance OF the Virginia build
ing. !. The building itself is most attrac-
tive, and the center Of attraction. The
furnishings. however, were very scanty.
and appeals through the nress had failed
10 obtain any further contributions for
this object. The public spirit OF Mrs.
baarbaugh. OF Richmond. who sentsa col
lection OF pieces Of colonial furniture,
greatly improved tho base appearance OF
tho buildings. II remained, however, for
Mr.. Thomas i. Ryan, OF Nelson county,
to make the Virginia. bu Fling the equal
ofithe5 other State buildings in point Of
interior decoration. BY his handsome
and generous gift OF $500 TO Governor
Montague for the Virginia building. the
State Commissioners will be bile to fur
nish tho building In a fitting manner, The
public thanks are due MIR. Ryan for-ihe
public spirit he has shown in so
excellent way d.
In her exhibits, and her building yir-
ginia can now take the position due to
her history, her resources, her men and
her part In the Louisiana purchase.
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on the trip back from st. Louis an IN
formal meeting OF the Virginia dcleGa-
| ton was held. with Mr., carlin, OF Alex
andria. In the chair. A motion was Of
fcred ana unanimously adopted that a
vote OF affectionate thanks be rendered
to Colonel Joseph Button for the ad-
mrable arrangements he had made In
providing the means OF transportation
1 for the delegation to and from st. Louis.
and in entertaining the delegates during
the convention, @y \
1t was a timely and a most appropriate
/ expression of gratitude, for Mr.. Button
did everything that kind and tact3ul
4 | ma =, irnuid 5do ia make the 1olrbey a gree