The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-06
DECEMBER 6, 1904
The Threat Against the South

The Threat Against the South
.rwo notable deliverances have recently
boen mad. BY distinguished southern
Democrats. Several days ago MI. JON
i sharp Williams, leader or me A' '" =,
crntic minority in the House OF Heprc-
E sentatives. made n speech at Spartanpu'k
sc, in which lie said that II the oo SOUL
anrosnntatiou in Congress should be re-
di1ced as threatened by some OF the hc-
publicans. the South should pursue " POI
& icv OF pacific resistance; that 1t sioulu
continue clecting the same number OF rep
resentatives as before, and scndlhs t'SiN
10 Washington; If they should DC reluseo
admission a case should be made up ano
carried TO tie Supreme Court; II Con-
sress should undertake in consequence
OF this action by the South to direct me
election of representatives without the
authority OF the several States; Mr.. VII
g,iatns would have the Southern represent
t,tt,.es elected under pledge not to take
their seats in the House or draw their
salaries until the question should De DC
,ermined By the Supreme Court.
t..The result, said he, would be that
t,o several states affected would not be
represented at all in the House of Repre-
sent,tiyes or in the electoral college as
Tong as the Republican, political suprem-
ary continued. But the object lesson,
which the South would thus present 70
the North would, in Mr.. Williams,s view,
,.x,ti ~, a
against tile n e,ace of half Il dozen
states of the Union voluntarily unrcpre-
scented in the national councils rather
G han acknowledge the rghtfulness OF po-
,itical serfdoln or the inequality of the
States within the Union.'
More recently Senator A. Q. Bacon, Of
Georgia, published a letter. synopsis Of
which was printed in The Times-Dispatch
Of sunday and tho sum and substance
Of which is contained in the following
( paragraph:
shall We above all other things, stand
FOR white supremacy? II there are any
who WIN cndeaYor TO concilnte Georgians
in their opposition TO the Repupilcah par
& " ana 10 persuade them that incir
interest lies in the advancement or
that party in the State, the issue to be
determined will be u very marrow one, II
not confused or disguised. ii Is simply
tbis: Does the kepuDlican party believe
in and advocate white supremacy, and Is
il opposed to negro otpce ho!u'ng i'll the
south? Ii yes, lhcn the Democratic par
" IN the South VIII ground ils arms sc
Tar as concerns that Issue. But II no
then the argument with us Is closed, be-
cause II tho, Republican party is opposed
10 White supremacy in the South an.
does favor negro Office holding, there arr
no considerations which should be sui
iicient to induce the white men OF GcOr
giu 10 support that party
88Slt Is a Disgrace to the nation that thu
South be put into this embarrassing no
ignorant negroes OF this section were Ell
,gunchiscu 1t Was hmpcrutvey nccessAr
from evciypoint OF view that the Southcr
whites SHOULD take drastic action TO pre-
vent negro domination. Ii was simply In
possible That Tic white race should 81
pincly yield to the political dominutio
OF the negro race, for such Il surrende
would have meant ruin TO property ii
aercsts, the overthrow OF law, utter dc
moralizution and destruction TO ciyiliz,
lion itself. Al sorts OF obstructive mctl
DDS were resortcd 10 until finally IA meal
was discovered Of distranchising the ere;
body Of ignorant ANA vicious negro vote
without violating tho express provision
vi the Feaeral CONSTITUTION. II is lu
and that a.one Which has kept the Sou
solid and the Soutn VIII continue
De solid until the fear ana threat
,iuE,t
President Roosevelt may make all I
lrendiy ureitures possible, but as So
utpr bacon says unless the Republics
party is il favor OF White supremacy,
cannot reasonably expect the uliiliu,i
OF Inc Southern whites.
There Is but one way 10 remove Il
fear ana this threat and that Is throu
inc Inpca! III the fifteenth, AMENDING
For our part II he fifteenth nmendmt
bp repeated. We are entrely willing II
lhu fourteenth amendment shan stand Il
that all its provisions, including the ~
ATTY. shall he enforced. Let each .
every Southern state regulate the suflr;
without interference Oh tile part OF
Federal government and we are will
that the Representations Congress 1pt
tbs ELECTORAL college Stall be reduced
the proportion which tie number Of 81
made citizens distinguished shall bear
Tic whole number OF inaie citizens ~
ly.one years Of age IN such state
Ihc repeal OF tho fifteenth amendnl
IS Inc only sensible solution Of this pI
ielny Ii has been ably contended
horlhera men as well as ~ Southern !