New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-28
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
NEGR0'S RIGHT TO SUFFRAGE.
Black Nan Does Not Despair of Situation in
the South.
To the Ealtor o. The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The vapor!ngs Of the long haired Governor
az Mississippi which have been digniied with space
IN nearly al o. the leading newspapers Of the coun-
try and which intelligent ne groes have read ard
dismissed with a sheer. are remarkable as showing
the Grass ignorance OF a statesman % who has
forgotten, does not know how, TO inform himself
on great public questions. or who knowingly and
with malice preperse misrepresents the facts
The Governors misstetements touching the effect Of
education upon the negro ana his uuwaTranted re-
nectous upon the morals OF the educated negro are
ElarinEly false and mallciousy wicked that IL
would be an insult 10 the Intelligence OF your read
10 attempt to expose his ignorance and discover
the unworthy motives which have impelled him to
write himself down the greatest gubernatorial
OF the twentieth century.
The negroes OF America can afford TO grant this
distinguished calumniator Of their race the mercy
OF their silence. knowing as they do that the Off
cial statistics bearing Upon the progress OF their
race Tor the last thirty wears are more eloquent
answer 10 these vile ISLANDERS than any words OF
theirs II ever any man deserved pity Il is this
Governor Yardaman. His knowledge OF the law
seems 10 be as faulty and lopsided his knowledge
o. the educated negro and his ways. He seems
10 think that the Fifteenth Amendment should be
repealed and that all thai IS necessary to bring that
about IS for the States where the negroes are
most numerous 70 get together and disfranchise
their negro citizens. The Governor talks like an
unripe s,hoolboy: IN fact he does not seem 10
know what he IS talking about OF where he Is at
pealed is not OF the kind that can be so oaslly
repealed as he imaenes. Il not made TO be
repealed and it viii not be repealed unless this
country should suddenly be turned over TO the
South and OF this there is no immediate danger. Mr.
Justice Miller OF the United States Supreme Court
speaking Of the Fourteenth Amendment, said;
II was the purpose OF the Fourteenth Amendment
q the Constitution by the simple declaration th2t
z,ns Of jhe United states transfer the security
to tie fe6erai government, and where it declared
that ConEress slall have power to entqTee LaeJ
heretofore belonging exclusively to the States
In the case oe Pensacola Telegraph Company vs..
Western Union Telegraph Company the following
opinion was acCuiesced IN by justices Clifford,
Strong. Bradley. Swayne and Miller. viz: That
the government Of the United States within the
scope Of its power operates upon every foot OF
territory under its Jurisdiction II eflss{eS f9T ls
IN another cast Tenn vs.. DaEls, w =, = % So y
of the general government. The United states
whole territory OF the Union acting upon 81 l
States and upon all the people OF an the safes,
Peters. So. the IColTt de,ded tEat the power Of
Congress 10 pass laws 10 enforce rights conferred
power Of legislation enumerated 81 the Constitution
Thc powers which are necessary and proper as
are always implied. The end being given, the
famous LeEal Tender Case. j. Wallace, 40, the
Court decided that the government has the rlgII
. employ freely every means not prohibited tor
the fuIfInert Of its sckrowledged duties
7 do know whether any Of these decisions OF
the Of last resort have been repealed or not
4 they have not .ren. then am utterly unable TO
see how these southern constitutions can per
maneltly deprive the negro of tie right Of fran
chlse or how the Congress can much longer evade
avoid its plain u-4ty by compelling respect for
The law and securing 20 the negro his constitutona
rights under H. Personally. eno as q black man,
. 7 90 not despair OF the result Of "a test OF these
. iuiCulties. which born OF Southern nenCacltY
. and malice and Intended to annoy and disturb the
peace Of mind OF negroes n the southern states
who anxious and willing TO take their places as
/ citizens and 10 give loyal support to the party
which has conferred these blessings upon them
There can De no degrees Of citizenship 10 this Re
. puhIc-no white man with larger liberty more
rights under the Constitution than the black man
Who barred his breast on the battenelds OF the
now seeking 10 uullify its most important articles
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments. They
can never co IL.
Just now there seems 20 be an eclipse OF faith IN
but sooner or later il VIII 70 Itself and honor
ably redeem the pledges given 20 the negro In these
two amendments, and viii Insist that the States.
some OF which II reconstructed and created anew,
shall accord 10 every citizen having equal rights
the fun protection Of the law. Every Southern
constitution which has been amended has been
amended TOT the express purpose OF robbing the
ne-ro OF the Jewel Of constitutional liberty and
their trainers have openly boosted Of their skill IN
juggling with the law 90 make 10 apply 20 their
several communities The question Of intent de-
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments il
seems to should be Of some importance and
should De considered IN the test cases soon 10 be
tried. The depth 10 which the white South has
reveals than u con~eals and there IS but one
solution 10 the whole problem. a microscope is not
needea q see j. John EDWARD BRUCE
No rs New Main-st-, Yonlers y. 7. Feb S 1874