New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-01
THE SUFFRAGE PLANK.
Mr. Ryan's SensitiUe Imagination
Il Problem for Congress.
To the editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t would be interesting to know just
where Mr.. Thomas F. Ryan discovered that the
policy concerning suffrage outlined by the Re
publican platform is adopted in defiance of the
uniform decisions of the courts from the
lowest to the highest" AS a matter of fact.
1t Is just the pointed out by the courts
as the only method OF righting the wrongs
done to citizens of the United States by the
laws and practices of some Southern States
The courts have refused relief to aggrieved In
dividuas on the ground that their powers were
not competent TO deal with the difficulty. The
State constitutions did not in terms discrim-
mate against the negro negro, and actual
discrimination under cover OF requirements cal
culated to shut out the negro a matter for
Congress, 10 which was contided by the Four
teenth Amendment the duty Of dealing with
denals OF suffrage not based color. In the
case of Jackson w. Giles the Supreme Court
In an opinion delivered by Mr. Justice Holmes
on April % 1903. declared that relief from
a great political wrong, il done, as alleged, by
the people of State and the State itself, must
be given by them or by the legislative and
political department of the government or the
United States"
The courts having declared that this was
matter for Congress the Republican platform
asks Congress to give it attention. 1t does not
ask Congress to do anything i'll defiance Of the
courts or to pass Force bill do any of the
other horrible things which excite Mr.
Ryan's sensitive imagination. 1t merely asks
Congress to investigate and find out If the
elective franchise in any State has been UNI
constitutionally limited" and act thereafter
solely in conformity with the Constitution OF
the United States Do l understand from Mr.
Ryan that he admits his State of Virginia and
its neighbors to be unconstitutOnally limiting
the suffrage? Is that why he is frightened?
Does he regard the mere enforcement of the
Constitution of the United States a menace?
That is indeed a significant confession. If the
Constitution is not being patiently violated
then the proposed inquiry would amount to
nothing. If the course suggested to deal with
unconstitutional disfranchisement is not proper
and constitutional, there is request that It
be taken. The platform is nothing more nor
less than n request that all citizens of the
United States receive what on investigation
may be found to Sbe their unquestionable rights
under the Constitution OF the United States
Does Mr.. Ryan object to that?
1t is an open question whether not the
remedy for dsfranChisement provided by the
Fourteenth Amendment is adapted TO existing
conditions Personally. ! think it likely to do
harm than good Racial relations present
a problem SO complex and difficult that Con-
gress should hasten very slowly in dealing with
II. Formal logic may apparently point one way
ard common sense another. and II is the good
fortune OF the Anglo Saxons that in matters of
government they care more for practical COM
mon sense than for logical harmOnies. II toler-
alton OF existing wrongs in the South means
only patience with the necessarily slow process
of adjustment of inherited difficulties. and
intention to give every negro equal rights in the
measure that he as an individual qualities him
self for the complementary responsibilities. Re
publicans will not be too Jealous for the con-
sstencies Of law; but such self-restrairt can
only be based on correspondence catholic
disposition the part Of those who ask that
the letter OF the Constitution be not enforced
upon them. DO Mr.. Ryan and his party show
that disposition" Have they not themselves
drawn the bloody shirt" from the political
attic and waved It franticaly every time the
President has dared TO recognize that n black
man is a citizen OF the United States?
II they wish TO say Come, let us reason to-
gether about the wise and just solution OF this
perplexing problem for the good of both races
and our common country" friends of tn. negro
will gladly meet them with a disposition to
cede much to their need OF keeping power I'm
responsible hands and even TO concede some
thing TO the- prejudces. though they cannot
claim that In surrendering representation for
negroes not allowed to vote white supremacy
would DO endangered White power would be
made supreme. Indeed. the danger is that the
negro would thus be abandoned and left per
manently and hopelessly disfranchsed and the
remedy prove than the disease But II
Southern politicians to so!idify their own fol-
lowing choose the other path and truculently
deny their intention to obey the Const-
tuition and give tho negro his rights, they can
hardly forbid that those who believe in the
Constitution should notwithstanding a patient
disposition consider IL liberation had not ceased
ba Iyfrt enforcement
stitution was not duty. REPUBLICAN,.
New York, June % 1904.
AN ATLANTA UNIVERSITY APPEAL