The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-12-17
'eThe Disturbing Southern Question. .

seThe Disturbing Southern Question"
A Leading Democratic Newspaper Takes
Issue with the Democratic
Leader in Congress-.
The New York World, one of the
foremost Democratic newspapers Of
the country, printed the following edi-
torial article in its issue of December
4, 1904, under the caption Of 1.-THE
Disturbing Southern Question, I" and
The Chief reproduces the publication
in order to acquaint its readers with
the wide divergence of views enter
tanned by Democrats Of the northern
and southern states upon the import-
ant Issue of suffrage qualification:
Martyrdom was joined to nullifica-
ton in the doctrine OF "passive resist
ance'' which John Sharp Williams,
the Democratic leader OF the house,
preached to the people Of Spartan
burg, S. c., Friday night.
On the assumption that congress
might reduce southern representation
ia accord ance with the provisions ofthe
fourteenth amendment, Mr.. Williams
proceeded to lay out progr ANNE of
''passive resistance for the south. II
know OF no power on earth or in
heaven, except direct Intervention OF
Cod he said, ssthat can force a state
legislature to pass bill redistricting
state SO that it shall contain four or
Eve or six congressional districts in
stead of seven or eight.
Mr.. Williams then advised the south
ern states to pay no attention to an act
reducing representation, if one should
be passed, but to elect their represent
atives on the old basis and send them
TO Washington. The house would re-
fuse to sit them and would withhold
the payment of salaries. Judicial pro-
ceedings could then be instituted TO
determine whether the act Of congress
was constitutional. In the meantime
all the southern states would be with
out representation and would stand as
"a visible object-lessonn to the flinty-
hearted brethren of the north.
To all OF which The World says.
HFudge!" No attempt has yet been
made to reduce southern representa-
ton. There was meaningless refer
enee to the subject in the Repub-
lican national platform, but President
Roosevelt has never referred to it. No
member of his cabinet has ever re-
ferred to it. No Republican senator
or representative Of recognized in
huence has SO much as intimated that
congress would seriously consider the
question of reducing the south IS rep
resentation il the house. Like many
of his political associates, Mr.. Will
liams is shivering in terror at the
sight Of his own shadow.
But it the question Of reducing rep
resentation il accordance with the
fourteenth amendment were under seri-
Gus consideration in Republican coun-
ellis, the blame would rest upon the
south alone-or, more specifically,
upon the sinister cunning that devised
s'the grandfather clause'' and the
other discriminating franchise provi-
sions il the new state constitutions.
Nobody in the north is disposed to
quarrel with the south for disfranchis-
ing ignorance, for disfranchising vi
cionsness or for DISTINGUISHING shift
lessness. The objection is to policy
that disfranchises only negro ignor-
ance, viciousness and shiftlessness,
while assuring the franchise to the
most worthless s'White trash that can
prove a voting grandfather or get a
poitiead committee to pay it's pol!
taxes.
Mr.. Williams gives his whole case
away Nhen he says that he and his
friends would be willing to submit
gracefully to reduced representation if
the country would repeal the fifteenth
amendment What the southern poll
ticians wish to do is not TO withhold the
suffrage from the elements tf at pollute
it, but to disfranchise forever such
men as Booker T. Washington and
Prof. Du Bots, along with the most
depraved levee loafers, for the crime
of not having white skins.
TO such a programme the country
will never give its consent, and Mr.
Williams wastes his breath in sug-
costing it. The American people are
not yet ready to surrender the funda-
mental principle of their Institution
that in political rights sail men are
created equal" and that "the republic
is opportunity. When the south asks
this surrender it is asking the impos-
sible.
C1yILe SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. /
For Positions Under the Isthmian Canal
Commission, on the Isthmus