The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-07-02
Reducing Southern Representation

From the Baltimore sun. June .
That clause Of the Republican platform
lating 10 the reduction Of the electoral vote
aud the representation IN Congress o. the
Southern States, il is believed, vii take a
prominent place ia the discussions Of the com
ing campaign.
The clause or plank IS as follows:
.'We favor such Congressional action as
shall determine whether. by special dlscrimI
pations the elective franchise IN any State hiss
been uuconsiitutionsliy limited. and II such Is
the case We demand that representation ia
Congress aud ia the Electoral Colleges shall
be proportionatey reduced, as directed by be
Constitution of the United States.
The proceeding contemplated IN this resn-
inrien would be taken under the Fourteenth
Amendment 70 the Constitution Of she Jniiad
States The third section Of the Fourteenth
Amendment provides that when the right 80
vote IS denied to any Of the male Inhabitants
Of such State. being - years Of age and cJtI
gems Of the United States, or IN any way
abridged. except for participation in rebellion
or other crime, the basis Of representation
therein shall be reduced 10 the proportion
which the number Of such male citizens stall
bear 10 the whole number Of male citizens Il
years Of age in such STATE
About one sixth OF the population Of Mary
land are negroes. Under this amendment. II
the Legislature OF Maryland should enact
law restricting the suffrage 10 white people
Their. Maryland woali have ave members oi
the House Of Representative and seven r'ec-
toral votes, instead Of TX and eight a. Al pres
eui. Mississippi and Soaih Carolina, # such
Acknowledgement were made by ,hem, wpald
lose At least half Of their representation iu
Congress. and the electoral vote q the South
would be cut of SO that t woula be aimos,
insignificant the general result lf ali 81 them
disfranchiscd the negro on aecouat OF his race.
After the Fourteenth Amendment bad bees
ratified. because i was perhaps feared that
the Southern SsAies might elect 10 accep, ials
reduced representation sn order 20 grJ nd 20
the negro vote bodily. The Fifteenth Amend
meni was pushed through By sbis Amend
sneut it = provided that ''ihe right nf cinEeus
of The United States 20 vote shall not BE- de-
MED or abridged by ih- United states oF By
any State ON account Of race. color ur previous
condition. of seryitu4e, Il {, uag pretended
by the Republican party that any Whlie people
in the Ssath arc deprived ~ their ghi 20 vote
by special Determinations Il Is, therefore,
evidently designed by the Republican conveu
ton to punish The South for special di-crinal.
nations sgaiHst the negro. Ii auy State has
deprived 4 negro g ais sole on aecsaHt 1t hrs
race OF color il iss violated ia- Constitution.
Section Of the Fiiieeuth Amendment cuBiess
! upon Congress power ~ enforce ibts article
bv appropriate legislation II ANY State hss
deprived any citizen 81 his r1sht 80 va1r on
I account 81 race or cobiG or previous condition
ol ssrv,ludc. Is ' not rather Incumbent upup
the Republican party. which has every depart
mrut. branch and ageuey II government iu it,
keeping, 10 right The wrlaE and restore ihe
citizen 90 bls rights than yo satisfy Itself By re-
3ucing representation There Is go evidence
that the Republican party has ever made suy
such attempt. Tae iHJeciioa oi this tssu" into
the campaign, coupled As @ seems tb BE- s1h
ihr lualaaola Tosiofhce affair ana The Cram
appointment az Charleston. canaoi bul c4g.e
regret Il looks iikr determination la wage
var up0u she South. Aud % eaanai b. Doubted
that the South, d aroused. viii had .ume
means 81 retaliation. The south Is the b.-.i
customer ofIhe Northern factories. The Sgu1h
can get along much better wilhoul fu!l repre-
seuiaiioa n Congress 'han The North can sei
along without Souiher. trade For this rea-
soa aad for other, i is no; believed thsi the
sober. business sentiment Of the North. ia
which men 81 Southern birth are 80 largely
represented sail be satisfied % permit q sec
iionai wariare, whitn would be scaTeiy lees
bitter because b.oodless. The Constitution,
a. adopted by the fathers DID not contemplate
The number Of voters a. the basis Of represent
taiiou. Il aas the population, The slaves
counting three tiihs. Il l. easily conceivable
that IN States spArsely peopied, with voting
places remote from many, only a small pro
portion Of those entitled % vote might take the
trouble 70 do so where ,here Is no contest al
the polls. Ii would surely BE- unjust to deprive
State Of rs representation on that account.