The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-09-07
THE AMENDMENT AND ITS EVILS
Lawyer Writes on the Banefal Infiu-
ence Such an Act Would Have.

/ ~ DC NOlGu upon at our next cleo
ton, touching the qualification of
voters is authorized by the act of
1904, chapter 90. This act is now
treated as valid law, though it
never received the approval or sig
nature Of our governor. 1t was,
and is yet understood he was op-
posed to it.
This will be a very important
feature in our next election and
the proposed amendment for the
honor, credit and interest Of our
good old state shonld be voted
down by decided majority. Jus
tice and fairness to all require this
to be done. Senator German is
the originator of this wrongful ret
rograde measure; and for what pur-
pose? Clearly to perpetuate his
party in power and he thereby be
its beneficiary while he lives,
whether his natural life be long or
short.
Noone can fail to see that it is
a blow at the colored people, to
deprive as many Of them as posi-
bic of their votes, solely on &C
count Of their color; and because
they, as a rule belong to another
political party. Who is it that
does not believe, if the colored vo-
tiers should cast their ballots for
the Democrat party, they would
in that event be fit, and even well
come voters? Negro domination
is the cry by some. This is a
farce. Whom do they dominate?
Where is the one in our state hold
ing an Office of trust, power or au-
thority? None. One thing we
can all see, and know, that the
colored people of the state, about
ESQ, 900 furnish the basis for one
member of Congress from Mary
land, And the colored people of
the whole United States number
ing about 5000, 900, seat about
thirty-fve members in the lower
house of Congress, nearly all of
the Democratic party A colored
person, literate or illiterate,
counts the same as white in form
ing our Congressional basis.
The proposed constitutional
amendment contains the follow
ing: First, a peraon able to
read any section of the constitu-
ton of this state submitted to him
by the officers of registration, and
to give a reasonable explanation of
the same, or if unable to read
such section, is able to understand
and give reasonable explanation
thereof when read to him by the
registration officers"
By the act of 1904, chapter 254,
a new registration Of all the voters
of the state is to be had, in accor-
dance with this amendment, if ap
proved by the people at the next
election. From the provision
above quoted it will be seen, that
the registrars will have the power
to require any person offering to
be registered who can read to give
a reasonable explanation of such
part or parts OF the constitution as
the registrars may see fit to offer
him. A person not able to read
IS required to give the same expla-
nation to such part or parts of the
constitution as may be read to him
by the registrars, just as though
he could read.
Now suppose the registration
officers should be disposed or wish
to do so. to any extent wished,
under this proposed amendment.
They would have the power to Sc
lect such parts of the constitution
as they might wish to choose and
suppose they wished to present
something to the applicants that
they could not understand or ex-
plain, co uld they not readily do
so, especially if they had the pre-
vious advice or instruction from
some astute lawyer. For instance,
the Declaration of Rights, being
part of the constitution, provides