The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-04-08


to say the least, putting the bars pretty
high; but when you add TO that the pow
er in the registration officers to pass on
the reasonableness of explanation you
make their opinion of such reasonable
ness the supreme test of Il mans right
to vote.
''In my opinion, it is vesting too much
power in the registration officers and is
a very dangerous measure. | am not
sure, but might be disqualified myself
under this clause, and it is not impos'si-
Bile for the Judges of the Court of APP
peals to be disqualified to vote, if the
registration officers so mind"
Mr.. John f. Semmes. II prominent in
dependent Democrat of Baltimore City,
Says the proposed amendment is bound
in the end to react upon the party pro-
posing it and added:
ANY attempt to diSfranchise II par
ticular class of voters is unfair, and
should not he tolerated. | am thor
ou%hly convinced that II proper ciuca-
tiourl qualification would be in the best
interests Of the State. 1t would seem
that Il MAN who will not accept an edu
cation in these days could only vote nc-
cordirg to the direction of someone else.
1t were best for the Stnte that he will
not vote at all. rather than under such
conditions. Even taking the low view
that honesty is the best policy. it is a
maxim which any party or any State
canrot ovcrIook \ 'ellndfnthcr'S
cause us is provided in this amendment
canrH but react upon its authors.
! Major John l. Ycllot. of the Towson
bar. says:
4 The avowcd purpose of the amend
mcnt is to deprive the negro Of the right
of suffrage conferred IN him by Con
>ttutioull amendment accepted by the
State without violation of such amend
mcnt. The accomplishment If such pur-
pose in RI direct way. conccling the
right ani sound policy of such lcgisln-
ton or Constitutional enactment. would
| be difficult. indeed. if possible 1T all.
AMI indirect mrthoGS must be ro>Hrtcd
! to. Iriircction in such matters is diam
g,r"us a> Il rule, and likely to result in
mare harm than good to the public gen
orally. IN this instance the second and
third sections of the proposed amend
( mcHt are useless. and not needed except
to limit the SCOPE of the first section
3 and make it apply to the coIorCd voter
ualy. thus creating and prrpotuating Il
political inequality that cannot be ether
wise than huI1ful To- the two races,
Whici must live tG-vth"r. unlrS> the one
| Grtr~;S the other, aud wllo should work
together for the advancement of tn" in
/ f;rirr race.
I'm my uiimion. it WIS 1 great mis-
take to giv" the negro the unqualified
, tight Of suffrage when freed. Ii should
have been qualified by requiring fitness
of some kind. 1t WAS given. the giving
of it accepted by our people. and the
right has been exercised nearly 10 years
without serious harm or dctrimrnt to
the States welfare. Such disturbance
Of that right ut this time in the way
and by the drhu$ing means contemplate
cd hy the first section of this amendment
must result in serious harm 10 both
:,"uS uu,Ar existing circumstances.
Their mutual good requires the dcvrl-
npmcni of good viii and Proper respect.
the one for tn" other. rather than the
widening of the existing and natural
breach between them. Nature has >ppa-
lated the race beyond the power Of
man to bring about equality. and with
This separation there is Il natural an
tag ut>m thlt should not be increased
by II lot of politicians of my lEtlitical
faith for no good purpose. In fact. for
no purpose but to increase their own
dangerous power.
Apart from this consideration of the
question the proposed amendment should
in my humble opinion be defeated be-
cause its enforcement will require the
appointment of q lower standard Of
election officials than we now have. II
is by this means only that the short
sighted promoters of this thing pro-
pose to Stihe all independents unSrtiSh
and patriotic political sentiment and
turn the State over to themselves 50
effectualy that opposition to their rul"
will be impossible Our people have
had Il taste of this, and | cannot believe
they want to 20 back 10 II political shay
cry from which they have escaped. We
have seen raScality and fraud reign alb
>Ilutrly in our elections: this has been
corrected ly the independent voter cast
ing the same ballot Is. the negro. They
have voted together il tL' past for the
redemption "f the State from the mis-
rule of those who II W seek to intremh
themselves III perpetual power by means
.! this amendment.
| Let lis have an intelligent ballot, Il
moral test. an educational test, Il prop
crty test. or any other kind of test for
the voter. but let il be stamped with
trmocratic equality ana free from the
degrading political machinery required
tn enforce this amendment. if adopted.
If educated. intelli.;cu' and honest cleo
tlon officers famil,a" with ;hc Cssnrtitu-
ION and capable of G'Iing what many
| lawyers canEOt no. viz. plsS ON Il real
| >onable construction of any section of
| the Constitution. are to be appointcd
| then the amendment amounts to moth
ing. Such cannot he had and will not
he appointed, but the tools of political
hosseS will fill the places. and the 'rea-
sonablencss' of constitutional const rue
ton will depend wholly on the political
scmtimeAt oc the proposed voter. This
is wrong. vicious and dangerous"
Decision Day April Goth, 1905