The aegis & intelligencer., 1905-07-21

true this time. But we have no fear.
Time and again the Democracy of
Hartford has been trusted and seldom
ever has she failed.
MZSAPTREHENSION REGARDING THE
EDUCATIONAL TEST.
The greatest trouble that the sup
porters of the proposed constitu-
tional amendment for the disfran-
chisement of the negro, are having is
to get people, who should possess
more intelligence, to understand the
conditions under which any certain
class of persons can be required to
undergo the educational test. The
proposed legislation seems to be mis-
understood in two ways-hrst, there
is a popular supposition that the
educational test is applied OH cleo
tion day instead of registration day,
and secondly, that the judges can
absolutely bring under its provis-
ions any person whom they may see
fit. That both of these impressions
are absolutely false and untrue
goes without saying, and it is pain
full to relate that the foundation Of
neutrality-suspicious. largely grows
out of the statements spread by
those who oppose the amendment.
For instance, Attorney General
Bryan was reported to have said
that he was not so sure but what even
he might be disfranchised. Whether or
not he said this seems immaterial, as
the statement was published by a
Baltimore paper, and no denial OF
the same has ever been made by him.
These columns have again and
again called attention to the fact
that the provisions do not apply to
anv one who had the right to vote
in 1869, or whose ancestors possessed
the same right in any state i'll the
Union, and also that educational
tests were applied at registration
and not on election day. Our older
readers Can we'll recall the times
when many of them were not allowed
to cast their votes. This was curing
the days of and Immediately follow
ing the Civil War and tests were ap-
piled to them at the time the ballots
was offered. They have easily con-
founded the one with the other, when
there is the greatest possible differ
ence.
There is not white man in Mary
land today, who should give him
self any concern about the passage
of this amendment. 1t is snot intend.
ed to disfranchise the members ol
our own race, and in every state
where similar legislation has been
adopted, this is true as experience
shows. We have time and again
frankly stated that it is intended to
reach the negro; not so much on
account Of his color but his associa,
tions and surroundings. The negro
is not a good citizen, has no idea OF
its duties or requirements, and has
become a mere machine in the hands
of manipulating politicians.
1t has been pointed out that the
negro has aided in reforms in sup.
porting men and measurers that
were wholly meritorious and could
not have been successful without his
assistance. From local experience,
we challenge this assertion. Since
the negro first voted in 1870 up to
present time, there has been but one
governor of the state of Maryland
elected by the aid of his vote. If any
fair-minded citizen can point out 4
single achievement that was made
during the four years of Republican
rule of this state, and say that ex.
cept such as the Democrats them
selves would have put into force, the
administration ofGovernor Lowndes
was any better than that which the
late John E. Hurst who was his uns &c
cessful opponent, would have given
US, then we can only dismiss the as
sertion because of its coloring of par,
tisanship.
1t is not claimed that our own
party is perfect-far from it, yet we
DCllCfC lldl LIlC Sldl0 Vi -letl l1llI
has made more substantial progress
since the Civil War under the Demo.
Gratis than it would, if the govern
ment had been one that owed its
political power to the negro vote.
Honor cannot spring from dishonor
and there can be no condition to the
mind of the ablest political econo-
mist when a purified result can flow
from a venal source. The negro vote
of Maryland is reeking in ignorance,
blindness, partisanship and tendency
for crime. AS stream can rise no
higher than its head, neither can any
party that owes its supremacy to
the negro vote, in the end accom-,
plish as much as the one that is put
in power by the intelligence, culture
and wealth of the state. The negro
does not know the initial duties OF citi
zenship and until he has learned the
necessary requirements, it is far
better to put him in a position that