The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-07-29
IS UNDElMOCRATIC LAW
Just MORRILL, N. PACKARD ON POE
AMENDMENT
Future OF Party AT Stake-Righf To Vote
Is A Valuable One


is a prominent member of the Crescent
Democratic Club, has the following TO
say about the Poe amendment
'"rhe true test of Il citizens Democracy
is his adherence to and support of Dem
ocratic principles and practices. That
the party organization favors Il certain
proposition i'll governmental affairs does
not necessarily make it II democratic
principle or practice.
while the democratic leaders con-
trolling the party organization try to
force uIJl the party followers Il prin-
ciple or practice in government that is
not democratic. then II true Democrat
proves his Democracy the better by OPP
posing that principle or practice, for the
reason that a citizens duty to the whole
people of his city. State and country is
far greater than his duty to his party.
AMENDMENT Is UNDEMOCRATIC.
The proposed amendment to the Con-
stitution Of this State is not Democratic,
i'm that it places unfair and un-DemG-
cratic restrictions upon the right of SHIf-
frage, in violation of the historic prin-
cipleS and practices of the party, and eS-
pecialy the specific pledge of the Demo-
cratic party in Maryland in this regard
which it was restored to power by the
people in the year 1900 that we distinctly
pledge ourselves to do equal and exact
justice to all, without regard to race.
and to guarantee to the colorcd people of
the Stae the fullest protection in all
their rights
at is unfair and m-DemocrHtic be-
cause it affords the absolute and I'M
qualified right to franchise to one class
of citizens simply and solely ON the
ground that those composing the IA
vored class were fortunate enough to
have been born in this country. having
fathers or grandfather> who exercised
the right to vote prior to the year 1869.
while compelling those composing the
other classes to submit their right Of
franchise to the arbitrary discretion of
registration officials after an examination
upon the intricate problems involved in
constitutional Interpretation, if such Off
ciHlS so choose to do
BECOMES EASY FOR PARTISANS.
st is even unfair and annoying to Il
gOodly portion of those whose right to
vote would be preserved by the ances-
trail clause for the reason that their
ancestry prior to the year 1869 having
Not''l III lHT-uNHN counties or the OtIpf
States and Territories, would have great
difficulty and expense in proving their
right. and if this were not 80. and such
fact WAS too easily proved. serious
abuses would arise Hereunder by per-
hitting f;vorite partisan to register
upon the slightest proof.
'T'he reasonable Interpretation of the
meaning of RI clause in the Constitution
makes the citizens right to vote depend
Hl"n Il Succcs Sflll examination on n tech
meal subject. til" doing Of which re-
quirc$ special and tccltnicAl training and
education ra the pH't of those who are
required to undergo it. 1t would he lust
as rca: enable to make the right IT, vote
dependent upon ~ examination in
higher mIthemat;u. CCp"~mrS, AIS
tionomy or any ether of the manv bran
chcS of lcarning requiring special study
and PREPARATION.
HOW LAW WILL BE ENFORCED.
The claim flat such test in estab-
fishing n citiz,Els right TO vote is an ed
ucattrlal test is true but it is mani
feStly unfair to the great mass of cil1-
Zen> subjected to it, and the inevitable
conclusion to be drawn from it's use is
that it is done not to disfranchSe ilit-
crate and ignorant voters as they are
known to the body polite but to dis
franchise all citizens who cannot inter-
pref Il clause in the Constitution, no
matter how intelligent and we'll edn-
Gated they may he in all other branches
of learning. if partisan necessity de-
mnndS the sacrifice. In regiSt III ton of
voters preceding Il bitter political con-
test under these conditions it does not
require amy imagination whatever to
see scholars. LAWYERS. philosophers and
statesmen of independent political views |
or adherentS of the political party OBJ
posed to that party to which majority
of the registration officials belong de-
MED the right to vote, while the citizen
who cannot even read or write and can
not distinguish a clause in the Consti- |
tuition from one of Barclays illustrated
jokes is given a certificate, by way OF
the right to vote, which says that he is
sufficiently learned in the organic law
of his country to be trusted with its
destiny.
Gould an enemy of free institutions
desire better plan. more ample means
or a more certain way of suppresSing
the will of the people than this, once
give him control of the election machin-
cry?
DOES MORE THAN PLANNED.
"One unknown advocate of the amend
ment said that the Openly avowed and
honest object of the amendment is to re-
heve Maryland of the incubus and ca
lamity of ignorant negro suffrage Then
why not apply Il remedy that will do just
that thing and nothing more? Why. in
doing this, should the whole class of
white citizens not favored with a voting
American ancestry prior to the year
lSGo and now enjoying the right to vote
have their right subjected to the man.
cate issued to any PARTISAN registers by
the leaders Of any party in control Of
the election machinery. as it may and
could he issued and oheyed dcprivins
any and all Of this class of citizens of
the right to- vote when and Gs often as
party supremacy should demand it?
Another has said to me- in defending
the amendment THAT She would help hang
to the first lamp post handy any regis
tration official who under these conditions
Il Il