The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-08
MARYLAND AND NORTH CARO-
s LIMA.

cor dltlonS prevailing III these SIdteS
are no,, unlike. In the mountain coun-
ties of North Carolina there are COM
paratively few negroes and the people
of that section never personally felt
negro suffrage. In Western Maryland
the same condition exists. But the
white people. of Western North Caro-
lima rallied to the relief of the negro
counties and helped to adopt the
amendment that denied the ballot to
all negroes except the educated ones.
Western Maryland will be wise to free
the State from the danger of giving
the negro the balance of power and
freeing the counties where the negroes
live in large numbers from the
troubles that result from the political
leadership of the negroes by bad men.
Every Southern State has pracu-
cally disfranchised The ignorant ne
grces, and the result has been bies-
sing TO both races. Writing to ex-
Governor Jackson. Of Maryland, of the
good results of the suffrage amend
l1clt Ill NOIlH AdlOilIlo, oONNAhoi
Glenn truly says:
I'm response to your inquiry as to
how the amendment mas worked III
our State, l cannot emphasize my
views of its benefits stronger than to
white man of any standing in the
State, whether he be Democrat or
Republican, VINO would like to see
the present amendment of the Con-
stitution repealed. Before the amend
ment there were constant clashes be-
tween the races; disturbances and
riots on the Gay of election, criminal
tons and recriminations in regard to
how the elections were held. Since
the amendment went into effect we
have had no trouble. The negroes
who are qualified to vote, vote; those
who are not, do not vote. In fact.
the negro seems to have lost all in
terest in politics, and has gone to work
and is becoming a better citizen
Peace reigns at the polls; there are
no disturbances of any kind. Election
day is as quiet as Sunday, and our
people are prospecting more than they
have ever done i'm the history of the
State These are facts that cannot be
denied by any conscientious man.
Naturally the people of North Car
rending election in Maryland where a
constitutional amendment is the chief
issue The amendment there is more
like that Gin operation in. Mississippi
than the North Carolina amendment,
but the result is the same under both,
to-wit the elimination of the ignorant
negro as a voter. There are folks in
Maryland who predict that under the
opetation of the understanding
clause" come white men would be
DISTINGUISHED. They would not make
that argument if they would person
ally study its operations in all the
States where It's in operation.
The negro was given the ballot over
the protest. of the Southern people
and some of the best men i'll the
North. The wisest men said he should
be permitted to vote only as he showed
his fitness. The Maryland amendment
and all amendments in Southern
States looks to doing now what should
have been done in 1868: denying the
right of any negro TO vote until he
telligently cast his ballot
That is best for the negro as well
as for good government and the late
Senator George, of Mississippi, showed
more wisdom thar any Southern
statesman since 1868 when he devised
the plan which was adopted in Missis-
sippi ind, with some changes. has
been adopted in most Southern States.
The Southern peonIe will not per-
nit the negro and his allies to vote
In Georgia The negro does not vote,
but until he is eliminated by con-
stituticnai amendment he is liable to
become a factor and compel resort
to plans that arc not consoEant with
the best policy. The thing to do is
openly and regularly to say that the
negro must meet an educational test
He cannot do this for many years aud
thus in q legal and constitutional way
white rule is guar ar,teed.
1t will not do to say that Maryland
does not need the suffrage amend
ment because they are in the minority
EADcTleIlCe Ill tNOl Ill NdlOiliio oCIhoAi
strated that where the negro held the
balance of power it was nearly as es-
sential to have the suffrage amend
lnent as where he was in the majority.
In the county in which Raleigh is sit
uate the whites were in the majority,
but the negroes were able to dictate to
the Republicans and compel The selec-
ton of negro to the Legislature, a
negro Deputy Clerk, and negro
member of the County Board of Edu-
cation having control of all the public
schools, white and colored. Often
when the negro holds this balance of
power he is more assertive and de-
mands more than when he has the
majority. and practically the State of
MARYLAND is situated exactly as was
Wake county. The negro is in the
minority, but in any election he eau
control, because his vote is the bal
ance Of power. That is d menace to
good government. Eliminate all the
negroes except those who can meet the
educational requirement. and you