Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-04-06

question OF negro suffrage, and bg
the snccessfai oad satisfactory practical
operation Of such pnorisions im those
States.
IA thus reflects aRd adopts the latest
aad best rie'cs Of the strongest men OF
The South.
Recurring to It's precise language,
we fnd that it confers the right to
registration (as the indispensable
preliminary to the right to vote) up
on every adult male possessing the
prescribed qualification OF one years
legal residence in Maryland, who is
able TO read and givaa reasonable
explanation to any section OF the
Constitution of Maryland submitted
to him by the Registration Officers
--or, If such adult male is unable to
read. then the right to registration
is given If he 'is able to understand
and give explanation ofany section
of the Constitution when read to
him by them.
II the applicant is able to read and
give a reasonable explanation of any
section of the Constitution. when
thus submitted to him, he is entitled
TO registration.
! This standing alone would fairly
mean that the applicant must be able
both to read and give a reasonable
explanation OF the Section submitted
to him. But the succeeding words
OF the clause show that such cannot
De its meaning, for these succeeding
words declare that if the applicant
cannot read, but can understand and
give explanation of the Section when
read to him, he is in that event en-,
titled to registration.
From this examination of the whole
clause, it is clear that no more is re-
quired ofany applicant than an ability
to give a reasonable explanation OF
any Section OF the Constitution.
whether read by him when submit
ed by the registration officers, or
when read to him by them.
The literal language of the second
part OF the clause does not reouire
that the explanation shall be "rea-
sonaole, but inasmuch as the an.
plicant who is unable to read is re-
quired both ito understand and give
explanation, the explanation exact
ed from him should fairly be con-
strued to mean reasonable explana-
ton. Indeed, the word reasonable"
found in the first part of the clause
should doubtless be treated as i'm.
pied or understood, although not
actually repeated in the second mart
OF the clause.
IL is found in the present Consti-
tuition of Virginia, from which the
whole clause is taken, and il cannot
DE supposed that the omission of this
word reasonable" was intended tn
Affect the Interpretation of the clause.
INABILITY TO READ.
The right to registration conferred
upon men able to understand and
give explanation, while not able In
read, is not made to depend upon an
inability to read from physical de-
feet, such as blindness, but is con-
ferred absolutely upon them without
regard to the cause of their inability
whether the same arises from want
OF sufficient education or any other
cause whatever.
The right in other words, is made
to depend upon the fact of the in
ability to read and not at all upon
the cause of such inability. Hence.
the practical and substantial test of
admission to registration or exclu.
sion from it under this whole clause
is the ability or inability of theap-
pican' 10 understand andSgive
reasonable explanation" OF aay sec
tion of our. State Constitutioaread
to hjm by the Registration Offcers.
No greater or different test is re-
quired from the man who can read
and the man who cannot read. Both
are required to be able to give a rea-
sonable explanation of any section
submitted by the Registration OIL
eers. The man who can read and
give a reasonable explanation of the
section which is submitted to him to
be read By him is put upon the same
plane precisely as the man who can
not read, but can understand aud
give a reasonable explanation OF the
section read TO him.
And so, too, the man who cannot
read the section submitted to him to
be read by him. but is called on To-
give a reasonable explanation OF a
section read to him by the Registra-
tion Officers is put upon the same
plane precisely as the man who can
read the section submitted % him by
the Registration Officers to be read
By him.
Starting, therefore. with this plain