The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-05-13
The Sentinel Silent--The Franchise
Amendment an Economic Pro-
position.

Two weeks ago we asked our neighbor, the
Sentinel, if it favored negro suffrage and the
retention of the names of ignorant negroes on
the registration books. Last week the Senti-
mel was silent. 1t was pointed question. and
particularly so to that paper, whose editor was
defeated in his ambition to be nominated for
Congress by the negro vote Of this district.
Had he carried the district, he would have
carried the county and in all probability have
gained the nomination, as the Baltimore city
delegates would have supported him.
While the Democrats have inaugurated the
movement for eliminating the ignorant negroes
from the electorate. and the Republicans in
the Legislature voted unanimously against the
proposed franchise amendment to the Con-
stitution, the question is an economic one
rather than partisan. 1t should be so re-
garded by voters. But it will be made parti
san by the action of the State conventions.
The Democratic convention will endorse the
amendment and the Republican convention
will condemn it. The Republican conven-
ton will be forced to do so, for, as the amend
ment is intended to get rid OF the ignorant
negro voters, and as aboat half of the Repuh
lican voters are negroes, to fail TO condemn
the amendment will result in crushing defeat
for Republican State aud ali county tickets
If the white Republicans will not help the
negro to hold on to his privilege of voting, the
negroes will stay at home. or vote only against
the amendment and let Republican candidates
go by the board.
But, as we have remarked, the question is
an economic one and above partisanship. The
adoption of the franchise amendment IS de-
signed to elevate the electorate, and the more
intelligent the voters are to the same degree
will the government be elevated, partieu'
larry in those counties under Republican rule,
where the negroes constitute twothirds or
more of the Republican party.
The condemnation of the amendment by
the Republican State convention win hold
many white Republicans against the PROPOSE
ton, but there is scarcely Republican worker
and leader in all Western Maryland who
would not like 10 see the lower class OF ne
groes cut eff from voting. They have to be
bought at primaries and again at elections.
They yearly grow holder in their demands,
and are a continual source of annoyance.
Their votes are essential to Republican sue
cess, and as the Republican tickets in Western
Maryland are fairly representative citizens,
the negroes have to be brought into line, or
All hope of success be abandoned.
II is a pity that the adoption or rejection OF
the amendment IL to be n party question, as
it should not be. Voters should consider 1t
as proposition affecting the general welfare,
and many will, regardless of State convention
declarations. Not only will the adoption OF
the amendment elevate the electorate, by
eliminating mass of ignorance, but it viii
stop the immigration of ignorant aud shittless
negroes from Virginia and the Carolinas. We
bAve sufficieney, and more, of that class Of
population. In some sections there is a con-
gsstion, and the more Southern negroes come
to this State the more crime and lawiessness
will increase, because the industrious eolored
man is not migratory. Il is the shifiless,
careless. indifferent, ignorant negro who tray'
els about, and has always been in Stale
year when the time for registration arrives,
and is always more than twenty one years old