The Washington times., 1906-07-10

North Carolina State convention at
Greensboro last light lie told them /
they would be Ertter or II they didn't 4
get any Of the 'ederal Offices and that
81 would likewise be better for the OF /
fees.
Then the Secretary also told the
Democrats Of the South that they were
making a mistake in maintaining a solid /
South. IL would be better for the
South and for tho party and for the 1
country. he said, If the South would
quit being the solid South.
Admits DisfTanchisemenr
The Secretary accepted as an accom- |
plished and inevitable fact the disfran-
Ghisement Of the Southern blacks, and /.
made no protest against It. further than T
the suggestion that il would be better /
90 have limitations OF suffrage based 1
on qualification. and made 10 apply to /.
white and black alike. On this sub /
ject he said:
The South has been kept solid by the I
specter OF negro domination and racial /
prejudices. After a Tong struggle the !
negrOs vote was made TO count for /
nothing in the Southern States. Then |
the political leaders of the dominant
party came 10 realize the dreadful de 1
moralization of all society that followed |
in a government II law was fiouted and
fraud was TO constitute its basis. They
cast about 10 make the law square with !
the existing condition by property and |
educational qualifications which should |
eXcluis the negro. They adopted
amendments TO State constitutions with
the sO-called grandfather clauses in
tended TO apply the new qualifications TO |
the negro, and not In apply them TO
the whites. Ii is impossible TO frame a
law establishing an educational quail
ncation for suffrage which will stand
the test OF the Fifteenth Amendment and
which will not ultimately operate, no
matter what the qualification or present
effect, 20 exclude lmpaTtlally the negroes
and whites from the ballot who lack |
educational requirement.
Government IS established 20 secure
the greatest good for the greatest mum
Der \ popular government atJaius this
end because il is undoubtedly true that
IN the long run the rights and happiness
OF every person and every class are
much more likely TO be secured and safe
Is guarded by the laws of the country |
and enforced by the Executive IL the
voice of every person or class is Civ en- an
opportunity 10 be heard in the adoption
OF the laws or the selection Of the Exec |
utive.
Intelligent Tote Necessary.
This view, however, is predicated on
the premise that the person or class of
person whose rights are 70 be protected
by their own vote have sufficient infor-
nation ana power OF intellectual de-
cision 20 enable them to learn and decide /
what their rights and real interest are,
and how they ought To be protected
When q class Of persons is so ignorant
ana 81 subject 10 oppression and mis-
leading that they are merely political
children, not having the mental stature
o. manhood, then their voice in the gov
ernment secures no benefit 10 them. A
policy, therefore, in the South which
excludes from the ballot impartially both
the black and white when ignorant and
irresponsible cannot be criticised
"Conceding that the laws now in force
IN this state and other parts of the
South We're intended. either bv their
terms or by their mode OF execution TO I
exclude the ignorant COlOred voter from
the franchise with rigOr, and TO allow
the ignorant white vote. though equally /
UNITED for the franchise. 10 exercise /
IT, / do not think that this makes a /
hopeless situation for the colOred man /
or the political power that he may i'm 1
the future exercise. II he continues To 4
iucTeasr in intelligence. as under the /
public educational institutions he is like
j. to do, and if industrially he becomes /
a power. as his progress thus far iusti- /
tlcs us la believing that he will. the /
men or the race who are eligible 10 vote /
in accordance with law will increase
and their common sense and Judgment /
and position in the community will add 4
weight 10 the vote they cast, and viii /
secure more real influence for the bene- |
fit OF their race than when the right |
of suffrage of the negroes was wholly /
unrestricted.
South Cherishes Traditions.
''The white people of the South are a /
homogeneous people. much more likely TO /
cherish traditions and retain customs |
and opinions of the past than the peo- |
pie OF the North OF more mixed descent |
Hence II takes a long time to convince |
the white people OF the South, intelli- |
gent. cleaT-headed and energetic as they
are, that the cry Of negro domination. |
so often raised by politicians among /
them. is merely for the purpose of so /
lidifying their vote on the Democratic /
side. and has no real justification in /
fact"
Turning to the party questions. the /
Secretary made this sensational state !
ment;
Rather Have Democrats in Office.
Il do not wish to seem ungracious, but
] must be candid. In my Judgment, the /
Republican party of North Carolina /
would be much stronger as a voting /
1illed by Democrats. OF course. I can
not deny that a wish 70 MI public office /
is an honorable aspiration, whether by /
appointment or election, but when all I
hope of choice by the people is aban- /
doned. and everything is given over to /
influencing a distant appointing power I
10 choose particular men to perform Of /
fetal functions In a community political /
ly hostile to those men, the result is not 4
good for the men or the community /
The struggle for Federal political Office /
..HH .Na.~~s
strifes and disappointments. paralyzes !
united effort TO make the party strong /
al the polls and worthy of success.
Taft Back From South;
Off at Noon for Ohio /