The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-09-10
THE NEGRO in POLITICS
WHY THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON
WERE DEPRIVED OF THE BALLOT.
To Escape Negro Rule, Both Whites
and Blacks We're DISTINGUISHED


Our readers know, OF course, that
the citizens of Washington, the capital
OF the United States. are not permit
ed to vote. Their officials are appolnt-
ed by the President, and their laws
are made by Congress. The follow
ing article, by Judge Dickson. In
Hampton's Magazine for August. tells
why the nations capital is SO gov
erned, and furnishes complete justi-
fication OF the Southern states in their
efforts to eliminate the negro as a
factor in politics:
The experience OF the District of
Columbia will illustrate quite clearly
the reasons for the South's attitude.
Directly after the war, and sorely
against its peoples will. the national
capital was forced into an experiment
with negro suffrage, which, from 1871
70 1874, proved to be negro domino
ton
Such men as w. w. Corcoran, q.
w. Riggs, HoratIo NJ Essby, Columbus
Alexander, and many others, petition
ed Congress to change the form OF
government, so as to disfranchIse
them all and get rid OF the black
voter. A Republican administration.
under General Grant, wiped out the
entire system.
THE trayesty OF II Is that WASH
ington furnishes the FIRST instance In
Anglo Saxon history where white men
have voluntarily surrendered their
franchise rights In order to take the
ballot from the negro This was no
trivial matter, nor did 1t receive hasty
consideration. The District of Co
lumbia pays more taxes than the citi-
zens of any one OF the following
States. Alabama. Arkansas, Maine,
Mississippi, Nevada. South Carolina,
Vermont II has a greater population
than Delaware, Idaho, Montana, Ne
yada, New Mexico, North Dakosa,
Utah. or Wyoming. BY right Of num-
beers, they would have been entitled
TO two United States Senators, and
one representative In Congress. Yet
these people prefer to violate the an.
Gent principle, mo taxation without
representation" for which their an
cestors fought a bloody war.
Let us glance at the history Of the
District OF Columbia From the crea.
ton Of the District, about iTs3, 10
1912 che city council of Washington
was elected by The white malea. who
we're possessed of certain quaiiflca.
tons. but the mayor waa appointed
by the President In 1912 the mayor
was made elective At this time there
we're about 500 fires negroes and 5000
slaves In the District.
The color line was maintained un.
I'll January 8. 1867. when Congress
abolished every distinction Of color
for Office. This last distinction was
obllternted by the Act OF March rs.
1869.
Meanwhile great changes had
taken place In the population and ins-
portance OF the Diactrict Froa ne
groes had Increased 1900 per cent.
while the slaves showed an absolute
decrease, being In 1860 only four and
one-half per cent. Of tho population.
Congress passed the District Enamel
patton Act IN isG2. and appropriated
money 70 pay loyal citizens for their
slaves
AT that time the people dreaded
a black avalanche. and beaought Con-
gresa TO protect them agninat II. This
was not done. HoFdea OF fngiiiyeH
and contrabandR came pouring IN Be
tween 1860 and 1870 fire negro p0pula-
ton Increased from 1876 TO 4a.41a.
There was no work for these people
10 do lt was not the prospect og
work which attracted them Like the
moth 10 The light. they few straight
NJ the dome OF the capitol. and nut
tered belpleasly To The ground beside
IL The same fatal fascination en-
dnres 10 this day: thousands Of de-
luded negroes believe that their etar.
nal happiness ~ secure II they can get
TO Washington To do what? No.
body knows. II ~ part OF the negro
phenomena. There are many traits
OF the negro which must be accepted
without argument. because no man
can give their reasons. but they came
TO Washington In fiocka and drOyea
and they had TO be cared for.
These were the general conditions
In 1865. when the question OF negro
suffrage first aroae. Bear In mind
that this followed immediately on the
heels OF successful war. when en-
thnsiasm ran riot. aud Lineoin's as
saeaination was fresh A special cleo
ton was held and violent agitation
brought out n full vote. The City OF
Washington east 35 voteH ia favor
OF negro suffrage. aud G,56s against
Georgetown cart two votes in favor
OF, and SI3 against. These yotera
were not prejudiced Southerners. they
were merely white men In the face of
peril"
Richard WalIach. who had been
a.
knew all the conditions, wrote:
mo others In addition TO this mil
nority OF 80 are to be found in the
community who favor the extension
OF the right of suffrage to the class
and In the manner proposed. except
ing those who have already niemori-
allied the Senate In It's favor, and
who with but little association, less
sympathy, and no community OF In
terests or affinity with the citizens of
Washington receive here from the
general Government temporary em-
ployment, and having at the national
capital residence limited only 10
the presidential term, and invariably
exercising the elective franchise else
where"
All America turned its eyes upon
Congress, because its action In rela-
ton to negro suffrage In Washington
might be taken as fair indication OF
what would be done In the country at
large. Despite the practically unani-
nous protest OF the people of the
District, Congress conferred the fran
chise upon all men who had resided
one year in the District, without dis
tinetion OF race or color" This act
was passed In December. 1886, On
January 5, 1857, President JOHNSON
vetoed It. He said, in part
1t is within their 1.-THE negroes !
power to come into the district In
such numbers az to have supreme CON
troll OF the white race and TO govern
them by their own officers. and ex-