The Democratic advocate., 1909-10-08
negro SUFFRAGE
GENERALLY ADMITTED TO HAVE BEEN
A GREAT POLITICAL BLUNDER
Southern States should Be Left to
Deal With This Problem

1t is now pretty generally conceded
that the absolute grant of unlimited
suffrage to the newly emancipated
slaves Of the South was a great politi-
cal blunder, committed whilst the pas
sions Of the war were at fever heet,
and which, were the question now
open for dispassionate consideration,
would certainly not be repeated.
II Is also conceded by the best senti-
ment at the North that the Southern
States, with which Maryland in this
particular should be classed, ought
to be left free to deal with this ques-
ton, without outside interference,
as best qualified to wisely settle 1t.
The principal difficulty in the way
OF such settlement is to frame such
constitutional enactment as will se-
cure the object aimed at, namely, re-
lief from intolerable illiterate negro
suffrage without violating the pro-
visions of the Fifteenth Amendment
The result has been satisfactorily
accomplished In some Of the Southern
States, and the trainers OF the Amend
ment now proposed to the voters OF
Maryland believe II TO be free Of con-
stitutional objection. and therefore. as
II will undoubtedly, II adopted ac-
complish the intended object, II ought
to receive the vigorous and hearty
support Of our people.
When II is borne In mind that on
the first day Of January, 1869, the
right to vote was possessed by all
adult male negroes in North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas
and Arkansas. and in some few of the
Northern States and that under the
proposed Amendment all these male
adult negroes now living. and their
adult male descendants, would be en-
titled to registration as voters in
Maryland after a legal residence OF
two years in the State, II will be at
once apparent how unfounded Is the
contention that the Amendment deniez
the franchise TO negroes as such.
With the illiterate, vicious and non
taxpaying negro element eliminated
many OF the dangers and difficulties
OF our situation will be removed.
There Is no force in the argument
put forth by the Republicans that the
effect of its adoption would be to
make Maryland hopeiessly one-party
State
II our Republican friends will be so
good as 10 caat their eyes 10 the
Northern States where Republican as
cendancy. which they 80 much desire
is complete and overwhelming, they
cannot In candor refrain from admit
ting that the dreaded evil OF one-party
States is not the terrible calamity
which they desire TO make us believe
It will be In Maryland.
IL the New England States, Pennsyl-
vania, Illinois and the Northwestern
States can repose for years and years
without serious opposition,in the arms
OF the Republicans, why should Demo-
cratic control of Dear Old Maryland"
be result which we should depre-
cite and dread
Some of our opponents denounce
the Amendment as unconstitutional.
II they were really sincere in this
claim they would spare themselves the
mighty preparations they are making
to defeat It at the polls. and leave TO
the Courts 10 declare II void when
adopted by the people.
They know what the Supreme Court
did with the Alabama case and the
Mississippi case, and they realize
Ahdb Jul nus nItn oD q
fully framed as to be safe from sue
cessful attack on constitutional
grounds.
They know that the Fifteenth
Amendment does not confer the right
of suffrage, and that provisions SINH
lar to our Amendment, but not SO lib
eral, have successfully resisted all
hostile attacks, and their talk about
the unconstitutionality Of the meas
ure is not expected to be taken seri-
ously.
And SO too.their pretended solicitude
for tab white people of the South
ought not to deceive anybody.
Indeed, all these grounds OF opposi-
tion to the Amendment are a mere
cloak to conceal II possible, the real
position Of our adversaries as believ-
ers in and advocates OF unlimited ne
gro suffrage. without regard TO intel
ligence or property, and this for parti-
san purposes solely.