Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-08-06
Politics vs.. Principle.

An article intended to justify the
views of the South concerning the dis
franchisment of the Afro-American ap-
pears in the August number OF Hamp-
tons Magazine. The sympathy which |
it will excite in the North for the bet |
ter class of white citizens of some south |
ern states, notably Mississippi, who are
already confronted with the possibility
of elections of negroes to important OH
ces, as we'll as representation OF labor
ng negroes in the legislature, should
not make readers forget the principle to
which the arguments of the South are
strenuously opposed. Judge Dickson,
the author of the article noted, tells
readers that the objection to negro SUIT
frage is due to a disastrous experience
subsequent to the reconstruction period.
1t is obvious, even to the advocate OF dis
reimbursement, that such charge does
not quite fill the bill against the colored
citizen of today and his rising genera
ton, so racial inferiority is urged AZ
another reason Why manhood suffrage
should be withheld,-f an indefinite
length of time. The wish is natural to
avert as long as possible the changes in
the fortunes of the white leaders of the
South, which must follow the higher ed
ucation of numbers of colored citizens.
but it is in no sense related to republi-
can or democratic principles. These
principles are to be sorely tried by the
inevitable advancement of the genera.
ton of slaves.
The fathers to whom we are indebted
for our Constitution we're far sighted in
every other respect, yet failed to under
stand the significance of the wholesale
importation of negroes--an influx of a
so called inferior race, away beyond the
needs of the white man of that time. A
due sense of the significance of the
black mans presence is the one thing
that does not appear in the arguments
favoring a Union, held to be inseparable.
So slavery became national institu-
ton. During the time of its mainte-
nance many arrived at a conviction, all
too late. that the traffic in black men
was immoral, but it is more than doubt
full if even the best citizens considering
the matter previous to the Civil war,
saw any relation whatever between the
negro and the political principle that
was dearer than life to themselves. So
with short sightedness that is inexplic-
able, the profits to be derived from the
use of the traffic which afforded means
for every sort of self indulgence, was
the chief demand of the pro-slavery
men. And as the nation acquired new
territory it was by them regarded as a
"Happy hunting ground" to be utilized
for the further advantage of the proud
owners of slaves, then in the height Of
power aud political importance. There
is humiliation for the white man in the
unfavorable results, no doubt. That
there is not greater measure of it il
due to the better sense of the men OF
the North, who argued and compromised
over the matter with those who risked
national disaster rather than agree as to
the extension of the system in the vast
area of acquired territory. Both the
men of the North and the men of the
South have paid dearly enough through
temporary misunderstanding of the
white mans interest which is best con-
served when principles and politics art
considered together.
The vote in the hand of the Iaborer ia
no empty honor that could be dispensed
with until he is educated enough to re-
conclle the two articles of the Constitn.
ton relating to taxation. One cannot
help conceding the cleverness of those
who propose understanding of the arti-
cles OF the Constitution as means of
limiting Afro American suffrage.
In order to appreciate the benefit to
onr race of the principle which has Civ
EN- to all white men manhood suffrage,
one must compare the position and
state of mind of the working man of To.
day with that which obtained before he
came into his rights. The negro is to