Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-11-09
THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE,

THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE.
Yesterdays election in Oklahoma was
the first in which the "grandfather
clause" amendment to the state con-
sttution was tested. There was some.
trouble under II. trouble that almost
threatened to be serious. Near Noweta
negroes took possession Of Il voting
booth in school house. throw the
they would vote Notwithstanding the
grandfather clause AT McAlestcr
half the election officials were arrested
by deputy United states marshal.
charged with conspiracy to injure. op-
press and intimdate certain negro citi-'
zcns by refusing them the right to vote.
The state supreme court has upheld
this grandfather clause. which was
adopted August 2 last. It provides
that all negroes whose srandfathcrs
were slaves must submit to an educa-
tional test as well us all naturalized
citizens from countries where they did
not have the elective franchise. and all
blanket Indians. In its decision the
supreme court held that the Cherokees.
Creeks. Choctaws. Chickasaws, Semi
noles. and Osages, who form ninety per
cent OF the Indian population OF Okla
homa. should not have to submit to an
educational test, as there was an cleo
toral form OF government oyer them
prior to 1866.
These clauses regarding natural
lied citizens ana blanket Indians
are but save-faces. the real object
of the amendment being to furnish a
pretext and excuse for depriv!ng the
negroes OF their political rights: IT is an
effort to nullify the fourteenth and M
tecnth amendments to the Constitution.
In this matter Oklahoma Is but an iini-
tator OF several southern states. That
the negroes affected should feel out
ragged IL but natural. An attempt Is
being made. and 1t is to DC feared but
too successfully. to deprive them OF
their political rights. to rob them of
the fruits OF the war for the Union.
They recognize this as do their friends
and their enemies. lii the North the
eye is purposely partially blinded to the
ugly fact.
What is to be done? 1t is a serious
problem, and as yet nobody has found
satisfactory and peaceful solution for
It. The trouble of course Is the race
question. the feeling Of antipathy and
revulsion that the white man has for
the black when the question of equality
OF the races comes up. no matter wheth-
er II Is social, political or financial
equality. This feeling exists in the
North as we'll as In the South; the
only difference Is that in the North 1t
Is uuicscent while in the South it Is
rampant. Change the conditions of the
two sections and the feelings will be
changed, not the human nature.
The race problem is With the Amer,
can people to stay so long az American
institutions shall last. 1t must he
faced and solved. solved SO that the
negro shall have his rights and enjoy
them as freely and fully as the white
man; it cannot be lodged or avoided;
and the longer the delay In solving 1t
the more difficult the solution. Where
shall the remedy be found? 1t can only
be found in education; not merely
the education of the A B c, but In the
moral and ethical education of the
white race. 1t must educate itself out
OF its prejudices, must realize that Il
mans color no more makes the man
than does the clothes he wears. In
this solution of the race problem the
white man has far the harder task; his
prejudlces are the great stumbling
block. Tho Negroes lack of political
education and experience Is not II hard
matter to overcome; his capacity Is
equal to it all. The white man must
'be white" The rule for his guidance
is the golden rule. When that is fully
assimilatcd and acted up to, the negro
problem Will have been solved, and the
grandfather clause legislation will be
but n memory, one of which the coun-
try will be ashamed, as it should be.
Such legislation must go and the negro
must have his rights.