The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-06-23

legal possibility. 1t was only when
the advocates OF this amendment saw
the danger, and the ever increasing
danger Of unlimited suffrage that they
thought OF the unquestioned legal pow
er by which that danger might be neu-
tralized.
An ignorant ballot Is dangerous
ballot AS dangerous in kind as the
bomb of the anarchist is the ballot Of
the illiterate voter In land where
men have died for popular govern
ment we dare not put a weapon into
the hands Of incompetents to destroy
the results Of years. No one would
argue that any nation should be gov
erned by an illiterate king, yet in our
polity where every citizen is SOW
ereign there are uncounted thousands
Of voters whose only knowledge of the
ballot is of tie emblem ON its face.
Such illiteracy is weakening OF gov
ernment. II subtracts from intelligent
administration and insures to our ma
tion a weakened enforcement Of law.
The negro race is to all intents and
purpose an ignorant and vicious race
What has made the race thus ignorant
and vicious we are not to suggest.
We are discussing conditions, not
causes. The grave conditions that con-
front our electorate is race devoid Of
sufficient enlightenment to use bal
lot intelligently, when that ballot rep
resents at all times the emblem of
sovereignty. What can be the future
of popular government when there are
thousands of illiterate voters, the bal
lot Of any one being sufficient to null
lify the ballot of our most intelligent
statesmen?
II the negro is capable Of seif-gov-
ernment then the history Of the ages
is a repetition Of lies. From Rama
ses to Roosevelt no negro nation has
ever been given to the world. The
race has never established a single
dynasty. 1t has never produced a
single warrior. Il has never bred
single statesman. 1t has never formed
or known a government Of any char
acter and the only authority 1t has
ever acknowledged has been the au-
thority Of some alien race.
II the negro Is Incapable OF self
government, then is he capable OF
governing some one else? Should
race that has demonstrated its own
governmental incapacity be entrusted
with partial powers of governing its
own and other races? This IS the
power given the Incapable and litter
ate negro race when it IS given unre-
stricted power Of suffrage.
Not only is illiterate negro suffrage
dangerous at all times, but it is es-
pecially dangerous at the present time.
In certain sections OF Oklahoma the
negro race already equals or exceeds
in number the Caucasian race. In such
sections they are already organizing
for the purpose Of electing negro pub
lie officials. They do not organize
along partisan lines. they do not or
ganize for the advancement or mainte-
nance of any political or economic
principle. Their only purpose is to put
in power the most illiterate race Of our
cosmopolitan citizenship, and a race
that five thousand years Of history has
shown to be utterly incapable Of self
The only section on the
face Of the globe where there is dan
ger Of Anglo-Saxon ascendancy is in
certain counties OF Oklahoma.
The danger is also aggravated at
this time BY the unprecedented tide
Of negro immigration to Oklahoma.
Thousands Of negroes OF the Hitter
ate class are pouring into the east
side every month. They come ant
mated BY the hope at negro equality.
In almost every soutnern state their
race is practically disfranchised. They
are coming to Oklahoma seeking the
power Of suffrage. Negro agents and
negro preachers encouraged By Booker
Washington are diligently canvassine
The south, urging the negroes to come
to Oklahoma. When We consider the
number Of negroes IN the south we can
hardly oyerestimate the seriousness
OF the present danger.
To safeguard the state against the
aforementioned evils this coustitu-
tional amendment has been proposed
Us ayowed purpose Is to curlaiI illit.
crate negro suffrage, to prevent ne.
gro ascendency, and, incidentally. 10
discourage negro Immigration. THAT
states have the power to adopt such
measures cannot be Questioned That
this Identical amendment Is legal is
demonstrated BY the constitution Of