Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-10-19
AFRO-AMERICANS
and THE BALLOT
Unsafe Condition Of the Vote
less Citizen Noted.
TREND OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

Notification Of the War Amend
.snents to the Constitution-Ths In
PRODUCTION Of Jirerow Laws.
The fifteenth amendment to the
federal constitution extends the right
of franchise to all citizens of the
United States. 1t also declares that
this right shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by
any state on account of race, color or
previous condition of servitude.
Claiming that the government has
failed to carry out the provisions of the
above amendment and the two reced-
ing IT with respect To the rights of the
colored people. Bishop Alexander
Walters OF New York says:
"As was TO be expected, the south
opposed this legislation. Its training
and traditions were all against the
political equaiity of the black man,
and 1t found it difficult to adjust itself
to the new condition. Notwithstanding
the opposition the good work continued.
Public and private schools were es-
tablished and the black man encour
aged to protect himself by the use of
the ballot
II might add here in support of the
of the freedman that
voteiess citizen is greatly handl-
capped one-a pariah In the com
munIty. Especially Is this true when
such citizen is a member of a
weaker race. This state of affairs con-
tinued until 1876. when change
came about The Republicans had
nominated Rutherford B. Hayes OF
Ohio for the presidency, and the Demo
cratic party had nominated Samuel
]. Tilden of New York for the same
Office The election was In doubt, and
It was finally settled by a commission
of Attentive justices OF the supreme
court. five senators and five members
from the house OF representatives.
The dispute was settled In favor of
Rutherford h. Hayes. who was de
clared president OF the United States
1t wns asserted that deal had been
made between the north and the south
by which President Hayes was to with
druw the troops from the south. per
AlIttinc home rule TO obtain. The Ne
nrocs were loud in their protest against
the dIcker They saw in ii great sor-
row and :ribulntion to the freedmen
The federal troops In the south had
been their protection and guarantee in
the use of the ballot. etc. Their re
moval meant the overthrow of the Re
publican administration. In the south.
Filings were In n chaotic state for
awhile. KukluSism was rampant, but
gradually this state OF things passed
away. and when lynchinCs shall have
been n thing of the past the last vestge
of this regime shall have disappeared.
1t came our turn to protest against re
strictiye legislation. such rs the cur
tailmcnt of political power. the nullifi-
cation of the war amendments, the in
PRODUCTION of jimcrow laws, etc.
The Republican party had gone as
far as it thought II wise to 60 in the
way OF legislation: hence II looked on
with Indifference while the Negro was
being stripped OF the privileges and
immunitics which the grand old party
Ind given him. The American republic
can never he an ideal one while some
of it's natives born and worthy citizens
are denied their political rights guaran-
teed them by the constitution.
The tendency of the age Is toward
democracy-true democracy, the democ-
racy that recognizes no color or creed,
but worth only This leaven Is at work
and Is as sure to result In the political
emancipation OF the black man ms the
sun shines. The late Justice Brewer
said. The Negro will surely come into
possession of the franchise in all sec
tons Of the country Mr.. Henry Wat
terson. editor of the Courier-Journal.
Louisville. Ky. one of the foremost
leaders of the Democratic party-in
fact. It's oracle-says. "A new genera
ton of blacks has come upon the
scene. and they Will finally be allowed
their political rights"
"a distinguished Democrat said re-
Gently, The Democratic party Is pre-
parcd to give to the black man all he
merits The Negro Is in possession of
intelligence, property and character.
Surely these entitlc him to the ballot
Congressman Sulzor OF New York in a
recent speech said: Equal rights to all
and special privilege to none Is the fun
damental principle of democracy. and
the applicn ton of this principle to ques-
tious as they arise will solve them all
In the interest OF the plain people of
our country 1t seems to me 1t should
be the constant effort of colored men
In scnson and out OF season to keep
this great principle to the front
"On so doing all the people. without
regard to race. religion or previous con
ditien. shall be equal before the law
and the door OF opportunity under the
star of hope of free America ever re
main open The sentiment In favor of
this idcn is growing apace throughout
the country and means much for the