The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-06-27
THE SOLVING OF THE FIFTEENTH
AMENDMENT

Am ENDm ENt
Back in 'the dark days" Thad Ste
vens reported a bill, Jan. 81, 1866,
for a constitutional amendment pro-
viding that whenever suffrage was
denied on account of race or color.
the persons so denied suffrage should
, be excluded from the basis of repre-
sentation. The house. representing
the people, passed the bill. The
amendment was never submitted TO
the ..+ates. Enough republicans join
ed the northern democrats to defeat
the bill in the more conservative SEN
ate.
Mr.. Roosevelt brought the matter
up before the republican convention
of 1904, sending this plank to the
committee, written-Henry Waiter
son says-in his own handwriting:
I'VE favor such congressional &C
/ ton as shall determine whether by
special determinations the elective
franchise in any state has been uncon-
stitutionally limiteds and if such is
the case we demand that representa-
ton in congress and the electoral col
lege shall be proportionately reduced
as directed by the constitution of the
United States"
And the republican platform of 1908
added this paragraph:
I'VE declare once more and without
reservation for the enforcement in
letter and spirit of the Thirteenth.
Fourteenth and Fifteenth amend
ments to the constitution, which were
designed for the protection and ad-
vancement of the negro and We con-
denim all devices that have for their
real aim his Acknowledgement for rea-
sons Of color as unfair, un-American,
and repugnant to the supreme law of
the land"
lIC 1OPuDAACCu pAdLAOl III VI OAAAO III
1908 strongly endorsed this reduction
of southern representation in con-
gress unless the southern states re-
pealed their isfranchisement" laws.
These planks in the republican plat
form of 1904 and 1903 were happily
regarded as advisory" by the repub-
lican congress, and not of binding
force upon the conscience of republi-
can members. They did not construe
all platform utterances as wise or ex-
pedient.
These planks of 1904 and 1908 were
to uphold the reconstruction amend
ments, designed for the advancement
of the negro"
While the republicans have not of
late pushed the matter, some demo
Gratis are for the old Thad Stevens
proposition to be yet accomplished. 1t
is to be achieved by indirection, COM
hitting the south itself to it with as
tute diplomacy and subtlety.
1t is craftily hid in the proposition
to elect the president and vice presi-
dent by the people at large. This
will put a premium on vote. The
great majorities in the north and
west will insist on bringing the negro
back into politics. The Bristow
amendment, enlarging the powers of
congress, provide for this contingent
cy. Mr.. Bryan said: Il want election
of senators by popular vote, as it will
be the stepping-stone for other re-
forms 1 have in view" He has al
ready announced fer election of pres
idents by the peopIe-which will be
stepping stone to congressional an
nulment of our Acknowledgement laws.
Foreseeing the plot of the west
against the south, Senator Bacon OPP
posed the Bristow amendment-and
was punished therefor
All of these western reforms call
upon the south for surrender of her
state rights. 1t is time to call halt
The battle of supremacy between the
Acknowledgement laws of our southern
states and the amendments to the
federal constitution remains % be
fought out. The new plan for election
of the president by the popular vote,
bringing the negro vote in demand,
will do for tha fifteenth amendment
what the supreme court, in sympathy
for the southern white people, has
avoided. We were beyond reach in
Georgia when we had our ole demo
cratic white primary system. We were
not subject to congressional discip-
line. The grandfather" clause did
not concern us, for we violated no
federal law.