In Favor of Honest Elections
January 12, 1895
Summary
Intended “reforms” in voting policies backfire as the number of voters drops.
Transcription
In Favor of Honest Elections
The Richmond, Va., Daily Times, under the caption of “No tricks about the Ballot” in its issue of the 6th inst., says:
"It is very plain that reformation elections in the South is taking strong hold in that region itself. This is the first fruit of an abandonment of the Republican party idea of trying to make men honest by bayonets, spies and United States marshals. It is the highest possible testimonial to the virtue that lies in the principle of allowing every locality to control its own affairs. When this is done it is certain that the morale and the virile elements of that locality will dominate it in time.”
Before we could warn it of the danger, it had scented it from afar, and remarks:
“There is a danger, however, in the progress of the movement. The politicians in the office and those seeking office will endeavor to warp the move into constitutional conventions to disfranchise the Negroes by a trick” [rest of paragraph not readable.]
And again:
“ Tricks invariably return to plague those who resort to them. In Mississippi they thought they had ended all their troubles when they adopted a Constitution directing registrars to register none but those who could read and understand the Constitution of the State. It was supposed of course, that the registrars would find all white men capable of understanding the Constitution, but no Negroes capable of it. We do not know what the facts are, but we have recently seen it stated that out of about 230,000 voters in the State only about 39,000 voted in the last congressional election in November. The statement that white men, though they can read, will not go up to be questioned and badgered about their learning of inquisitorial and possibly impertinent registrars. As we say, we know nothing of the facts in the Mississippi case, but it is pain that that is one of the most natural consequences possible.
Let us cut ourselves loose from all suggestions of this sort and stand on the good, old fashioned Democratic doctrine of manhood suffrage. Everything will work out right when we hold on to the honestly and in good faith, and where that is the rule the strong and the moral elements amongst the people will control.”
Oh, when will the white south realize the wisdom expressed, and heed the admonition which the liberal-minded element is administering. The Daily Times blazes the way to lasting prosperity. Will the South arouse from its lethargy and recognize great economic principles or will she continue to be steeped in iniquity and sin and plunge headlong into the abyss of financial disaster regardless of the signposts which line the way?
The Richmond, Va., Daily Times, under the caption of “No tricks about the Ballot” in its issue of the 6th inst., says:
"It is very plain that reformation elections in the South is taking strong hold in that region itself. This is the first fruit of an abandonment of the Republican party idea of trying to make men honest by bayonets, spies and United States marshals. It is the highest possible testimonial to the virtue that lies in the principle of allowing every locality to control its own affairs. When this is done it is certain that the morale and the virile elements of that locality will dominate it in time.”
Before we could warn it of the danger, it had scented it from afar, and remarks:
“There is a danger, however, in the progress of the movement. The politicians in the office and those seeking office will endeavor to warp the move into constitutional conventions to disfranchise the Negroes by a trick” [rest of paragraph not readable.]
And again:
“ Tricks invariably return to plague those who resort to them. In Mississippi they thought they had ended all their troubles when they adopted a Constitution directing registrars to register none but those who could read and understand the Constitution of the State. It was supposed of course, that the registrars would find all white men capable of understanding the Constitution, but no Negroes capable of it. We do not know what the facts are, but we have recently seen it stated that out of about 230,000 voters in the State only about 39,000 voted in the last congressional election in November. The statement that white men, though they can read, will not go up to be questioned and badgered about their learning of inquisitorial and possibly impertinent registrars. As we say, we know nothing of the facts in the Mississippi case, but it is pain that that is one of the most natural consequences possible.
Let us cut ourselves loose from all suggestions of this sort and stand on the good, old fashioned Democratic doctrine of manhood suffrage. Everything will work out right when we hold on to the honestly and in good faith, and where that is the rule the strong and the moral elements amongst the people will control.”
Oh, when will the white south realize the wisdom expressed, and heed the admonition which the liberal-minded element is administering. The Daily Times blazes the way to lasting prosperity. Will the South arouse from its lethargy and recognize great economic principles or will she continue to be steeped in iniquity and sin and plunge headlong into the abyss of financial disaster regardless of the signposts which line the way?
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cord Fox
Citation
“In Favor of Honest Elections,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed June 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/84.