AFRO-AMERICANS
AND THE BALLOT
Unsafe
Condition of the Voteless Citizen Noted.
TREND
OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
Brief
Review of the Reconstruction Period and the Beginning of the Nullification of the War Amendments to the Constitution—The
Introduction of Jimcrow Laws.
The fifteenth amendment to the federal constitution
extends the right of franchise to
all citizens of the United States. It 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 preceding 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 equality of the black man, and it found it difficult to
adjust itself to the new condition. Notwithstanding the opposition the good work
continued. Public and private
schools were established and the black man encouraged to protect himself by the
use of the ballot.
"I might add here in support of the enfranchisement of the freedman
that a voteless citizen is a greatly handicapped one--a pariah in
the comÂmunity. Especially is this true when such a citizen is a member of a weaker race. This state
of affairs continued until 1876, when a change came about. The Republicans had nominated Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio for the
presidency and the Democratic party had nominated Samuel J. Tilden of New York
for the same office. The election
was in doubt, and it was finally settled by a commission of
fifteen--five Justices of the supreme court, five senators and five
members from the house of representatives.
"The dispute was settled in favor of Rutherford
B. Hayes, who was declared president of the United States. It was asserted that a deal had been made between the North and the South by which President Hayes was to withdraw the troops from the South, permitting home rule to obtain."
"Equal rights to all and special privileges to none is the fundamental principle of Democracy, and the application of this principle to questions as they arise will solve them all in the interest of the plain people of our country; it seems to me it should be the constant effort of the men of your race, in season and out of season, to keep this great principle to the front, so that all the people, without regard to race, religion or previous condition, shall be equal before the law; and the door of opportunity under the star of hope of free America ever remain open. The sentiment in favor of this idea is growing apace throughout the country and means much for the future welfare of America. Democracy has no prejudice against any race, but wants to help all sorts and conditions of people to rise step by step to higher levels in the onward march of civilization." |
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