Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-24

this question OF race supremacy In such a
way as to compel the whites to meet it ?
The democrats say they are. Very likely
there arc facts to support this assertion.
But assertion alone is not facts, and we
cannot accept it in the place of facts. On
the other hand, there is evidence in album
dance that in the very State where the
democrats declare that they are compelled
to raise the flag Of race. the negroes are
acting with singular moderation. We
have before US at this moment the resolu-
tons of three county conventions OF the
republican party, those of Marengo, Lee,
and Pike counties. These conventions
necessarily represent the colored people.
In Marengo county these people outnum-
Der the whites three to one, Ohe exact
figures in 1870 being 7,130 whites to 2l,-
679 colored.) This is their expression on
the question of race:
"That while we as party are in favor of
securing to all men the rights guaranteed by
the Constitution of the United States and of
the State of Alabama, we do not desire nor
ask for mixed schools; and as for social re-
lations, they are governed by the laws of ma
ture, and cannot, even if desired, be con-
trolled, regulated, or repealed by any laws
enacted by man."
In Lee county, where also the colored
people are strongly in majority, the
convention resolved that they were "unal-
terably opposed to any kind of legislation
State or Federal, favoring mixed schools,
mixed churches, or any mixture OF races,
or bearing on the question of social equal
ity, as being prejudicial to the best inter-
ests of all the people," In Pike county,
where the majority is heavenly white, the
republicans say that the Civil Rights bill
does not, in. their opinion, force mixed
schools, or even mixed accommodations
on railroads or hotels. This expression
indicates plainly enough what its authors
views are as to the pretensions the demo-
Gratis attribute to all blacks. We submit
that the resolutions we have quoted are
ample. until contradicted by evidence. and
not by mere assertion. to show that the ne
groes of Alabama are not inclined to push
the race question, and that so far as they
are concerned the introduction of that
question is needless distraction from the
real business of politics in the State.
8. Supposing that white government in
the South would temporarily work an i'm
provement-which is by no means certain
would it be permanently bestP We
think not. 1t would certainly throw great
temptations in the way Of the whites to
abuse their power, which there is no rea,
son to suppose that the whites would re-
sist. The only permanent safety for the
South is government which, while it
deals justly and honestly with both races,
will strive in every way to promote edu-
cation. industry, and legitimate enterprise.
Will the whites, in unrestrained power, do
this We should like to believe it. but we
cannot. They talk well, but their acts
only too frequently contradict their words.
We cannot forget the existence of the
Ku-klux. We cannot ignore such facts as
the recent murder of Mr. w. P. Billings,
which there was only too much reason to
believe was political assassination. We
cannot put aside such scenes as attended
the Georgia elections in 1872.
On the whole, the more we look into
this the more we believe that good gov
eminent in the South comes from a move
ment embracing both races, and that if
this is not now possible, it will become so
by and by. And we are convinced that the
effort to establish purely white power
endangers to the last degree the very end
which it is claimed that it will serve
NeW York Times.