The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-16
THE FIGHT FOR FREE SUFFRAGE.

versal patriotism, the Journal feels i'm
PEELED to again advert to a question of con-
Stunning interest. The existence of a solid
South, with no other foundation than mere
race prejudice, is hostile to the theory of
popular government and dangerous to peace.
That the South is a unit on the question of
white supremacy, no one acquainted
with current political history will
longer deny. 1t is equally plain
that the sentiment OF the country strongly
age. That is, a majority of the people of
this nation believe that the right of suffrage
is now as much that of the late slave as of
the white man who has been free from the
beginning of the republic. Without dis
cussing the impolicy of such an attitude as
the South maintains, and the evils that are
certain to arise from it, it is enough now to
know that the South is united on this issue,
and that such position is opposed to the
genius of the government.
The Republican party, acting for the peo-
pie, gave freedom to the slaves of the South,
but not without fearful opposition. The Re
publican party, again, in accordance with
the best interests of the people, and in the
line of what seemed but political justice,
gave to the liberated slaves the right to vote.
This last measure met with bitter opposition,
not only from those who once ''owned"
slaves, but from the Democratic party in
general. The "old South acquiesced be-
cause it was compelled to, and could but
feel chagrined at the unexpected
results brought about by the war. 1t was
hoped that this feeling would disappear in
time, and that all people, South and North,
of the war measures that had eliminated in
the freeing and acknowledgements of the col
! ored man. The new South" has prospered
commercially since the war, and Is richer
perpetuating slavery. But the feeling of hos
tility toward the black man has not yet dis
appeared. Nearly a score of years have
elapsed since the decisive day at Appomat-
tox. but the race prejudice still prevails.
AS the executive power of the government,
the Republican party must now address it,
self to the adjustment of this question. 1t
is a serious thing to determine what shall be
done. 1t is no mean undertaking to attempt
to reform a prejudice widespread and found
ed on a pride that has endured through gen.
e~rations. Evidently the easiest manner to
handle this vexatious problem is to face a
solid South with a solid North, until time
shall work the needed change in public senti-
ment in the late slave States. But it is a
thing to be avoided. The American people
are too homogeneous to make two nations
between lakes and gulf. The commercial
and industrial interests of New York and
Louisiana are so interviewer, so necessary to
each other, that no ordinary cause should
place a dividing line between them. Each
needs the other. Together the business sys-
TEN of the country is complete.
But it will be argued that the inter
thing, and social" interests are
quite another. This is true enough;
but the business interests of the people are
so great, so essential to general comfort and
prosperity, that every effort should be made
to conserve them, The relationship of
whites and blacks in the South can certainly
be amicably adjusted to the reasonable sails
faction of all concerned. 1t is ID istasteful to
. 800 - lo,ro klo,n
uneducated slaves brought up to a political
level with themselves. This is all the more
trying when the colored voters outnumber
the white, so that they have political matters
in their w hands. But even with a
full and free ballot this thing would soon
adjust itself. The colored man may be
ignorant, but he is not vicious. Good gov
vernment means more to him than to his
rich white %neighbor. A divided South
among the whites means everything of gem
eral good. Black men, like white, will be
quick to discover that it is not policy to elect
the ignorant and corrupt. They will put
forward the best of their race or support the
best of their white tellow-citizeny This has
been the history of the past,
and will hold good low. A
wise conservatism will do much toward
placing the negroes in the South on a plat
form representing every Southern interest.
They can be influenced without violence,
and can soon be brought to understand their
responsibility for their acts. Being peacea-
bic, they will always favor peaceful meas.
ures. Lovers of their old homes, they will
not do that which is inimical to their own
sections.
Meanwhile, the people OF the North