Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-31

The opinion of T. Thomas Fortune, the
editor of the New York Globe, the negro
organ. expressed in a letter to the Color
ed Conference at Pittsburg is not origi-
nal with him. He says: "The race in
the South should be taught that the Ma
tional Republican party has neither the
power nor the inclination to relieve their
burdens, or to remedy their condition.
This can only be done by making honor
able conditions with the dominant party
in the South; by cultivating division of
the white vote upon local, not race IS
sues: by ceasing to look to the national
government for protection, which has
studiousIy denied it, and to look to the
State governments, which alone can give
it."
There is a great deal Of truth in What is
here said about the attitude of the Repub
Iican party and the General Government
towards the negro race. They have little
use for the negro except as a Republican
voter-as eats paws to rake fat offices
out Of the political fire for the ben
eft of the Republican leaders. Many col
ored people i'm the South have found this
out years ago, and in many sections the
consequence has been that they have al
most quit voting. Many of them have
united with the Democratic party, and
doubtless thousands more of them would
do likewise but for the race prejudices
which are kept alive by the Republican
leaders. Virginia is by no means the only
State where it is unsafe for a cOlOred man
to he known as a Democrat.
There can be no doubt that the cOlOred
people will immensely better their condi-
ton bv ceasing to be the political enc
mics of the dominant party in the South.
In mis- present condition the negro does
not need political influence and official
power. because he is not qualified to
properly exercise them. He wants to
build up the material, mental and moral
condition of his race. When these reach
the requisite stage Of development he will
not want for anything.
With little touch of bitterness For
tune SAYS, these objects "cannOt be at
tanned by riveting more tightly the chains
of party allegiance. 1t must be done by a
wise policy in accepting the bloody situa-
ton and going to work manfully to rem
edy it by making common cause with the
people ofthe South on the questions of
home rule. honest government, and free
trade tariff. When they make common
cause with the white people of the South
then they will split the solid phalanx of
Bourbonism and he in position to get
Justice"
The records Of the courts and the efforts
the Southern States are making to edu-
cate the colOred race, prove cOnclusiyely
that the South is disposed to give the ne
gro justice, and to make every reasonable
exertiOn to advance his condition.
If the negroes of the South think the
Democratic party is cOntending for hon.
est government and want to support it
for that reason, there is no objection to be
offered; but if they wish to enter the De-
mocratic ranks merely to promote divis-
ions. and so in the end restore to the South
all the evils of carpet-bag rule,
they had better not come in.
They will not gain any permanent advan-
tage, but merely cause the old battle to be
fought over again. Fortune evidently
does not fully understand what is being
done for his race in the South, nor to its
full extent the relations of the races to-
wards each other. A part of his advice is
very good, but, reading between the lines,
his purpose is not to be commended.