The Indianapolis journal., 1885-12-18
TOOMBS ON TIE NEGRO.
The Only Change that Will Come to the Col
ored Man Will Come for the Worse.

Interview in the Atlanta Constitution.
On his last visit to Atlanta, General Toombs's
attention was called to the magazine discussion
OF the "Freedman's Case in Equity and other
articles, and his opinion asked of the matter.
II have placed my opinion of the negro on
record" said the General 'and I stand by every
word of it, Ihave always maintained and still
hold that so long as the African and Caucasian
races coexst in the same society the subordina-
ton of the African is the necessary, proper and
normal condition. best calculated to promote the
highest interest and greatest happiness of both
races and consequently of society at large"
THAT would justify slavery"
IF it did Justify slavery Sir, while the insti-
tuition existed, now that the system is abolished
the great truth still remains that the white is the
superior race and the black the inferior Sub
ordination, with or without law to that effect
will be the status of the African in this mixed
society. Slavery was introduced into the colo
MES under the paramount authority of the
crown. We never decided the question. Eng
land and the Christian world decided it for us.
Thus the Declaration of Independence was
framed and adopted by Shareholders, and the
federal Constitution was the outgrowth of the
same interest, and provided explicitly for in
creasing. strengthening and protecting slavery.
1t took finally measure-armed might in
stead of constitutional methods-to overthrow
this institution
'sWhat do you think of the negro as free
man"
1.-THE status of the negro. sir, is not material
ly changed 1t cannot be changed The superb
ority of the white race over the African is not
transient and artificial but permanent and
natural. The same power which made the negrO's
skin unchangeably black made him inferior in
tellectually to the white race-incapable of an
equal struggle in the of progress and civil
ization. 1t is necessary for his preservation in
this struggle that he should be servant and
have master. Call the relation by whatever
name youwil, history shows very plainly that
this has always been the status of the African.
Egyptian monuments older than the pyramids
picture him slave in foreign lands The great
body of his race have always been slaves in their
own country. Twenty centuries have not
changed him. He still occupies essentially the
position of a slave, without attempting single
step in civilization, without government, laws,
letters, arts or industry, religion, OF even the
ranks of an idolater. Annhilate the race to day
and not single discovery, invention. or thought
originating with black man would be left to be
remembered"
'But, General, our Southern negroes"
II am coming to that" was the reply. ''Here
in direct contact with the whites, under their
fostering care and protection. the negro has imi-
tated the superior race as far as he could. Take
away the whites, and he would bury himself in
filth and sloth. and crime. just as his brethren
in Hayti and Jamaica have since their emanci-
patton. Freedom has brought the negro no
equality anywhere. In the Northern States he
is denied social equality by the same irreversi-
BILE law of nature which obtains here"
'You think there will be no change?"
"None that will benefit the negro. Each free
man is the victim not only of his own folly and
extravaganza, but of his ignorance, misfortunes
and necessities His expenses are enlarged
without increasing his comforts. His want of
capital increases the price of every thing he buys
In slavery he received in products and in other
things more than the laborer in England, and as
| much as the laborer in some Northern States.
Now his unskied labor is thrown into the
market tossed hither and thther by competi-
ton. He has found after twenty years of
freedom and the enjoyment of the ballot that his
condition is not essentially changed"
"Well, what will be the end2"
"Peonage, as it exists in Mexico, or something
| ically freeman. He may change from one
| master to another, but so long as he is in debt
| to his master he must discharge that debt with
| his labor. If he changes employers the new
masters must pay the debt, but the laborer again
| sinks into his old position of peon. The aver
-~~icultural negro will begin life in debt,
age go mess and extravaganza will
keen M hi him in debt IS the end. Gradually It WIN
be found necessary, tor rthe protection OF the
creditors, to pass laws inhictiLo pehal'y M aoi
debtor laborer or debtor farm tena. W chahee
employers unless he makes arran aneements 20 pay
the debt due his last employer. This is peonage,
and this is just the condition into which the
mass of black agricultural laborers is drifting
Their natural inferiority and unreliability must
eventually bring them under this mild form Of
conditional servitude."
But they have the BALLOT"
$50 they have, and what have they done with
it! Sold to the highest bidder or given it to the
enemies of tn cir benefactors. In the hands of
the ignorant and helpless the ballot is nothing.
Even now the Republican party would gladly
disfranchise the negro Non payment of taxes
and felony convictions are disfranchisng large
numbers every day. The others will sell or
throw away their votes No, the ballot is no
weapon in the hands of a negro"
General has nothing occurred during the
negros twenty years of freedom to change your
opinion Of him, formed and expressed early in
your public career!'
Nothing, sir; nothing whatever. Everything
said concerning the negro problem twenty five,
thirty and forty years ago has been vindicated
by recent events. have nothing to take back;
nothing to modify"
GE0RGIA'S PROHIBITION ELECTION.