The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-05
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
EDITOR GRADY's VIEWS OF THE
SITUATION.
An Eloquent Discussion OF the Rela-
tions OF the Northern and Southern
ple-Congressman oates's Plan
Senator ingalls, on the Negro.


Extinct from II. W. Gndys Speech at Augusta.
! know the ideal status is that every
State should vote without regard TO
sectional lines. The reconciliation OF the
people will never be complete until Iowa
and Georgia, Texas and Massachusetts,
may stand side by side without surprise.
| would TO God that status could be
reached. II any man can define path
on which the whites Of the South, though
divided, can walk in honor and peace, l
shall take that path, though ] walk down
il aono--ior at the end OF that path, aud
nowhere else, lies the full emancipation
OF my section and the full restoration Of
this Union. But it cannot be. When the
negro was eniranchiscd, the South was
condemned to solidity "a surely rs self
preservation is the first law OF nature. A
State here or there may drift away, but II
will come back assuredly--and come
through such travail, and bearing such
burden as neither war nor peslilence can
UIlllks llllh NV VI bhi nN'h-
ing It was thrust upon us not in the order
ly unfolding OF preordained plan, but in
hot impulse and passion, against the
judgment OF the world and the lessons OF
history and TO the peril of popular govern
mcnt which rests at last on pure and UNI
sulled suffrage, as building rests on its
cornerstone. II it be urged that 1t was the
inexorable result Of our course In 1860, We
reply that we took that course in dciibera-
ton. maintained II in sincerity, sealed IL
with the blood OF our best and brayest--
and wcuccepl without complaint, and abide
in dignity its directand ultimate rcsulisand
shall hold IL 10 be, in spite OF defeat, for
ever honorable and sacred. This much |
add. No King that ever sat on u throne,
though backed by autocratic power would
have dared 10 subject his kingdom 20 the
strain and his people 10 the burden that
the North put on the PROSTATE, impovcr
ished and helpless South when II eniran-
chised the body Of our late slaves. We
would not undo this II We could. We
know that this step, though taken In haste,
shall never be retraccd. postcrity will
Judge of the wisdom and patriot
ism In which II was ordered, and
the honor and equity in which II
was worked out. 10 that judgment We
appeal with confidence. From that judg-
mcnt Mr. Blaine hns nj eldy appealed by
shrewdly urging in his written history,
that the North did not intend 20 enirn-
chisc the negro, but was forced TO do IL boy
| the stubborn attitude Of the South. BE
that ~ IL may, Il * our problem now, and
with rrsOlute hands AMI uniailing hearts
we must carry II 10 the end. II dominates,
aud will dominate, oil other issues with us.
The administration OF our affairs is sec
ondary, aud patronage Is le 3. Economic
issues arc "a nau DIT. aud even great moral
reforms must wait on the settlement III
this question. To quarrel over other Is.
sues while this Is impending IL 10 initiate
the mother quail that thrums the leaves
niar from her nest, Or recall the tinossc ol
the Spartan boy who smiled In his moth
| cr's face while he hid the fox that was
gnawing al his yitals.
| What then " the duty ot tho soulh2
| Simply this. To maintain the political n.
we'll M the social integrity Of her white
race aud to appeal to the world for pl.
ticnco aud Justice. Let "a show that Il !,
not sectional prejudice. but n sectional
| problem that keeps ~ compac,ed. That
| il Is not the hope " dominion or power,
| but nm abiding necessity not spOils ~
| patronage, but plain Fclf preservation that
| holds the white race together In the South
lot M make this NJ plain that q commu.
nifty anywhere searching It's own hear
would say 'thc Necessity that binds oul
brothers in the South. would bind us "a
closely were the necessity here" lot ~
invite immigrants and meet them will
such cordial welcome that they will nhidl
with ~ la brotherhood, and ~ enlarge IN,
body of intelligence and Integrity, tina
divided. IL may carry the burden Of ignor
anco without danger. let M bo loyal 4
the Union. and not only loyal hut loving
LIT the Republic know that In peace
hath nowhere better citizens. nor In wa
Drawer soldiers than in these State.
Though set apart by this problem whic
God permits 10 rest upon Us, and whic
therefore ~ right. let US garner ou
shcaycs gladly into the harvest Of ih
union. and ind Joy In our work an
progress because II makes broader On
glory aud deeper the majesty OF this u,
public that IN ccmrntcd with our bloc,
Let nv love the flag that waved oy,
Marion and Jasper, that waves over u
and that when We arc gathered 10 on
fathers, shall be- guarantee NJ liberty an
prosperity a. our children and our chi
: lrn children. and know that what u
lu In honor shall deepen, and what We Il
IN dishonof shall dim the luslct OF I
6xcd aud gliilcHng stars
AZ tot thC negro, let ~ impress upon hii
J what hc already knows, that hia be-
q friends ac iho people among whom 1
. live, whose Interests arr one with MI
and who prosperity depends upon h
. perfect COniUntmcnL Let us give him h
utlcrm0si rights, aud measure ont jusii,
, ~ him in that fullnc~ the strong shout
/ always give 10 the weak. Let ~ rduca
. him hat ho may hc q better. q broader an
. murr Cnishtcncd man. Let a. lead hii
in sioadnft Waysul citizenship that be- ma
not longer be the sport OF tie though
, luss and thc pry II tho unscmpulnu
, l0t us inspire him ~ follow the cNamp
OF the worthy and upright OF h.s race, WI
may bc found In every community. an
! who increase steadily IN numbers aud II
lurncc. Lot ~ strike hands With him
, friends and o. IN slavery We led him
I. nights which his race in Africa had new,
I reached, so in freedom lvt M lead him 10
prosperity ol which biz friends In lhc Mort
/ have not duamcd. lot NJ make him kno
that be-, depending more than any othcto
the protection and bounty oi GOVERNED
shall 'lud Ia alliance with thc best a.
mculs Of the whites, The plcdgr Of the Nj
nnd impartial administration. Aud let
remember this--thai whatever wrong "
put ON him shall Wiufn b. punish "a
Whatever we take irnm him In yiolcnc
that Is unworthy and shall not cnlur