The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-30
0ATES'S VIEWS.
He Again Explains His Position
In the Matter OF tho Negroes Rela-
tion to Government.
He VIII Not Propose TO Disfran-
ohise tho Black Voter.
Where the Responsibility for the
Problems Solution Belongs.
Tho Relative Growth OF tho White and
Black Race5-He Agrees with In
gals That tho Blacks Arc Be-
coming Blackor.
special Dispatch to The Appeal.

Special Dispatch TO The Appeal
Warrington, Dec. 20 1t is expected
that an attempt will be made next week
in the House to bring up one of the be-
lated contested election cases, probably
that of Smalls the cololcd South Caro-
linian, against Elliott, who has occupied
the seat until now. aud who has been re-
| elected 90 the next Congress. When this
case comes mp the discussion on il prom
Uses to be interesting. Congressman Oates
Of Alabama proposes to make il the occa-
sion of discussion Of the negro question.
This gcntlcman's rccnt statements on this
point have provoked great deal Of com
men, and the discussion is still going on
in the ncwspapcUrs and magazines. Il is
u problem, 10 the solution OF which many
bright minds have given attention, aud
one Of supreme importance TO the South.
Mr. Oates heartily agrees with Senator
Ingalls, that when two races are placed
together and given equal political rights
ono or the other must 20 10 tho
wall lie also agrees with Mr. ingalls,
that the blacks are growing blacker. but
with the statement that the colorcd people
IN the South are increasing In numbers
more rapidly in proportion than tho
whites, lac takes issue. lie finds that
while the birth rate among the negroes IL
higher than among the whites. the NOR
mlity Is also much higher. The deaths Of
colutcd children under the age OF four he
finds 10 Ice out of nll proportion TO tho
deaths oi white children of the same age.
From four up 10 thirty.fyc years Of age
the Discrepancy between the mortality Of
the whites and the blacks IL not 20 great,
hut still the proportion IL much larger in
the black. than IN the whites The pro.
portion OF families In larger Ia the blacks,
but the whites have much
larger proportion Of males oi voting
age. AMI Mr. Oates wishes Il 10 be dis
tlnctly understood that he has not and
does not purpose 10 Introduce any meas
nto looking lo tho Acknowledgement III lilo
negro, nor docs he suggest that the Demo-
cratic party take such action. Die merely
SAYS that u the Republican party would
DO u the Southern States would ncouicscc.
"lho Republican party" he says, "dl
not do un honest thing when they en-
iunohisCl ut the time they did. and la tho
manner they did, that immense mass Of
Ignorance and, II now the Republican
party hyncgro Acknowledgement. proposes
10 cctily the great error they then made,
the white men Vt the South aud the Dem
oCmis ul the North would be- wrong Ia put
any obstacle IN the way Ut that rcciihcniion,
aud fnr my own part ! frankly declare that
! believe the negro incapable IT self
government. The stability OF rcpub-
licnn form Of government requires a much
moro general diffusion of the powcrs OF
sell government among the people than
monafchial form Of government requires,
aud hold ihai u was great mistake and
q decided enlargement IT this kcpubl.c
10 cnimnchisc the colorcd brother. II tho
Republican party which brought him into
politics. viii take him out again, have no
doubt Tn the Southern States will cheer
fully consent to proportionatcly less rep
frscutaiiou la Congress"