Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-10
Let lis Know the Worst.

Let Us Know the Worst.
Public attention has been called, North
and South, TO the remarks concerning negro
rule which Governor LEE recently made in
speech ia New York city. Governor LEE
had no idea that he was saving anything
new, or that so much importance would be
sttsched 10 his unprecedented uttersuces.
II he had known that the eyes OF the whole
country were upon him he would possibly
have made q less interesting and less in
attractive speech. Certainly the northern
people have got TO learn that, as our Char
lottesville correspondent says In this morn
ing's Dispatch, the southern people will never
surrender control Of the iairest portion OF
abe earth 10 the negroes.
The Chicago Tribune threatens the South
with second conquest, using language
which can be understood only as intended to
intimidste us. The southern people reply
not with threats, but In words which mean
that they prefer military rule TO negro rule.
We say their reply must not be construed TO
he a threat, but must be understood as
deliberate expression OF the fixed and I'M
alterable determination OF the southern
people not to be hewers OF wood and
drawers Of water for an inferior race. The
Tribune says:
"The people OF the North are not so white.
liyered that they will permit usurpstion OF
political power at their expense and injury,
and 90 the advantage and political proht OF
law.de1ers and nullfers"
The people Of the North would prove
themselves to be much worse than "whlte-
llvered " scoundrels II they should by force
OF arms put their southern white brethren
under the heels OF a race OF men who are no
more OF TO be voters than are white boys
OF ten years OF ace.
To Offset the Tribune's threat we will
quote what Mr.. PHILIP A. BRUCE says on
this point in the book which he has recently
published. What sort Of book this is, we
let the Boston Advertiser tell;
ellis [Mr. Bruce'sl analysis OF the mental
and moral characteristics OF the modern ne.
gro OF the famous black belt IL as ltoper-
sonsi as a scientists analysis OF the traits OF
some antedeiuvian animal might be-"
"This is the judgment OF an intelligent
southerner, who Is apparently free from pre-.
negro civilization Of his native State. AS
such It deserves attention."
Now, what says the cool, calm, Dhilosophc
Mr.. BRUCEf We quote:
"The negro is only useful to the southern
States, ana through those States 10 the
Union, as a labOreT, but II would be far bet
ter for the whole country il the negro were
withdrawn. even II withdrawn so suddenly
20 w irb "A
Interests OF the south"
The South is the faircst portion Of this
Union. II would attract many more immi-
grants than the North II there were no
negroes here. So that Mr. BRUCE means to
say that II the southern States were to-day
rs destitute OF population as California,
Iowa. Minnesota. Kansas, Dakota, Nebraska,
&C., &c, were few years ago. those south
ern States would In a generation or two be
tbickly settled with white population equal
in all respects to that which has made
the West and Northwes. the admirs-
ton OF the world. Richmond would
rival Chicago. We do not fear that
the South will he overrun by negroes
but anybody who knows the facts Of the case
might well Join MIR. BRUCE IN saying tina, it
would be better for our entire section to be
"rolegskd to it, primeyal condition with a
view to its being settled again exclusively by
O white population, just as II it were virgin
Territory, than for il to maintain its present
position partially through the manual eXer.
lions OF the blacks, but with the individuals
Of that race increasing so rapidly as 10
threaten the extinction in she end OF every
element of prosperity Nth no hope Of sUbse-
Qiieai revival"
We say we do not quote these sentences as
threats, but as setting forth the facts upon
which Governor LEES New York speech
was based. II Is to be hoped that before the
next presidential campaign shah begin the
northern people will understand the south-
ern problem, or negro problem, better than
they do now. They are far better informed
on the subject than they were twenty years
ago. Governor LEE uttered no threat in
New York. lie simply made statement Of
fact; and this fact II is none too soon to i'm.
press upon the minds Of our northern bre-
thren.
"Let us have peace"