The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-05-03
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
REV. THOS- DIXON. JR.. SPEAKS
ON THIS QUESTION IN BOSTON.
His Solution of it is to Kill Sectional
ism In Both the North and South and
Adopt Educational Suffrage.

Ism LII bOth the North and South and
Adopt Educational Suffrage.
The CHRONICLE is glad to note that Rev
THOMAS DIXON, JR., spoke on the Southern
Problem at banquet given in Boston a
few nights ago by the Paint and Oil Club.
There were number of distinguished
guests present. Our Tom DIXON made THE
speech Of the evening and his effort was
the only one reported by the Boston Post
Commenting on MIR. DIXoN's speech the
Post speaks editorially as follows:
The solution of the Southern ques-
ton" offered by the Rev. THOMAS DIXON,
JR., in his remarks before the Paint and
Oil Club Saturday evening, was the estab
lishment of an educational qualification
fol voters and the secret ballot system.
MR.. DIXON is a Southerner by birth and
education, but of anti-slavery sentiments,
and, moreover, resident in the North for
a number of years. His views. therefore,
may be considered to be based upon a
more intelligent knowledge of the needs
Of the situation than is possible for those
of less wide experience and information.
The remedies which he suggests, moreover,
our own Commonwealth, and which, for
reasons readily understood, have pecul
iarly apt application to the condition of
the Southern States with their swarms OF
ignorant voters. We venture the opinion
that these ideas would be found Of greater
practical value than any gathered by SEN
AToR HoAR's investigating committee or
COL. W. W. DUDLEY on his tour as agent
of the Republican organization
PRESIDENT TYLER in introducing Mr..
DIXON said:
''The Southern problem has been an III
teresting question to all close observers or
national affairs since the war. Our guest
this evening was born upon the soil of the
Old North State. has served in her Leeis
lature and in other posts of trust, and, af
ter living in the North for a number of
years, comes to-day to give Us the benefit
of his experience and thought upon the
subject -
REV. MIR. DIACH's SPEECH.
REV. THOMAS Dixon, JR., on being thus
pleasantly presented, spoke substantially
As follows:
What do l mean by The Southern
Ques;iOn!' Certainly not what the :, r
tlonal rnonomaniac has in mind VII he
uses the expression. If by southern
Question you mean the supposed prohie N
of crime, violence and standardization, as
presented in the cock and bull stories you
hear of the South-then | have no time to
discuss such a questlon-for such prob
lem exists only in the distorted fancy Of
uniformed men. By Southern QueS-
ton" | mean the sectional question, and
the problem of it is, how can sectionali, m
be eliminated from our natiOuai life, So
cial, economic and political2 II this is a
union. unity should be the cardinal prn-
cipe of national life, and sectioualism Is Il
monstrosity. The South and North shos-ld
stand related to each other, as he eastern,
western and middle States are related
What are some Of the difficulties that
stand in the way of such an Obiteratl0n OF
sectional lines? l can dwell upon but two
this afternoon.
/ Mutual misunderstanding The North
does not understand the South. The South
does not understand the North. The *
norance of the average northerner as to
the real condition of the South has been
to me constant source of amazement.
What are the chief causes Of these mlsun
derStandlngS.
(a) The federal office holders in The
South under Republican administration
The concrete idea of the North has been
presented to the South in the personality y
of the carpet-baggers, turn coat Demo
Gratis, and general rapscallions who have
been honored with Office under Republican
Presidents. The most potent cry ever rails
ed in the South on national question was
Turn the rascals out" They meant the
rascals at home, who used their offices 20
domineer over and insult the people whom
they were placed there to serve. The civil
service given the South, except under
Cleveland's administration, has been simply
Internal. There have been some good men
among them, but they were the exception
to the rule. The finest stroke OF policy
vet made by President Harrison was when
he sent home the other day the forIorn
groups of chronic office holders and office
seekers from South Carolina. Such d pol
icy is a first step toward breaking a solid
South.
(b) Cranks. Hot headed, ill-advised
men, thirsting for sensation, and deter
mined to make one plunge into the South
for week or two, and return to the
northern platform loaded with wind and
exclamation points. They strut and bel
low, and Shrek, ''What are you going to
do about it,? And sometimes the very
elect are deceived by the noise into believ-
ing that something ought to be done DR..
Fulton recently spent few weeks South.
He returned with a pain he knew not
where, with the gripping sensation as yet
INDICATED, bat with determination to be
heard or die. God save the South from
her friends,
(c) Knaves. There are men who de
liberately seek to deceive you on such
questions. The day before the last cleo
ton, the New York Tribune contained a
long dispatch from Raleigh, N. c., stating
that the town was in
State of Riot and BlOOdshed-
that the negroes were being driven from
the place, shots were being exchanged anC
| that there was urgent need of troops. Ev
cry word, every syllable, every letter, ev
| ery dot on every in the article was a liz
| out of the whole cloth, as testified to BY
the mayor and council, among whom were
| four distinguished negro politicians. Mr.
Dixon might have said that up to date the
sectional Tribune has offered no apolog,
for it's false publication which was intend
ed to injure Mr.. d.-EDITOR
(d) Politicians who trade in sectiona
issues only. The day for those men is rap
idly going by Some of them still remain
| North and South. Let the rising youn,
men of the nation set their feet emphati
caly on all such.
| 10 y Partisan DewSpanarS IT. ia a Saf