Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-22
FRIDAY. ...... MARCH %. 1888
Whose Is the Sin?

ain the multitude Of cOunsellor there 10
safety" "Line upon line and precept upon
precept" must be the rule observed by him
who aspires 10 correct false Impression
which pcrvades the community.
In discussing the southern problem with
the journalists OF the North. the journalists
OF the South labor under a great disad
vsntsge The average northern editor
seems 10 be totally incapable even OF
eonceiylng that there are two sides
to the question. lie cannot write
dozen lines on the subject without mani
Testing 10 US OF the South the incorrigible
prejudlces which have taken possession Of
his mind. He NAV endeayOr to be fair, but
he fails iuvarisbly-no, not invaiisbly, for
the Philadelphia Telegraph constitutes st
least one exception. The Philadelphia
Press also seeks to be fair, but does not sue
coed. Ii sees through glass darkly when
II turns Its eyes toward this section. Here
IL one OF its latest utterances:
"No northern State. whether ID be Ohio.
or Iowa. or Vermont. would permit its ignO-
rant classes TO rule permanently. \
way would be found peacefully and lawfully
20 give intelligence and property the con.
troll, IS WAS done In New York city IN 1871.
where Tweed. by his influence over the H.
norant foreign vote, threatened TO conuscate
private property by pUIog up an enormous
public debt"
The reader perceves at once that the
Press intended the abovequoted paragraph
20 be understood a. n concession. But the
illustration Is no illustration at all. Why
noti Because the ignorant classes in New
York who had been misled by TWEED we're
white men who could be moved by consid-
erahons which make no impression what
ever upon the negro. The negro cannot be
influenced In that way. lie is absolutely
impervlous TO argument. As has been
often said, he would, II ordered by bls
leaders, vote either for or against any
economic proposition which might be
submitted to the voters. The merits OF the
question would not be considered for mo-
ment. All be would ask would be how the
northern Republicans desired him 10 vote.
The debt question has divided the voters OF
Virginia upon several occasions. To under
take to pay all the State debt would bank
rupt the Commonwealth. Yet the negroes
would not hesitate to vote TO pay the whole
debt, nor as TO that mstter to repudiate the
whole debt, IL their leaders were TO bid them
70 vote on the one side or the other.
The Press evidently takes it for granted
that anegro would act under any given cir
cumshnces as white man would under sImi-
lar circumstances. But this is not true. AZ
well expect to control by reason flock Of
sheep a. "flocks" Of negroes. The leader
Jumps the fence or the little stream at some
point, and every sheep In the flock does like.
wise without rhyme or reason. So with the
negroes. The fact Is that they are not quail
fed to be voters anywhere, and certainly not
In such communities OF white men IS exist
in the southern States Of this Union. They
might do better where there were none but
negroes.
We say the average northern editor does
not believe that the negroes are such per-
sons ss we have described them 10 be. lie
imagines that we are preiudlced against
them, aud that they are while men with dark
skins, who can be reached by argument, or
be induced TO believe that their interests re.
quire them TO vote for this or that msn or
this or that measure; whereas the fact is
that they are so snperstitious and live in
such constant fear OF their own race that
they are Incapable Of being influenced as
white men are influenced aud cannot weigh
On argument for five minutes, nor for one
minute II any appeal be made TO their race
prejudices, OF TO their fears, or to their silly
superstitions.
Until the northern people learn that these
are the facts OF "the situation" In the South.
they will be unable to do justice to their
white brethren here, OF 10 appreciate tue real
nature OF the problem which they call upon
us TO solve on penalty OF sowing IL for us
themselves.