Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-19
Want ToBe LetAlon
Southerners Made Victims of
the Question Fiend.
AVID EDITOR WHO WANTS TO KNOW

fnent Men of the South-The Answers
Pretty Near Unanimous That the Race
Problem Is Still on the Slate and That
Uncle Samuel Must Not Bother His Head
with Its Solution.
PHILADELPHIA, April 19-The Philadel-
phia Inquirer publishes interviews which it
has collected with prominent men and poll
ticians of the southern states Only men
well known in their sections were applied to,
and to these the following questions were
put:
l. What is the southern questions
q How should it be met to produce the
greatest good to the southi
The idea of The Inquirer was to obtain the
real views of southern leaders upon a sub
ject which is becoming very prominent The
responses nearly all voiced the same senti-
ment, that the race problem is the great one
to be solved, and that the south should be al
lowed to manage her own affairs without in
reference. Following is brief summary of
some of the opinions:
Governor Richardson, of South Carolina
The southern question is the race problem.
Shall the African or the Caucasian predom-
mate. The solution Is in the strict avoidance
by the general government of any distinc-
tive southern policy, and in leaving to the
states themselves the management of their
own domestic affairs
Governor Fitzhugh Lee, of Virgina-Two
distinct races are wrestling with each other
for political supremacy. The question is,
therefore, whether the southern states and
cities shall be retained in the hands of the
white men or whether there shall be a war of
races. The prosperity of both demands that
each state should be allowed to control its
own internal affairs without federal interfer-
ence, and to exercise those rights reserved
with great care to the states by the repre-
sentatives of those states who framed the
constitution In the city of Philadelphia 100
years ago.
Governor Buckner, of Kentucky-There is
no such question. The so-called southern
question seems to be a hot-bed plant of a
northern growth-an exotic which will not
flourish in southern soil Such unpatriotic
sectional agitations, whether originating in
the north or south, should not be encouraged
by the people of any section, and the injury
resulting from such agitations to the whole
country would be reduced to G minimum if
the people of each state would continue to
attend to their own affairs i'll accordance
with Their local constitutions, and unite in
supporting the general government in its
just exercise OF all legitimate powers
A. j. Russell superintendent of public in
struction of Florida)-As the question is dis
cussed in Republican Journals l am led to
suppose that some special legislation is to be
inflicted on the south, but the south has no
Tear. III the question means how can the
southern people be made Republican it can
not be done The truth is, the so-called south
ern question can best and wisest be answered
by letting the south alone in the endowment
of her constitutional rights
Oscar h Cooper superintendent of public
instruction of Texas)-The difficulties of the
adjustment of the two races are being met
and overcome by common sense
L. Nj. Miller attorney general of Missis-
sIppD-The contrast between the negro and
white governments has been SO decidedly in
favor of the latter that the white people are
determined there shall be no return to the
former. Indeed a military despotism would
be preferred. If our political dominion at
home is at all questionable in its rightfulness
of origin, let it be remembered that we view
government here as a matter of business not
glory, and we protest against interference
because we know that our state affairs are
managed in the interest of ALL We say to
the Republicans, take your new states and
keep control of the general government If
you choose, keep up scheme of taxation
revolving to justice and oppressive upon the
agricultural sections and we will submit
cheerfully; but don't set ignorance and vice
to rule over the south. Lastly, when inter
est and Judgment, instead of passion and
prejudice, shall control the southern negro
when there shall be freedom of opinion
among them, then the whole queeton will be
solved. The white people are solid because
the negroes were solid against them
The state treasurer of Arkansas, W. E.
Woodruff, thinks the question can be solved
by RENTING TO the states chiefly affected all
local subjects, the supreme court of the
United Stated being the final arbiter.
George NJ. Adams secretary of state of
kentucky)-l am one of those who believe in
the right of the people to regulate their own
affairs in their own way.
Solomon Palmer superintendent of educa-
ton of Alabama)-The south Will work ont
the solution if left to do so.
Lieutenant Governor Mauldn, of South
Carolina-The federal government can help
the south by appointing to office men of char
acter and capacity, by dealing generously in
the matter of her internal improvements, and
by refunding to her people the cotton tax so
unjustly collected from them In other
words, say, let the south alone