Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1889-11-23
THERACE QUESTION.
A Striking View by, Representative
COlUred Man.


To the Editor of the World.
While the situation at the South
may not he altogether such as we
would wish, there is nothing in it
that could possibly Justify the re
taliatory measures advised by
gathering Of colored preachers at
Washington, d. O.. on Oct. 20.
There are always two sides to a
question. and until the colored race
learns by hard and sad experience
where their true interests lie there
will ever be unnecessary local
troubles anu Disturbances in every
Southern State between the two
races, and no power under the sun
eau by force prevent it. The situa
ton down here needs no solution
for it is not problem. There Is
nothing wrapped up in mystery,
nor is there ali unknown something
to he found in order to solve the
question of our present surround-
ings. The most ignorant, as well
as the most intelligent, understand
the situation perfectly and each
element seems determined to pnr
sue it's own line of policy as the
surest. means of keeping mp Il dis
tnrbel condition OF affairs in these
States.
There are three distinct causes
of irritation and disturbance at the
South. These are political, social
and mora, land the first is Il greater
source o. evil than all others com
bined. There can be no satiSfac
tory adjustment, no permanent
peace between the two races at the
South, until the negro abandons
politics and bids farewell to politi-.
Cal glory in these States.
A persistent effort on the part Of
the negro to attain that which he
never can attain will inevitably
lead to a conflict, the horrors of
which are nnimaglnable. 1t is
fore gone conclusion that the colored
element can never become IL ruling
class IN any Of these Southern
States, no matter how much they
may predominant in numbers in
white communities. Every pOliti
cal leader of the race knows this
to be an undeniable fact. 1t is this
relentless persistency on the part
uftle one race to be, and the re-
lentlesS perSistency on the part of
the other to prevent it from being
land prevent it they will at all
cost-that causes all the trouble.
1t is no use to deny these fac'; it
would rather be wise if we would
recognize them in time to avert
the evils that must follow every
futile attempt in that direction.
is unreasonable for the people
of the North to expect that of the
people Of the South which they
themselves do not accord the
negro. l say it is unreasonable
for any people to eXnect the
wealth, intelligence and refine
ment of n community to yield pas
Sive obedience and become sub
miSSive to the domination of its
ignorant and much more llliterate
class, and so long as there is n
persistency in this direction, en-
Eeouraged by unprimclpled poll
ticialS for sinister motives, so long
will.tllerc he serious conflicts be-
tween The Two clements. | repeat
again us my honest CONVICTIONS
that the negro must abandon
politics for a time dsstrip him
self of all deluSive and visionary
ideas of political honor and pre-
iermentir these States and turn
his attention TO those industrial
pursuits that mark the prosperity
and progresSiyeneSs of every Othei
race around him.
Thereisnoprejudice here against
the negro in pursuing his own sub
stantial happmess many legitimate
calling. There is no avenue Of in
dustry shut against him in the
South. There is no desire on the
part of the people to keep him
down, but they have rather, in
every instance, shown Il sympathy
AMI feeling that onslt TO be COM
merded. Those fanatical leaders,
pretended preachers and polite
ians up North who are trying to
incile conflict between the races
by advising retaiatory measures
against outrages in the South are
of all men the greatest enemies Of
the colored race. For The few
crumbs that fall from the Admin
istration table they seem TO be will
ling to damn the whole negro race.
L. is one thing 10 sit up North and
howl for blood and attempt to in
cite crime and murder, but it is
quite another thing to come down
here and inaugurate the proceed
ings they advise.
Whatever may be the disadvan
tages under which the negroes Ia
Dor in these S uthern States they
are brought about 10y natural cans
es, and can never, no. never, lie
remeded by force. These disad-
vantages, so often spoken OF, are
III fact more imaginary than real.
would venture TO say that there
are fifty advantages in favor Of
the race becoming prosperous and
happy where there is one tn their
detriment. Outside of politics
what disadvantage does the col