The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-25
4 CONVENTION on THE RACE CUES
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II is obvious enough that in the last
year there has sprung up in the South
a settled purpose TO deal with the negro
question with radical and upillnching
,ircctnoss.
This Is due 10 various causes. the
most recent of which are the threatened
passage OF national registration law.
aud the appointment of incompetent ard
iiliterate negroes TO such important
Offices as postmasterships and collector.
hips.
The principal cause. however, is the
growth Of the black population. which
casts an ever darhening and frightening
shadows over those material prospects
Inch our people regard with so much
pride and satisfaction.
As an evidence of the popular desire
md determination TO make final set
clement Of the question, it Is remafka-
Die how attention is being diverted al
most entirely from such temporary cX-
pedients as the restriction of negro suf-
fragc by educational and property quail
ihcations. to such radical solution
4 the transportation Of the negroes to
Inc Northwest, Mexico and even to
africa.
The fixed intention Of the South to
apply, II necessary, some summary
remedy to the difficulties of her situa-
ton, is fully reflected in the Appeal to
Pharoah. very able book recently
published anonymously. but obviously
written by Southern man. who does not
wish the force of his facts and reason
ny TO b. lcsscncd by the disclosure OF
his nativity and place Of residence. lie
urges that the resources Of the whole
cation. operating through the General
Government. shall be used in removing
me negro. or. if the national power
shall refuse, then that the Southern
states shall cooperate for that purpose.
We do not believe that the North
viii. for manv generations TO come. be
willing to give either moral or pecuni-
airy assistance in the application of some
heroic cure for the running ulcer of
the South.
There Is but one thing that can create.
at an early day. a general sentiment
among NOrtherners favorable TO CO.
operation with our people in this mat
Ter. and that is. for the census returns
f the next two decades to show
nat the negro race is increasing
tar more rapidly than the white in this
division of the republic. In the mean
while the South cannot stand IDLE and
permit The evil that oyershadows her to
extenPto still more gigantic proper
lions. The tine has arrived when the
South should settle tins trying question
with a single view TO her own interests
aud necessities without regard 10 pop
ular sentimen: at the NORTH. The peril
impending over her from the presence
of the negro population is far greater
.han any danger she may invite by run
ming counter TO Northern public opin-
ION. which. at its worst, must be more
or less divided.
Let us have done with such coward
ice. which is totally unworthy of the
spirit which the Sonth has displayed III
very emergency that taxed her wis
dom aud courage.
Unquestionablv every scheme for the
solution Of the negro problem is marked
by doubtful and impracticabIe elements.
Il there had been 10 such elements as
these the difficulties Of the situation
would have been overcome before this.
10 is the part Of statesmen to select the
most feasible plan. and the part Of the
people to see that it is carried out in the
face Of every obstacle.
We ourselves have reached the con
clusion that the most practical method
is TO encourage. by pecuniary aid, that
tendency TO emigrate now observed
among the negroes at the South, only
this tendency should be directed to the
distribution Of the black population
through me West and Northwest, and
not to its concentration in the South
western States.
Ii there is some more practical
method let it be adopted and applied.
We think it would be advisable that
representatives from all the Congress
ional districts south of the Potomac,
duly appointed and authorized, should
meet in convention this winter at some
central point, and there discuss the
question Ia conservative but resolute
spirit. finally recommending in detail
some plan which the Southern States
can adopt as whole, and upon which
they can act in concert.