Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-11
rs THE NEGRO ENTITLED TO
OFETCR2

The article printed in THE GAZETTE OF
January 1 from the pen of Colonel Puck
cite of the Waco Day, proposing a nove
solution Of the So called trace p1 oblem
in the South, is one of the most notable
of Southern utteranees upon the subject
The scholarship of the author, his prac-
teal experience in the politics Of state
that has perhaps suffered more than any
other on account of race troubles and the
originality, the righteousness and
boldness of his plan commend it to the
attention of the thoughtful, the curious
and the radical
To THE GAZETTE it seems that the
premises of Colonel Puckette contain ir-
reconcilable proposals. The two ideas he
thinks should be kept in view an any sys-
tenn of reconstruction are: (D "The
absolute ascendancy Of the white race in
local state and national politics for all
time to come. - (2) ga fair and equitable
minority representation in government to
| the colored race - The evolution of this
| dual object is given in a plan distributing
| representation in the Federal congress be-
| tween the blacks and the whites in
| ratio that would give the former strictly
race representation for three-fifths of
their own population. The idea is re-
| ferred TO the old Federal constitution,
which gave the slave states
congressional representation for
three fifths of their negro pop
ulation. It is hardly necessary to de-
! monstrate that the two theories are not
eorrelative. The plan of the eonstitu-
ton gave the representation to the
whites who stood in a patriarchal rela-
ton to the negroes, and not to the ne
groes themselves.
Past experience has demonstrated to
the satisfaction of all white people who
live in the South, Republicans as well as
Democrats, the necessity for the absolute
political domination of the white race
It has demonstrated something more;
that such domination can only be secured
by the elimination of the negro from poll
ties as q separate political factor. So
long as his vote is directed to the one end
of getting negroes in office he is dan
gerous menace TO the good government of
those sections where he prepOnderates in
numbers. Herein lies the error of Colo
mel Puckette, and of so many we'll
meaning but misinformed Northern
critics of the South; it is in considering
the race question as political ques-
ton 1t is assumed without ar
gument that the South has
wronged the negro because it has
withheld from him political recognition,
and that all race troubles will disappear
when a liberal sprinkling of blacks is
shown among the office-holders of the |
South. THE GAZETTE believes that such |
a result would mean the beginning of |
more serious troubles instead of the end
of those that now exist. If there be any |
virtue in the proposal to put the |
negro i'll office it must be because /
his race has not received due at |
tention in the past from the gov |
eminent. Is that true? What have the
whites failed to do for the negro that he |
himself would do through the medium of
government aid? They have given him
an equal chance with the white man in
the race for material advancement in the |
world; they have educated his children,
they have made his status before the law
precisely equal to that of the white man.
Nothing else can be required that the
white race could concede and preserve its
The idea that any race or class of peo-
pie is entitled of right to share in politi-
cal power is not consistent with demo-
cratic ideas nor with American interests.
Suffrage is a privilege, not a right, and
that unless wisely conferred it can solve
no problem, has already been
clearly demonstrated in the case
of the negro himself To extend to him
peculiar office holding privileges because
of his color would be a much more
dangerous experiment than was at
tempted in the heat of passion, having
for its object the punishment, not the
of the South. Hundreds
of thousands of people in the
North are without representation
IF their choice in the Federal
congress. There is no reason why a
smaller and much less intelligent minori-
y in the South should have representa-
ion there of which these are deprived
To give a few negroes places in con-
sress, upon the bench or in the executive
departments of government would not
.hange the characteristics of the
ace, nor would it improve for
he better his purposes and am
'itions. 1t would intensity his political l
cal, but from that nothing has pro- /,
eeded heretofore bnt harm to himself !
nd harm to his white neiShbors. I
What the negro needs most is not en- '
Of his political aspirations
Jt encouragement to social. hateHectnsl !
nd moral development. Without thar +