Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-02-21

" ait lENS. DEAAlE AAA CA tA4N
shotgun policy was inaugUrated, the
main object of which WAS. in parishes
where the negroes We're in the majority,
to prevent them from voting. Things
went along in this way for some time.
but of course a great deal Of i'll feeling
was stirred up, which, together with the
dissatisfaction on the part of the negroes
with regard to leasing Of lands. and as
they claimed, the way they were cheated
out of the proceeds of their labor.
By and by an exodus of negroes to Kan
sas set in, mainly the result of the treat
ment they had received. Then the plan
tiers became again alarmed, thinking this
would soon deprive them of sufficient
laborerS. They were very like the case
of Pharoah with the children of Israel:
first he did MT want to let them go; then
he did. even anxious; then he did MT. The
harm the South feared from the exodus of
the negroes was not realized, for II soon
ceased, and many that went away return
ed. 1t had the effect, however, of cauS-
ing.the abandonment to considerable
extent of the shotgun policy, which had
become so OdiouS and SO shocking to the
moral sense of all right-minded men,
South as well as North. The policy
adopted in its stead is well known, while
not so inhuman, is Just as unlawful and
dishonest as the other, but Just as etfec-
tive in its results, in depriying the en-
franchiSed race of a voice at elections,
guaranteed by the Constitution. That
the negro vote is not counted in parishes
where they are in the majority is not
seriously denied here by any SOutherner
with whom the writer has cOnversed on
the subject. They allege, in Justification,
that the circumstances of the case are such
they are obliged to perSue that course;
and say they never can nor never VIII
submit to negro rule or domination. SO
there it is; the cat S out. But IS 1t GER
tain the negro would rule even If his vote
was honestly counted? Might it not be
possible that those who are SO determined
never to submit are mistaken in this as
were they on several other occasions
YetitiS declared persistently by some, and
notice Governor Lee of Virginia gives 1t
as his opinion, that the whites and blacks
can never assimilate, and that negro con-
troll of State governments will not be
tolerated
Now, think, here is where the main
hinderance to the successful and proper
solution of the race problem lies. So
long as the monster intolerance, born of
prejudice and pride, and nurtured by
fraud, is permitted to exercise a per-
vading influence over the conduct of the
whites of the South, and is a controlling
principal in their treatment of the blacks,
whether they be in the majority or IN
the minority, just so long, in my opinion,
will there continue to be more or less race
troubles and riots. But treat the negro
fairly, deal with him justly, let him learn
something useful, permit him to share in
the general prosperity, take part in the
formation of good government, and to
cultivate the condition that will give him
profitable employment. When this is
done, venture to say, there need be no
more apprehension of trouble so far as he
is concerned. Then, added to this, let
there be thorough system of free com
mon schools established over all the dark
corners of the South, taught by competent
teachers, that the masses may be educa-
ted in the common branches at least, in
order to fit them for the intelligent per
fOrmance of the active duties of life and
qualify them for good citizenship. This
education is really needed more by the
white "cracker" element than by the
blacks, for they, as rule, are more ignOr-
ant and withal more turbulent and law
less. Also, good moral and religious SEN
timent must be diffused and s0briety
and industry practiced. When this is
all done, the race problem will be solved.
The dawning of this better day for the
South is evidently approaching. Hun
dreds of prominent and influential cltl-
zenS of the South are now looking at the
situation in its true light-are av0wing
and advocating just such sentiments and
views as | have endeavored to express
A prominent gentleman here, Democrat
at that, said the other day, and he went
further than | have, that the only hope
of the South was to diffuse the light of
education and christianity among the ig-
nOrant and vicious classes, and that
would mainly have to be done by people
from the North, for he thought the peo-
pie here were too indolent to do it.
Speaking of the condition of things
with reference to the negro question,
Jefferson DaviS-and there is some hope
yet of Jeff.-SayS in substance over his
own signature in one of the leading
Journals of the North, that there are dis
tricts in the South where the negroes are
in the majority, five to one, where they
now join with the whites in electing the
very best men to office, and cooperate
with them in maintaining good local gov
ernment, and live in peace and harmony,
having no race difficulties whatever.
When this state of things spreads over
the entire South, and when the dark
night of prejudice and hate is chased
away from the land by the light of knOwl
edge, justice, and truth, then will be
ushered in the day when there will be no
race wars, no solid South as against
solid North. but both will see eye to eve,
and work together for the good of our
common country. H. c. w.
DOW LAW AMENDMENTS.