Evening journal., 1889-03-28

ness the North can never feel We are
the minority section in every sense. To
force a political division on sectional lines
is political suicide We need capital
immigrants, development, and to hinder
the incoming Of these, as any sectional
division must, is TO hinder our own
growth and prosperity. We realize this
perfectly. Hence we are more deeply in
terested in the wiping out of sectional
lines, of every sort whatever, than our
Northern friends possibly can be-
2 The South is forbidden to divide,
and thus find her full emancipation, and
the full restoration of the Union in which
she more than any other section is in
terested, by problem, the roots of which
go deeper than politics or business can
reach. The presence of this problem
the appalling import Of which is under
stood even where it is not confessed
should win for her the patient and loving
sympathy of all men, and should
strengthen, not weaken, that political
party which is pledged to give her this in
fullest measure. Especially should it be
so when this problem is not of her own
seeking, and not even the orderly out
come Of any series of events in which
she had part.
On these two propositions we stand.
They do not need argument-for they are
self evident.
But there is question we should like
to address TO the editors of the North,
and to have an answer written under
each man IS sense of his responsibility as
an editor, that we may record it in these
columns. Here it is-prefaced by a
statement:
There is not state in the South in
which a serious division of the whites
would not give the negroes the balance
of power. Not state in which an
INSCRIPTIONS minority of the whites
could not by easy corruption of the
illiterate, or by the easy misleading of the
Ignorant negroes, capture the state gov
ernment. Whatever happens, the negro
franchise will run in racial currents.
Let the best happen and the negro could
not within this generation acquire
enough education or even information. to
establish political convictions that would
carry him through orderly or steadfast
ways into either or both political parties
His vote would be in any event Jumped
and congested, and the prey of the cor
rupt or crafty. In Mississippi. for ex-
ample, there are 1900 illiterate white
voters and $4,000 illiterate black
voters.
Now, here is the question-asked in
fraternal spirit, ana entitled to a frank
aud friendly answer.
Is there state in the North in which
II, as in Mississippi, 1S1, 900 negro voters
OF which 145, are unable to read or
write, were to-day settled, the white peo-
pie would or could be divided under anv
pretence or by any power? Is there a
Northern state in which although. as in
Mississippi, there were only 121. 600 white
voters to oppose them, this host of black
illiterates could capture and maintain
the control of affairs under any pretext
or by any power? Could this be done IN
Indiana, or in Ohio, and especially could
it be done if, as in Mississippi, the hid
eous and sickening pages of the carpet
bag era, by showing what these people
did do when the whites were unitaa
against them, gave appalling suggestions
OF what they would do when the whites
were divided Iowa has about the vot.
ing population of Georgia, say 800, 900.
II l5O, ,O0O OF these voters were negroes.
OF whom 100 600 were illiterate Ito saw no
'worsel is there any.sane man who be-
lieVes or any fair man who will assert
that the white people of Iowa would not
SO unite as to hold control of their affairs.
and remain so united, in all despite
Would any political ambition, or could
any external force, so divide the whites
as to make it possible for a considerable
minority Of their number, by deludinq
the ignorant and bribing the cor
rupt of the negroes, hold the
reins Of Government Z Would they
not rather in Iowa'or Vermont. do as we
fo-hold the intelligence and property
together, administer affairs with lust and
equal hands, lead the ignorant to en-.
ightenment, win the doubling to conf
1ence, the disaffected into friendship
Ind, putting aside the minor considera-
ions of politics, work out patiently.
earnestly in conscience and honor. under
he guidance of God as He maketh ii
this enthralling and surprising
problem?
And these questions are respectfully
not to the open answer of |
rained coptroversialists- then to
he silent Judgment of the goodly thou
lands of Northern men who read the Con
ititution every week about the fresides
i their homes and who have found it |
lways fair and honest, and broadly