Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-02-19
AN EVERLASTING QUESTION.

hN EfEntRoilNC QOEo HUN.
Southern Matters and Politics and the
Rsiations, Between the whites aud
the Blacks.
Washington correspondence 81. Paul
Pioneer Press: The imminent return OF
the republican party to complete power
and responsibility In all departments OF
the government naturally gives new
vitality and new interest to the dis
cussion of the everlasting southern
question. It is assumed that the new
administration will have special policy
in dealing with the unique political and
social conditions existing in the south,
and that that policy will be more or less
framed end guided in accordance With
republican party traditions and in Eerests.
Gen. Harrison's masterfui relioenee on
this, as on other subjects, refuses to
those interested any definite warrant for
this assumption. His public utterances
reveal nothing more than eleag percep-
tion OF existing evils, and definite
purpose to seek means for their solu-
ton. How far his views and purposes
coincide with those of the republicans
who are most prominent in aeitating
this question in congress, nobody can
guess.
There are abundant signs in the cur
rent congressional debates of desire to
shape the southern policy of the new
republican administration upon lines
more or iess abandoned g dozen years
ago. Lit is difficult, indeed, not to eus.
pecs purpose on the part of prominent
republicans in both houses to anticipate
Gen. HARRISON 10 this matter, and deter
mine southern policy for hIm in ad-
vance. The occasional debates on the
Smalls- Elliott contest in the house, and
the urgent pressure for an investigation
OF the Louisiana election outfages in
the senate reveal sepsitiveness on this
subject not common in recent congresses.
If present indications ere to be trusted
the brief remainder OF this session will
hardly pass without REVIVAL of the
angry discussion and bitter reorimina-
tion between sections and parties, 30
frequent and SO fruitless, ten or fifteen
yenrs age.
II will be very unfortunate all around
if this discussion shiil cloud the public
perception of definite change the passage
VA Cnib bub iiuoD tu5 VI
the southern problem. In sense it is
and must remain race problem, but
the history OF the last twenty years EN-
phasizsd by the results of the last cleo
tion, reveals the futiiity OF any attemp pl
| 10 solve 1t by accentuating and perpetu-
ating race distinctions in politics. The
lessons OF current history In this respeot
seemed to be better understood immedi.
etely after the election last fall than
now, Immediately before the inaugur-
alton OF the new administration. Pubiic
attention was concentrated then upon
the marked advance made in political
freedom and capacity for enlightened
self-government in those parts of the
south where the race question had been
| subordtnated to other and broader iasues
a tendency is apparent now to lead the
public mind to dwell on the distressing
conditions still existing in those parts oil
the south where the race question re-
| mains paramount.
| Nothing is clearer in the light OF his
tory than that the euppfe ssIon of the
| negro vote is the inevitable result OF the
division OF parties upon race lines, and
that this division is intensified by federal
interference on behalf of the weaker race
This disfranchlsement OF the negro by
| foioe or fraud is scandal and a re.
proacl. to every American citizen; but
the practical common aeDHe that accepts
ii as the necessary result of evil con-
| ditiops only to be reformed by influences
from within is wiser than the sentiments
fervof OF interference that perpetuete.
.hose conditions and checks the develop
ment of those influences. The souther,
states in which suffrage is the frees
and political activity greatest, are thUs
in which the negro has been eliminated
as negro, and restored as citizs,
by the division OF parties upon othel
Issues than that OF his right to vote an,
held office. Just so fer as federal legis
lation and administration interference
revives the irritating question Of hi
political rights, will those rights be Ell
dangered and suppressed by the revive,
jealousy Of the stronger race. This
not pleasant conclusion, but is is
perfectly clear and logical one. The in
ference as TO the southern policy OF til
new republican administration 10 per
fectly simple. The growth of politics
freedom in the south is TO be encouraged
not by new legislation or the enforce
ment of old legislation to secure th
negro bis political rights, bat il at 81
by such policy as shall encourage
divielon OF parties upon questions wit
which race and color have nothing to dc
| The belief was very general in th
weeks first following Gen. Harrison
election, that 80 far as he contemplate
any southern policF, it was to be con
ceiveG upon these lines and with thes
purposes. That was then one OF th
hopeful signs in the situation. It WI
be equally unfortunate for his adminie
trstion. for the party and for the sout
il the reactionary tendencies OF som
very earnest republicans in the preser
, congress shall defeat. delay or hampe
Intentions which promised 50 we'll b
pervertipg public opinion IN the nortl
or irritating ii in the south. This ia
COED time to bring the practical state
manship of common sense 20 bear npo
the Troublesome question.