The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-11-27
THE RACE QUESTION.
\ STRIKING VIEW BY A REPRESEN-
TATlyE COLORED SOUTHERNER.

\ STRIKING VIEW BY A REPRESEN-
TATlVE COLORED SOUTHERNER.
Uba,,hc Coiored Man should DO for His
GNn sdvancemcnts.--The Need of Better
educational Opportunities, with n Little
Less of Political Agitation.
70 the Editor of the World: While
the situation at the South may not be al
:.-c,her such as We would wish, there
is nothing in it,has could possibly justify
;;ay retaiato.y measures advised by q
a,heri1s of colored preachers at Wash
ay,on, D. c., on October Goth. There
&c always two sides to a question. and
ua;il the colorcd race learns by hard and
s::ci experience where their true interests
lie there will be unnecessary local trouble
and disturbances in every Southern State
between tie two races. and no power
under the SUP csa by force prevent it.
The situation down here needs no So
luton, for it is not problem. There is
nothing wrapped up 10 mystery, nor is
there az unknown something to be found
in order to solve the question of our
present surroundings. The most igno-
rant, as we'll rs the most intelligent, uu-
derstand the situation perfectly, and
each element seems determined to pursue
its own line of policy as the surest means
of keeping up disturbed condition of
affairs in these States.
There are three distinct causes of ir.
ritation and disturbance al the South.
These arc political, social and moral,
aud the first is a greater source of evil,
than all the others combined. There can
be no satisfactory adjustment, no per
maneos peace between the races at the
South, until the negro sbandoos politics
and bids farewell to political glory in
these States.
A persistent effort on the part Of the
negro to attain that which he never can
attain will inevitably lead to conflict
the horrors of which are unimaglnable.
Il fo.egone conclusion that the COL
orcd element can never BECOME ruling
class in any of these Southern States, no
matter how much they may predomlnate
in numbers in white communities. Every
political leader of the race knows this to
be an undeniable fact. 1t is this relent-
less pers!ssency on the part of the one
race to be, and the relentless persistency
on the part CT the other to prevent 1t
from being-aod prevent it they will ut
all coss-that causes all the trouble. It
is no use to deny these facts; it would
rather be wise If We would recognize
them in time to avert the evils that must
follow every futile attempt in that direc-
ton.
Is is unreasonable for the people Of the
North to expect that of the people of the
South which they themselves do not &C.
cord the negro. say it is unreasonable
for any people to expect the wealth, In
tellieence and refinement of community
to yield passive obedience and become
submissive TO the domination OF its lg-
norant and more i!literate class, and so
slone as there is persistency in this di-
ERECTION, encouraged. by uuprincipled poll.
&icians for sinister motives, so long will
here be serious conflicts between the
wo elements. repeat again as my hon
konviction that the negro must abandon
1olitics for time and strip himself of
sall delusive and visionary ideas of politi-
Zeal honor and perferment in these States
and turn his attention to those industri-
al pursuits that mark the prosperity and
prooressiveness of every otner race
around him.
There is no prejudice here against
the negro in pursuing his own su5stan-
tial happiness in any legitimate calling.
There is no avenue or INDUSTRY shut
against him in the South. There is no
desire on the part of the people to keep
him down, but they have rather, in every
as,auce, shown sympathy and feeling
that ought to be commended. Those
fapasical leaders pretended preachers and
politicians up North S~ho are trying to
incite coufict between the races by
advising retaliatory measures against
ou,raees in the South are Of all men the
ereatesu enemies of the colored race.
For the few crumbs that fall from the
administration table they seem to be viii
ling to damn the whole negro race. 1t
IS one thing to sit up North and howl
for blood and attempt to incite crime
and murder. but it is quite another thing
to come down here and iraugurate the
proceedings they advise.
Whatever may be the Disadvantages
under which the negroes labor in these
Southern States they are brought about
by natural causes, and can never, 20,
never. be remedied by force. These dis
advantages, so often spoken Of. are IN
fact more imaginary tnan real. I would
venture TO say there are fifty advantages
in favor of the race becoming prosperous
and happy where there is one to their
detriment. Outside of politics dissdVan-
tege does the colored man labor under
in these States? Idefy any man to show
me single unreasonable disadvantage
he is subjected to throughout the broad
extent of this Southern land that any
other people would not be subjected to
who keeps themselves poor and depen-
dent upon more progressive and. thrifty
race. Show me honest, upright, indus
trious coiored man in any Southern COM
muni.y and will show you man who
has no complaints to make as to his
treatment in that community. No colored
man cao say ,ruthfully that he is preveD-
ted and debarred from entering into any
legitimate business that a white may en-
gage IN, on account of his race or color.
On the contrary, thousands are assisted
and encouraged 10 every honest calling
they have ever put their hands to. The
field is before them, and in common
they have tie same chances and oppor-
tuuities, through frugality, patient 10
dustTy and economy, to become prosper
L.. h