The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-05-10
GOV. FOWLE INTERVIEWED.
HE SAYS THAT THERE Is NO
SOUTHERN QUESTION.

He Says That it is Race Problem That
COnfrOnts Us and Is National Ques.
ton.
The New York Herald interviewed sew
eral Southern Governors while they were
attending the Centennial upon the cause
of the continued solidity of the South and
the present aspect of the race problem.
The following is the interview with Gov
ERNoR FowLE:
When l met Gov D. G. Fowle of North
Carolina, he was returning from the thea
tire in pleasant mood. Laughingly he
said:
what did the Governor of North Car
DINA say to the Governor of South Carroll
na2 Well, under the present REGIME, he
says, 'Apollinaris,' because that is the
strongest tipple l take. That historical
picture which thousands of people bring
to their minds of the two Governors sitting
together with an empty jug of corn juice
between them will never again be realiz-
ed, l believe"
''If the people Of the North would cease
to agitate the question of the condition of
the colored race it would settle itself. 1t
is not Southern question. 1t is a race
problem, SO called, but it is no longer
problem to us, for we have solved it peace
fully, and if Northern people bother their
heads about it their own brains are puz-
zled, not ours.
''In the stern realities of life as we find
them, the white man is superior, and it is
impossible for him to live under the domi-
nation of an inferior race All sections of
the country must agree with us in that.
''In social and political life the negro is
subordinate in North Carolina as well as
in New York.
Now, stop at the Metropolitan Hotel
because the service is by cOlored help. l
don't like to have white man shine my
boots. We are accustomed to negro ser
wants and prefer them. l believe that l
am without prejudice in the matter, be-
| cause my father was born in Massachu-
setts and graduated from Princeton Col
lege The only question bothering US is
to have the North stop worrying about
the race question.
The Whites Take Precedence.
1.-The white people of the Southern
States are strongly bound together to pre-
serve their identity as distinct from the
African race, that is all. The Northern
people do not seem to understand the ire
mendous difference between the whites
and the Degroes. l insult a white man
and he knocks me down. A similar in
suit offered to a colored man would be
forgiven in the course of few days 1t
is the indomitable spirit, the tenacious
self reliance, the assertive power of strong
manhood and the conquerng impulse i'm
planted in the minds of the Anglo Saxons
by that divinity which shapes our ends
that causes the whites to take natural pre-
cedence. I do not contend that the meek
and lowly spirit of the negro may not be
most admirable; let others settle that, but
+ t1,,v al Lot%
life in North Carolina.
''With the enormous colored population
in the South the white man must keep in
| the front or he will be crowded to the
wall and governed by the negro. There
| are only two positions, and we choose to
keep in the lead That is the way we look
| at it. Amalgamation and assimilation
are utterly impossible.
The Races Always Distinct.
"Socially, the races will always be dis
| tinct. That is incontrOvertible. Marriages
between whites and negroes are void in
law in the Southern States, and so are
they illegal in Indiana, Nevada, Oregon,
| Colorado and California.
''Polltlcally, no negro is deprived of his
vote in North Carolina. His ballots are
| counted and he holds Office. There is one
| colored Congressman IN our State delega-
lature and county officers, but when l am
of the State l unhesitatingly say that it is
impossible"
| Major Tucker, a wealthy planter of Raj
eigh, who was listening here said: 1T
would depreciate the value of property
greatly to put black man at the head of
the State government" and Governor
Fowle bowed his acquiescence.
| Continuing, the Governor said:
| 1.-THE new colored Congressman-Cheat-
ham-has succeeded in getting several
negro women appointed to postoffices in
the Second District and fear it will cause
trouble. We were in doubt for some time
concerning the policy of President Harrison
toward the South, and possibly some fears
may still exist. We are not in favor of
the negro holding any office carrying with
agree exactly with Governor Lee, OF Vir-
ginia, in that sentiment which he stated
recently so succinctly in the Herald.
Against Protection.
! 81 am compelled to controvert the as
sertions of General Roger A. Pryor, who
in the Herald declared that the solidity OF
the South would be broken on the tariff
question. Our State is larger than New
York and is growing in material prosper
ity, yet we do not favor the policy of pro-
lection. We stand for tariff for revenue
only and consequently firmly indorse the
Democratic National platform for reform
But North Carolina asks first for the en-
tire abolition of the internal revenue sys
tenn, because we believe that the discrimi
mating tax is unfair and unconstitutional
and we should not be compelled to Longer
bear the burden.
Labor is so cheap with US that we cal
hire negroes for fifty cents day, and ou
cotton fields can compete successfully will
the world in the common grades Of cloths
As far AS l can discern there are no intiu
ences now operating to ALLEVIATE the South
ern people from the Democratic part,
which have any weight. The South i
solid because the intelligence, wealth
political experience and social superiorit,
are united to control the various Com
monwealths. The colored people mostl
are convinced that their interests ar
identical with those of the whites, an,
there are no malcontents, none who mur
muir against the laws and local admins
t1ations, and consequently no necessit
existent for disturbing the solidity of tn
South. 1t is harmless.
Poverty of the Blacks.
, The condition of the great mass of tn
|. $50, 900 colored people in North Carolin
is abject poverty. They live from han
to mouth, and have no frugal habits Q
saving In some instances we have offer
ed to sell them land to be paid for in sma
A. L. L