The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-06

THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS WILL
BEST SERVE THE COLORED RACE
BY ALLOY WING THEN TO WORK
OUT THEIR OWN SALVATION
UNDER THE LAW.
National Democraf-l


d. II. Chamberlain, ex-governor
Of South Carolina, in his speech at
the Massachusetts Reform Club din
ner in Boston recently, handled the
race question without gloves. He
said among other things: Precisely
why tie race question or problem
should attract its present share Of
attention | am not quite able to see
1t is the same question we have had
since 1867. No new elements have
lately come into this problem. 1t is
the old story of two races-the one
educated. selC-reiiant, proud, &C
customed to rule, accustomed to as
sert its power by force when deemed
necessary; the other race uneducat>
ed inexperienced in self-control or
elf.gOvernment, without race pride,
without history, accustomed TO ser
vile relations, unused to the arts and
spirit of self-defcnse. In 1867 the
Republican party, with full control
Of every power aud agency of the
United States government, able to
do all that mere power can do under
our system of government, decreed
that the colored race should te en-
rolled apd counted as voters in all
elections. Under the circumstances
then existing. this resulted IN actual,
practical negro rule, for time, in
all the IL seeding States, unless
Virginia be an exception. Gradual
ly, however, between 1867 and 1874,
the white race asserted itself in eight
of these States, and summarily threw
off negro rule In 1876 three only
of the Southern States remained sub
ject to negro rule-South Carolina ,
Louisiana and Florida, In that year
the three States named passed into
the control of the white race. The
last stage was brought about by the
direct action of President Hayes in
Withdrawing all armed support of the
negro governments, as | call them
for brevity, with the full consent and
approval Of the party which had
elected him. Aud what did Presi-
dent Haye8's action mean? 1t
meant that the Republican party de-
liberateiy declared that it was un-
wise, unconstitution al, impolitic and
impossible to maintain the Southern
State governments by the physical
power Of the federal government.
This is our race problem, and this
is how we have contriyed it. | say
we. | mean Massachusetts. | mean
the Republican party. They created
the race problem as We have it to~
day. When | try to look at our race
problem now see men running to
and fro. patriots wEinging their hands
in despair magazine writer's crowd
ing our tables with discussions
editors venting their omniscience
and clergymen lifting their prayers
over it. | confess | share no such
excitement, and | confess, too, here
in Boston, that | have very little
respect for those who are raising
this alarm and outcry. 1t is, in my
judgment, at least nine parts out OF
ten, the babole of professional or ill
informed philanthropists and the in-
terested jargon of demagogtc politi
clans. There is 40 race problem
except as we have had it for &C
years. The party ascendency of one
of our political parties is endangered
by the present situation in theSouth
this modern Diana Of the Ephesians
is in danger, and, as of old, the sill
versmiths are filing the streets and
market place with their mobilize
cries.
What is The matter, Task boldly
with the negro now? | come from
the South Tonight from State that
was my home for II years. | have
mingled again during the last foar
months with the people whom | hen
knew so we'll. " hat do find? /
find the negro more self-respectlng
better provided with schools far
better, acquiring property more
rapidly, more Industrious, more am
bltious for education and property
than he ever vas before 1876. | &c
not exOner- tie the white race at the
South from all past or present blame
There are wrongs done there to the
negro now, but the men who do this
are not now, whatever may have
been the fact at some periods in tbs
past, the bundredth part of any com
munity | know at the South, No
gentlemen, these affairs, however
sad or dlsgraceful, are bat the natur