The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-02-13
THE RACE PROBLEM.
Ex-Governor Bullock, of Georgia, Calmly
Considers tho Case.

10 inc eultOr or the New York Press:
In your able editorial Of the 18th, ere
spect for Lawful Methods" reference is
kindly made to myself by name, with
quotation from recent card of mine
| published here, demanding that the con-
troillng elements in our communities
exert themselves to prevent mob violence.
| Commenting upon my objection to new
federal election laws for the South, you
say: "He has SO far not even expressed
any willingness to see a simple act for
the use Of the Australian ballot reform
system In electing members of the House
OF Representatives placed oD the statute
oooke." etc. Permit me TO say at once
that now "exPress o Willingness" for
any statute on that line that is to be un-
lVersal in it's application. l believe,
further, that it 10 within the power Of
Congress to provide tho manner in which
members OF State Legislature shall
be elected when such members are TO be
called upon to select United States
Senator.
The power of federal authority over
this subject has never been questioned by
me. have doubted and still doubt the
policy Of Republican Congress adopt
ing, or even proposing special sectional
IeglslatlonSfor the purpose Of overcoming
an alleged suppression of the colorcd
vote. Past experience should satisfy
every one that if such an evil exists it
cannot be overcome in this way. Such
Legislation solidifies the whites horc in
indifference 10 the civil and political
rights Of the blacks. If the whites be-
lievc that the blacks are the special
wards OF the nation, they will feel re-
lleyed OF the duty resting upon them as
citizens in their several communities to
enforce and maintain the negro's OWL
and political rights. Again, previous
elections following efforts by Congress in
this direction have shown that the people
Of the North did not favor this character
OF legislation, and the Republican ma
Jorlty in Congress was lost.
Believing, as | do, that the Republican
policy on all economic issues is best for
the prosperity and upbuilding of this
section OF our country, my purpose IL to
do whatever lie in my power to retain
that party in national control. One effort
in that direction Is to advise against
| measures that will accomplish no bcuc-
tlcial result here, and are not approved
| by the busincss sentiment Of tho North.
l can say without egotism that my cx-
| poricncc on these issues has been icon
| siderable. More than twenty years ago,
during my executive term, the Legisla-
turc of this State decided that the negro
had no right to hold Office, and expelled
all its colorcd members, over thirty Sin
number. Against this protested to the
Legislature at the time and subsequently
carried the ca&, before Congress by
memorial. The result was the adoption
of the fifteenth amendment and tho re-
storation of the c0lorcd men to their
seats. We have also had here the. ex-
pei -ience Of unlimited federal authority
ana FEDERAL forceg at oEoctfon6 t5efSTl
| La tho light Of this experience, sup
plemontcd by observation during the
years which have interviewed, 1 most
solemnly assure you that the only hope
for complete, perfect and willing &C
| quicscence in and support Of the black
mans rights as citizen is to be found
! by putting the responsibility upon and
leaving the duty entirely to the organized
communities in which he finds his home
and earns his living. The statutes already
enacted, both State and federal, arc
ample. The danger to republican insti-
tutions here, as with you, is from open
ing the ballot box to ignorance. The
| "problcm" is how to get clear results
| frcm muddy sources.
Leaders of all parties have approved
Ill
where tried in this country tho expert
mcnt has been successful. There can be
no good reason urged why Congress
| should not provide an election law to be
used in all national elections, uniform in
all the States. But do not attempt one
system for Georgia and another for
Massachusetts. / would 60 further in
solving the "problem," viz: that Con-
grcss propose An amendment to tho con-
| stltutiOn, that from and after January 1,
| 1900, no person shall vote in any terri
| tory OF the United States, or in any Stale,
who cannot read the constitution Of the
United Statos in the Bnglish language,
and has not paid all taxes legally re-
quired.
| Commenting upon the cowardly out
| rage Of whicn eolorcd mcr nave recently
been subjected in this Statc and in South
| Carolina, you say: "The l'rcse would be
more hopeful for tho South il all the in-
teligcnce and respectability of it agreed
with cx-GOVernor Bullock. But such is
not the case. Private advices from Barn
well, S. c., representing the highest pos
sible sources Of Southern culture and in
formation, show tone of justification Of
the lynching and shooting. y
The Press will let Ex-Governor Bullock,
a Southerner and an opponent of federal
interference, answer that plea" Thanks.
do not feel called upon to answer that
plea. There is no justification for unaw-
full methods. But 1 ana confident you
are mistaken when you assume that tho
Intelligence and respectablity," of the
South do not agree with me in favoring
tho supremacy Of the law as against mob
violence.
confidently assert that there Is not
man Of that claso in Georgia who will
publicly announce that he approves or
commcnds mob law. II any faplt lies at
our door it is that the ''intolleence and
rc8pcctabilty" the,,various communities
do not take concerted action to MAINTAIN
the majesty Of the law. The governor
cf South Carolina has offered large re-
wards for the arrest of the inhuman
despcradoes who dcfed the law. The
governor of this State has been equally
diligent, and both stand ready to sup.
port the courts and the officers of tho
law with the militia when necessary
What more could "federal iuterferbnce"
do RUFUS B. BULLOCK.