Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-08-27

part of the general government, by
means of election laws or any other
measure, to pave the way for such
dominance, will be rendered nugatory
by combined opposition. In fact, any
law like that aimed at in the Lodge
bill, would be failure over the larg-
er part of the south. 1t is unwise to
enact laws that cannot possibly be
enforced. Laws that remain a dead
letter on the statue book are dis
grace to government better that
they were never enacted. Laws, to
be operative, must reflect popular
opinion. Since opinion among the
ruling race in the south is against
the pending federal election bill, or
the supervision of congressional cleo
ton by officers of the general govern
ment, it is useless to enact il into law.
The time is not ripe for the success of
such measure, and if the time shall
ever ripen for it, the measure will be
unnecessary. When the whites in
the cities and industrial centers are
clearly in the majority, taking the
south at large, there will be little
more opposition to negro suffrage.
When that time shall come, it will be
found that there is law enough with
out furthur legislation in the premises.
The object aimed at by the party
in power is plainly to capture an in
creased number of congressman, and
to influence the next presidential
election. That is laudable enough
from party standpoint. 1t is an
issue of Importance and very alluring
to the party managers. But people
of the whole country, north and south.
are most interested in peace and pros
perity. They want the politicians to
keep their hands off the south until
that section of magnificent resources
can attain full measure of progress.
They do not want the gain already
made in that respect jeopardized by
hasty and unwise legislation. The
white people of the south demand to
be let alone until they can fully un-
derstand their footing, and ascertain
their industrial, political and social
status among the communities of the
world. Their section is passing
through a transition, an evolution the
results of which cannot yet be clear
ly foreseen. They want the clouds to
roll by before they are required to
adopt a new and radical order of
political and social things. The
nation should certainly be willing to
accord them this freedom from inter-
ferance.
If the negro race of the south were
being crushed by the whites, there
might be call for national protection.
But as a matter of fact, aside from
the voting privilege, the colored peo-
pie have all the rights Of laborers in
any section of the country they can
earn wages, buy and hold land, or 60
into any business they choose. This
is their opportunity. If their leaders
were wise they would advise their
colored brethren to let politics alone,
keep away from the polls, amass
wealth, pursue thrifty life, educate
their children, and thus become an
important and esteemed section of the
community. Unrestricted privilege
at the polls and in the offices Of public
trust would follow in due time. If
they did but know it, they should be
glad that this peaceful way of ad-
vancement is accorded to them by the
constitution and laws, and that no one
wishes or aims to take it from them,
not even their old masters. North
western Lumberman.