The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-03-08
THOUGHTFUL AND CONSERVATIVES.

S'S"aAo S<>Pseo'ACh7 Va NRHe |
ank johnson sets forth plainly the @
serious Ii noJ pS-rl4,V.s.--, 3, . n.i.l..s o
public affairs. 1t is probable that the
colored majority amounts at the pres
ent time TO 100000 in a total popula-
ton of 100000. These people are
coming to the State in a steady stream
from Northern Georgia and the Caro-
linas. while comparatively few whito
people are moving into the State.
mississippi holds to-day larger
negro majority, and in correspond
ing degree is more deeply, concerned
about the race and suffrage questions,
than any other Southern State. OF
course race antagonisms are not ex-
clusively political, but they are un-
questionably intensified by the pres
cnt political condition of the State.
"Any legal measures that would
take off this strain necessarily would
harmonize in measure the relations
between the races and thus improve
the general condition of public affairs.
"Tho Mississippi situation is regard
cd by all thinking men as full of peril,
and this opinion is not confined to the
advocates of a Constitutional Cenven.
ton.
al think we should admit the real
facts, the whole truth of our situation
and face 1t squarely, and do all that
wisdom and courage and justice can
accomplish in the direction of a Just,
legal and constitutional adjustment or
settlement of this question of para
mount Importance. We ought to
abandon the old Southern notion of
looking vaguely for some outside help
and rely absolutely upon ourselves.
at will come to this at last. The
Republican party and the National
Democratic party are equally far from
the policy of changing the suffrage.
"The fifteenth amendment will never
be repealed. Certainly there is moth
ing at present to indicate the prob
ability of such an event. The History
of this amendment shows that its
principle was of slow and gradual
growth and not the outcome of any
sudden impulse, fastened and devel-
oped by the refusal of the South to
accept the fourteenth amendment as
the basis of reconstruction. Any State
policy based on the speculation or
theory of the repeal of this amend
ment will prove fallacious and mis-
chieyious in the extreme.
"There is no remedy except in the
State itself. And all State remedial
agencies and powers are clrcumscribed
within the limits of the fifteenth
which simply prohibits
race discrimination in the regulation
of the suffrage; except In this the
power of a State is absolute and
plenary.
GAS pure question of constitutional
law, the State has full power to elimi-
nate ignorance, illiteracy and pauper-
ism from the electoral body. Whether
these powers will be exercised and put
in operation is another aud different
question.
"The white race at present is in alb
solute control of the government in
this State. 1t will dominate and con-
troll the Constitutional Convention.
And this race, which is the Democratic
party Of the State, will hold in its
hands this power to select aud define
an electoral body for the State. What
1t will do with the power, aud within
what limits and to what extent It will
apply it, is question of craftsmanship,
which should be treated with boldness,
candor and justice.
at is important that the white peo-
pie should realize the fact that nothing
can be accomplished Of any value with
out sacrifice on their part.
ave must make the best of our sit
iuation, rely upon ourselves, aud in
whatever we do recognize the spirit
and letter of the Federal Constitution.