Smyrna times., 1890-03-26
Future of the Negro.
GOVERNOR BIGGS WANTS HIM TO LEAVE
TOBACCO, WHIsKEY AND POLITICS
ALONE.

In response to an inquiry from the
Philadelphia Inquirer, as to his Opin-
ION OF the future of the cOlOred man,
Governor Biggs writes
To THE EDITOR OF THE INQUIRER
The fifteenth amendment to the
Federal Constitution enfranchised the
negro and made him a voter. | have
always had my doubts about the wis
dom and policy of that amendment.
The white man and the cOlOred man
enjoy the same political rights and
both are eligible to office Can both
races live happily together and enjoy
the same political rights? Is there an
example of any nation on the face of
the globe which has possessed equal
privileges, been harmonious, happv
and prosperous ?
In my judgment, in this republic OF
ours, the two races will never har-
mOnize, and either the white man will
rule the cOlOred man or the colored
man will govern the white man. The
two will not and cannot exist on the
same equality. One or the other race
must predOminate. Hence every
white man ought to adhere to his own
color and race. Is the colOred man
any happier or better cared for, or his
morals improved, since his enfran-
chisement than before? To send the
cOlOred people out of the country is
not practical. The proposition is an
absnrdity. | suppose there are TO-
10000 of cOlored people in the United
States to-day. Their labor is worth to
our republic millions annually. Some.
body must work. All cannot be con
gressmen, doctors, lawyers or divines.
Let then the cOlOred man remain in
the states. Pay him for his labor
Protect him in all his civil and polit-
ical rights, both by statute and Fed
eral law. Lee them educate their own
children at their own expense, and
teach them to throw away the cigar
the pipe, the whiskey bottle and the
tobacco plug. Instead of turning pol
iticians, wasting time seeking office,
let them apply themselves to indus
triOus habits and to economy.
And remember that the decree ha:
been proclaimed "By the sweat o.
| your brow you shall eat your bread. ,
Man must toll from the cradle to the
| tomb.
Solomon says that if you have a wise
man among you let him be your ruler.
Let the cOlOred man understand that
Let him understand also that the white
race of America will never consent tC
be ruled by the African. l have NJ
unkindness tOware the colOred man
l want to employ him and pay him an
honest dollar for an honest dav'i
work. Let him remain here with US
Treat him kindly. Let him procur,
his own home by his own toll and fru
! gality; this government will neVel
give him "a mule and forty acres o
land" But all the time patriots anC
philanthropists will install in tn,
minds of the cOlOred man that he mus
labor, ecOnOmize, be frugal, and alway
remember at the end of every yea
save something of his hard-earneC
earnings. No true man would EN-
barass the South. She has passer
through the furnace Of afilictiOn. Sh
wants good government. She want
the cOlOred man to stay where he wa
born. By his willing hands come an
nually not less than one thousand mil
lions of dollars of agriculture
products.
Let the white man of the Soutl
teach the cOlOred man industry, sobri
ETY. and economy. Then the probleI
is solved, particularly if he will tur
his back on all carpet baggers and ad
venturers who seek to kiss his han
for his vote. Let white men fill tn
Ofices-men of high character and III
bending integrity-and the race ques
ton and the problem is solved.
Respectfully, B. T. BIGGs,
Governor of Delaware.