The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-02-13
TIE RACE PROBLEM.
EN-Govcrnor Bullock, OF Georgia, Calmly
Considers tho Case.


Considers tho Case.
To the editor of the New York Press:
In your able editorial Of the 18th, Gre
spcct for Lawful Methods" reference is
kindly made to myself by name, with
quotation from n recent card Of mine
published here, demanding that the con
trolling elements in our communities
exert themselves to prevent mob violence.
Commenting upon my objection to new
federal election laws for the South, you
say: 'lle has SO far not even expressed
aoy willingness to see a Si!nple act for
the use Of the Australian ballot reform
system In clccting members Of the IIJuso
OF Representatives placed oD the statute
books." etc. Permit me 10 say at once
that now "express a 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 ovor
this subject has never been questioned hy
me. | have doubted and etlll doubt the
policy OF a Republican Congress adopt
lcGlslatlon&lOr the purpose Of overcoming
Al alleged suppression Of tue cclorcI
vote. Past experience should satisfy
every one that if such an evil cXSse it
cannot be overcome in this way. Such
eGIslatlOn sOlidllies the whi'cs hcgc in
InditfcrcnCe 10 the civil and political
rights Of the blacks. II the whites be-
llcvC thai III blacks arc the special
wards OF thc nation, they will feel TO-
llcvcd OF the duty resting upon them as
citizens in their several communities to
enforce and maintain the ncgro'a 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, ana the Republican ma
jorlty in Congress was lost.
Believing, rs do, that the Republican
policy on all economic issues is best for
the prosperity and upbuilding Of this
section Of our country, my purpose is to
80 whatever is 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.
iicial result here, and are not approved
by the busircss sentiment Of the North.
| can say without cgOtism 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
hl'i no night TO hold Office, and expelled
| ali It's Col0rcd lntmbcrs, over thirty ssin
numbcr, Against this protested to tho
| Legislature at the lime and subsequently,
carried the cuH, before Congress by
memorial. The result was the adoption
of the fifteenth amendment and tho re-
storation Of the colorcd men to their
seats. We have also had here the ex-
pc icncc OF unlimited federal authority
and federal forces at elections.
In tho light Of this experience, sup
plementcd by observation during the
years which have intervcncd, 1 most
solcmnly assure you that the only hope
for complete, perfect and willing &C
| quicscehca in and support Of the black
mans rights 40 a citizen is to be found
! by putting the responsibility upon and
leaving tho 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 jnsti-
tutions here, as with you, is from open
ing the ballot box to ignorance. The
| "pCGbicm' IS how to get clear results
| lrCm mudSy sources.
Leaders Of oil parties have approx I'd
| the Australian ballot reform system, and
where tried in this country tho expert
mcnt has been successful. There can be
no good reason urged why Congrcss
should not provide an election law to be
used in all national elections, uniform ia
all the States. But do not attempt one
system for Georgia and another for
l,,,. u l.
solving the "problcm," viz: that Con-
| gross propose An amendment to tho con
| stituti"n, that from and after January I,
1900, no person shall vote in any terri
tory OF the Uuited States, or in any Sta c,
| United States in the English language,
and has not paid all taxes legally re-
quircd.
Commenting upon the coward.y out
rage Of whicn colorcd mcr nave recently
been subjected in this Stall and in South
Carolina, you say: "Thc l'rcss wuu'H be
more hopeful for tho South il all the ia.
teliigcnc" ard responsibility of it agreed
with cX-Gnvrrnor Bullock. But such is
not the case. Private advlccs from Barn
well, 5. c., representing the highest pos
sible souI ces Of Southern culture and in
formation, show a tone Of justification OF
the lynching and shooting.
The Press will let Ex-Governor Bullock,
n Southerner and an opponent of federal
interference, answer that ploa." Thanks.
I do not feel called upon to answer that
plea. There is no Justification for unlaw-
full methods. But | ana confident you
are mistaken when you assume that the
"lntclligcncc and spcctabilily," of the
South do not agree with me in fGvoring
the supremacy Of tho law as against mob
violence.
confidently assert that there is not q
man Of that class in Georgia who will
publicly announce that he approves or
cornmcnJs moo law. If any fault lies at
our door it is that the Sin diligence and
rcspcctabilty" 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
dcapcradocs who dcticd the law. The
governor of this State has been equaIl3
; diligent, and both stand ready to sup
port the courts aud the officers of the
law with the miiitis when necessary.