Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-02-20
Ex-Governor Chamberlain on the
Race Problem.

10 i y y y . F.
BosToN, February 9.-Thc re.
marks of Ex- Governor ID. III. Cham.
berlain at the Boston Reform Club
on Saturday evening, in regard to
tho race problem have created even
a greater sensation than that part oi
his speech about pensions, which has
been already telegraphed. Mr.
Chamberlain's views were mnch the
same as those Of Mr.. Grady, but
were presented from an entirely diff
ferent standpoint, and his speccl,
was remarkable not so much for the
brilliancy of its rhetoric as for the
force of it's logic. Tie following are
some of the moro remarkable pas.
sages:
NO NEW PROBLEM.
But, Mr.. President and gentlemen
hasten to say few words on
another question which is just now
more talked Of than the pension
question. Precisely Why the race
question or problem should attract
it's present share of attention I am
not quite able to see. 1t is the same
question we have had since 1867.
The two races live side by side to-day,
as they have done for more than
twenty years. Especially is it the
same question it has been since 1876,
when the policy of direct physical
support of Southern State Govern
ments was abandoned. No new ele
ments have lately come into this
problem. 1t is the old story Of two
races-the one educated, self-reliant
proud, accustomed to rule, accus-
toned to assert its power by force
when deemed necessary; the other
race uncducated, inexperienced in
self-control or elf-government, with
our race pride, without history,
accustomed to servilc rclatiops, un-
used to the arts and spirit of self
defense. For now twcnty-three
years the latter race has by law been
made the equal of tho former in
political power, man for man. In
three States, and in many other
portions of States, in numerous
counties and communities, this legal
equality of the black race, so far as
laws could do SO, put the political
control in the hands of that race.
The result, shortly stated, is that
this legal power or supremacy is
nowhere to-day the actual power.
The negro nowhere rules. A higher
law than that enrolled on parchment,
higher certainly in its force and
power, has blottcd out our statutes
and reversed our calculations based
on written cnactmcnts. Surely here
is food for reflection, especially for
our Republican party friends. Let
us see how this result has come
about.
Mr.. Chamberlain then briefly re-
capitulatod the history of the failure
of the carpetbag governments in the
South, showing that they were
deliberately abandoned to their fate
by the Republican party, thus de-
claring to the world that "the Re
publican party deliberately declared
that it was unwisc, unconstitutional,
impolitic and impossible, to maintain
the Southern State Governments by
the physical power of the Federal
Government"
CONDITION OF THE NEGRO.
Speaking of what is best to be
done about the negro and his rights,
Governor Chamberlain said:
What is the matter, I ask boldly,
with the negro now2 I come from
the South tonight. A business
crrand has again taken me to the
State which was my home for twelve
years. | have mingled again with
the people whom then knew 50
well. What do ! find? I find that,
since 1876, both races in South Caro-
lima have prospercd. ! find the pros
pcrity of the negro has advanced
pari passu, more than pari passu,
with the white man. / find the
hcgro more sclf-rcspccting, better
provided with schools, far better
acquiring property more rapidly,
more industrious, more ambitious for
education and property, than he was
before 1876; and | have come here
tonight, at not a little Inconvenience
to proclaim this in the ear of Bos-
toms philanthropy and Boston's
patriotism. ] proclaim it because it
is true, and because if any man liv-
ing owes IL to himself and to the