Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-31
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. 81, 1890.
NO MEASURE SUGGESTED.


Senator ingalls, of Kansas, ON the resolu-
ton of Senator Butler of South Carolina to
provide for the emigration Of the colored
people from the South, with much interest.
Interest, because Of the fact that he is I'M
deniaby an able man, and equally unques-
tionably the representative of large body
of the public opinion in the Republican
States. We had looked to him, perhaps
rather vaguely, for some suggestion of solu-
ton for the problem with which the ex-
slave States-more especially those of the
far South-are pregnant. After reading his
speech carefully we must confess to sharp
disappointment. Not for it's lack of ability;
it is able enough, it is eloquent enough.
But, alas, it shoots over the head Of the
matter and its meteoric force explodes miles
above the PLAIN everyday transactions that
aregoing on, on the Southern ground beneath
it. 1t is a theoretical skyrocket fired into
q metaphysical sky. In such a speech a
practical suggestion would almost seem out
of place and, appropriately. We find none.
1t is the same old Egyptian demand for
bricks without straw. 1t is the same de-
mand that the engine of law shall run
smoothly where there is not even road-bed
laid 1t is the demand for miracie-that
a law shall create citizens; that out of the
signing and sealing of an act Of Congress
shall spring into life fullequipped Amer
lean citizen, ballot in hand, and intelli-
gence enough to cast it for the good Of the
State and Nation. Weglve from the Con-
qressionM Record the close of his speech:
81 appeal to the South to try the experiment
of Justice. Stack your guns, open your ballot
boxes, register your voters, black and white;
and if, after the experiment has been fairly
and honestly tried, it appears that the African
race is incapable of civilization, if it appears
that the complexion burned upon him by
tropic sun is incompatible with freedom, l
pledge myself to consult with you about
some measure of solving the race prob
lem, but until then nothing can be done.
The citizenship Of the negro must be absolute
ly recognized. His right to vote must be ad-
mitted, and the ballots that he casts must be
honestly counted. These are the essential
preliminaries, the indispensable conditions
precedent to any consideration of the Interior
and fundamental questions of race supremacy
or of race equality in the United States, North
or South. Those who freed the slaves ask
nothing more; they will be content with moth
lHS 1858. Lit 1llllSt Ut
This is the starting point, and this the goal.
The longer it is deferred the greater will be
the evaporation and the more doubtful will
be the final result
The States at the South hare tried the
experiment Of justice IF it can be called
justice, the giving to an emancipated slave
wholly unprepared by antecedents to use the
ballot, the privilege of voting on the wei
fare, the prosperity, and the laws Of the
rest of the people of the STATED The ex-
pertinent was tried to it's full in the eX-
slave States, unwillingly tried with the
bayonet behind the ballot-box, but tried to
its full. What, was it in the full ? The
history of South Carolina N orth Carolina
Louisiana, and Mississippi in reconstruct
ton days, when the experiment was made,
can answer the question. No man expects
those American States to go through that
experience again. But that is what. in
effect, MI. ingalls, asks. Forgetting Or
ignoring the disastrous result of the abso-
lutely free exercise Of the ballot by the Ne
groes in the eX-Slave States twenty years
ago, he demands that it be tried again. In
his line and mode of argument he strikir gly
reminds us Of the argument and attitude of
the Tory party in England towards Ireland.
They completely ignore the situation in that
unhappy country and yet demand that it
shall present the appearance and record of
happy, fairly governed country, in accord
ance with the laws of parliament. MI |
ingalls, totally ignores the South's trouble |
of having totally illiterate ex-save popu-
lation. fired with a remembrance of years
OF slavery, and demands that the ex-slave
shall be at once treated as a qualified
citizen with the usual intelligence, national
feeling. and interest in the community that
such citizen has. This is short-sighted
craftsmanship.
Noone at the South holds that the African
race is incapable of Civilizations 1t is
being civilized, slowly, but surely. But
those who have to deal with him hold that
he should not assume the responsibilities
OF civilization till he is civilized. No one
at the South holds that black complexion
is incompatible with freedom y But those
who have to deal with this black complex
toned race, hold that the mere fact of |
freedom does not qualify any man, white
OF black. for citizenship, and that it is, and
has been. mistake fraught with calamity
to make an ignorant slave citizen, because
of his black complexion, as the United
States government did TWENTY-FIVE years
ago.
1t is this browning mistake of his party:
this mistake that startled the civilized
world with it's cruelty and blindness; this
mistake that was not made in enfranchis-
ing the serf in even autocratic Russia, that
Mr.. ingalls, hopes to justify, by the drastic
prescription fol- the ex-slaye States, with
which he closes his speech. In this free and
enlightened Republic, hesays, You ex-sIaye
States go under the yoke Of ignorance and
corruption again and see what comes of it,
and Il will pledge myself to consult with
you about some measure to solve the raceI
problem - You, the body of the intelIi-l
gence of South Carolina, North Carolina
Louisiana, Mississippi and the rest, once
more surrender your governments after
your eleven years of fearful experience,
from 1865 to 1876, to the Negro population
differed by a few white men, and if that
fails come to me and / Will-what-I will
''consult - with you.
If the solution of the race problem at the
South is still to lie between the men who
hold Mr.. ingalls, views and the men Who'll
murder negroes at the South, we should
despair indeed of a healthful issue. But. |
fortunately for the country, there is class
of Americans, North and South, who hold
with neither Of these, and who believe in |