Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-21
Tho Stains of the Negro.

II is o significant fact that whilst the
late political campaign was in full blast
a State convention was in session in
Mississippi, called to frame new Con-
stitution which should put that State
safely under the control Of the whites,
though the blacks constitute large
majority OF the population. 1t is still
more significant fact that the northern
people seemed TO scquiesce In the no.
ton that such change in the Constitu-
ton Of Mississippi was allowable.
Speaker REED and one or two other
such bull-hesded malignants were the
only Republicans of high standing who
condescended to berate the Mississip-
plans for endeavoriDg to preserve their
civilization.
In this connection we quote below
paragraph or two from n long article in
the San Francisco Argonaut on the ne
gro question. These paragraphs point
TO the same sort of change in the public
opinion OF the North which has taken
place in the South. In both sections 1t
has been decided that the negro must
take back seat that he is not fit to be
q ruler and is not reliable voter. This
does not mean that he is to be treated
wrongfully. On the contrary, it may be
regarded as the first step towards the
friendly relations which before emanci-
portion and reconstruction days existed
between the two races. We suppose that
we shall not be betraying a secret If we
say that the article in the Ar9onaw
was inspired by Colonel JOHN s. MosBY.
Here is the specimen of it to which we
have just referred:
TIE RACE QURsTIox.-We must do
one thing or the other; ram negro
equality before the law down the Threats
of the twelve millions of the Caucasian
race of the South and make them even
hostile and enemies, or we must let them
settle the negro question. If let alone,
are we to believe that, tried by the
storms OF adversely, and most OF them
turning utterly away from slavery and all
that it meant as opposed to free labor
that this industrious, improving, brave,
and essentially American people are
incapable of fairly governing eight mil
lions of blacks? The whites are giving
these people work, and food, and cloth
ing they are taxing themselves milllons
of dollars yearly to educate them they
are doing nothing against them, except
protecting free white civilization against
African ignorance. Upon which side
will the whites Of the North stand {?
Which is the best for the nation-that
the majority of whites shall rule or a
majority composed of whites and ne
groes?
With malice toward none we must say
we believe in white rule. And we think
the great Republican party would do
better to go to its former position and
base this Government upon white peo-
pie primarily. II they do not pursue
this course some day they will be COM
PEELED by the logic of their position to
uphold by the armies of the nation black
rule over white people, ignorance and
vice over intelligence and virtue. In
this effort they will make as egregious a
failure as did the shareholders in forcing
their negroes on white laborers.
Francisco ArgonGut.
That reads as if MosBY had penned
rather than merely inspired the Ar9o-
nduPs article.
We begin to hope that the northern
people have determined to turn over the
race problem to the southern people.
II so, both the negro and the white man
will profit by that determination.