The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-05-14

race of six millions OF people on their knees be.
fore God askins for help aud protection.
and which God in some way will SEQ
and %o ssv TO tSo ns 10 god5 the south
aud eloquentl in tongue, the Republican party
could not give you what you ask even II IL
wanted 10 do IL. The interest OF the Higher
Power than any OF this world in ths affairs of
men Is not in any question OF tariff or reform
IN ofiiceholding. q 81 does not measure nations
by wealth or by tariffs. iIe has littls patieucs
with nation going persstontly wrong Ton
years OF wrong toward tins weak i'm any nation
are ton centuries in the eyes Of God Let US
roineinber also that 10 is an nphOrism OF the
ages that an unsettled question has no pity for
the repose OF n nation. The negro Is IN America
aud 20 stay. He is an American. He loves his
country. One hundred ana cighty-two thou
sand black men stood soldiers I'm the loyal
army Offering their lives to help save the life OF
the Nation.
WHAT WILL THE SOUTH 10?
The black man Is a human being and he IA n
voter. WHAT is the south going 10 do with him ?
Its people, and even its best people say we can
settle this question better than the nation eau
Perhaps 10 Is right. Perhaps the nation should
grant that. But never can this nation be ex-
cused ON its conscience from wafchins u see
that the question is ia process OF settlement.
and insisting that in some way IL shall be set :
tied. There can DO no doubt that the south
wants it settled. Every material interest II has
Is involved. The very question OF safety in its
homes is involved, well honor. Mere
words OF eloquence will neither set le IL nor
begin TO settle IL, abate the interest md
duty OF the nation To 500 il settled There ia a
bright spot here and there in the South.
A few days ago the Charleston NeVs and
Courier, in speaEingof this subject, said boldly
1T is useless for Southern statesmen TO con-
denim the Republican method OF solving the ne
gro problem, unless they can suggest better
method" This il the whole thing. Ii states
the Northern position. The nation has n right
To ask the South how ii is going TO settle this
question, and when IL is going TO settle IT,
Meantime the negroes the most patient race
the earth has ever known, n race that in all its
Ignorance is lifting its hands TO the light, n
race that in all its weakness believes in prayer
a race that has faith that IL has the protection
OF tho common Father OF us all, Is, with n
pathos and a sublimity which all must admire
and many might initiate, waiting under the
blast OF tho storm tor the solution. The negro
feels the coercion OF the situation. He has
largely given up his right TO hold office He saws
IL that will help TO allay southern prejudice
against him on account OF his ignorance he ia
willing to wait until his son Ia educated and
Mill be an intelh GENT voter. The free school is
very dear 60 the negro.
THE BLAIR BILL.
The Blair bill, which Republican United
States Senate n few days ago defeated, cannot
long be defeated. That measure, or something
like it, is the forerunner OF the settlement OF
this question. The South insists thai IL is the
ignorance OF the negro TO which IL objects Then
let the American school come and take away
that ignorance and let the Republican party
which Is the traditional foe TO ignorance not
turn its back these six millions OF people
holding up its hands TO be educated until 1t
shall be worthy of the ballot. Meantime the
negro is right, and eternallv right, in his pres
ent position. He has largely surrendered the
right to hold Office, but he Is willing 90 con-
cede that he has not the right still 10 decide
between the white men who are 10 hold the
offices. Let every Republican realize that any
thing else than brave meeting of this question
and IA brave honest settlement OF it is not only
treason 20 the Republican party but perhdy TO
the Nation. Let the Republican party every
whore, If the South is willing to ask for nation
al aid TO help educate its ignorant inhabitants
not fuse to listen To the cry. Ignorance in
the South is not question OF color In the
most OF the States, for every three black men
who cannot read there is one white man. Let
the Ropublican party, which is the party OF the
school house and of education, not be dumb 10
this cry. Let it support anything that will
bring education everywhere in place of ignor-
ance.
1t is time now for action in the Southern ques-
tion. II the South cannot or will not settle it
the United States and will Neither the
present time nor the future will forgive the Re-
publican party il, while il has complete con-
troll of the Government, il does not provide for
fair election OF Congressman and Presidential
Electors in the South. Whatever changes may
come as TO the House, the Senate is to be
Republican for eight or ten years, and therefore
any legislation enacted now by Republican
Congress and approved by Republican Presi.
dent is sure TO stand for several years. The
high duty now resting upon it the Republican
conscience should not shirk and dare not in
honor eyalO.