The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-01-17
THE SOUTHERN PROBLEM.
0Avsry Maintained Despite the Emanc
patton Proclamation.

A
patton Proclama alton.
The Tribune recently advanced the
opinion that the best solution of the
race problem In the South would be in
providing an opportunity for the migra-
ton Of the redundant blacks from the
eongested districts, and suggested that
as Hayti would afford the right kind of
n outlet it might be the part of wis
1om for the United States to secure q
protectorate over that island for the
purpose stated. Three Southern Sem
ators-Butler of South Carolina, Call of
Florida and Gibson of Louisiana-also
suggested migration as a remedy. But,
strangely enough, this cure for the race
trouble is not received with favor by
Southern journals. They do not deny
that it is feasible or contend that any
great difficulties would stand in the way
Of reducing the excess of black popula-
ton in that manner, in the cotton
States, so that the whites would feel
everywhere in q secure majority, and
have no longer any pretended necessity
to nullify the right to suffrage to
escape NEGRO rule" It is not denied
that in the manner proposed the cotton
South could be relieved of its surplus
blacks, but it Is clear enough that
while the whites Of the cotton States
would be glad to get rid of negro voters
they are not prepared to surrender any
negro labor or have it made dearer by
diminishing the supply.
The Little Rock ark Gazette, pub
lished near the Congressional district
where John NJ. Clayton was murdered
because he dared attempt to investigate
the Democratic election frauds by which
his defeat had been accomplished, has
the temerity to say that the Southern
negro 'can vote and only in rare in
stances does his ballot fail to counts
II so what grounds have the Southern
whites for complaint and what possible
reason is there for the existence Of a
race problem?- If the negroes are
free to vote and their ballots are fairly
counted they certainly have no occasion
to complain, and as the whites have
entire possession of all the Southern
States and govern them at will what do
they mean by expressing fears of
NEGRO domination when no such state
of affairs exists now? According to the
Gazette the negroes vote in the cotton
States and their ballots are counted,
and yet there is universal white rule
and supremacy even where the blacks
are in great majority. The claim Of
the Gazette is transparent falSehood,
refuted not only by the election returns
of Arkansas, but by the frank admis-
sion of other Southern papers as we'll as
BY the general cotton-State alleged fear
OF negro rule
The Nashville American has at least
tore candor than the Little Rock Ga
Sette. The American says that 'the ne
gro in the South, and especially in the
cotton States, is curse because he is
armed with the ballot But how can
he be a curse or an infection to the
whites If, as the Gazette claims, he votes
and has his ballot honestly counted and
the whites nevertheless have complete
rule? The American does not pretend
that the negroes now have or will be
permitted to exercise in the future the
power that belongs to free and fair
ballot, but says succinctly: "The negro
is fit for labor-he is not and never will
be fit for rule" AS voter he is sup
pressed or tricked by fraud in every 10
cality where his ballot might endanger
white Democratic rule, but his labor is
wanted nevertheless by the men who de-
fraud him at the polls, and for that rea-
son they will not favor plans for his mi
grafton to Hayti or other countries
where he might improve his condition.
Pronouncing the negro ian evil and
good, necessity and curse" the Amer
lean says ''he is almost indis-
pensable because his is the only
labor the Southern States have ever
known"-as the lazy whites will not
work when they can possibly avoid it.
Performing nearly all the work and pro-
ducing nearly all the wealth gained an
nually in the South the black man is to
be denied any representation in the
making Of the laws in Congress or else
where or in the administration of JUS
tice, and permitted only 70 toll on such
terms as an idle and tyrannical govern
ing class may prescribe. Such state
of affairs amounts practically to slavery
in one Of its worst forms. When South
ern whites show themselves unwilling
to cure possible political evil Of which
they complain by removing surplus
blacks, but insist on retaining them so
as to have plentiful supply Of cheap
labor, they show that negro slavery in
effect though not in name is what they
have at heart; and in order that they
may ''enioy without working" they pro-
pose that the negroes shall work with
out enjoying" and to secure that end
the laws and the constitution Of the
United States are to be nullified. This
is the only deduction that can be drawn
from the Nashville American-the DEM
ocratic organ Of Tennessee.-Chicago
Tribune.
~