Telegram-herald., 1891-01-05
rm aAcn QUESTION.


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reference - tAs saelset 81 feasrxl
eontrol Q; slsetsons visa 10 say that
sm opposed TO tas passing Of the pend
ing Congressional blil. wAeh = de-
sgaed 10 establish Federal election
las. for the essensibls purpess OF pro-
ts<sing the Negro IN The rixht Of fran
ehlse IA The southern ss4tss Of cur
Federal unioR. Is Is t<yead the
power Of the Legislature. judicial o.
military authorities Of . combination OF
States, or Of the national government,
10 execute any legislative enactment
for the sgxrsndlssnaent Of the eoiored
race, to the dlsadvsntags or detriment
of the Angie. American white race, that
dominates over federal unioa.
Ii i not political question to be de-
cided by any political party. but IT IS
race question, 70 be decided by all OF
the political parties OF both races, who
are naturally antagonistlc toward each
other, on all questions. where SOCIAL and
political equality and human rights are
concerned. This 10 no vague theory.
Ii dates back to the age of the building
OF the tower of Babel; and the confn-
sion OF tongues or languages. since
which time the swords OF the Ethiopian
aud other dark skinned races have been
battling against the white races. notoniy
for supremacy and power, but tor ex-
termination. The same inherent spirit
lies dormant in the hearts and minds OF
colored men today. They do not for
get their years Of bondage and involun-
tary seryitude, and the uneducated
and ignorant of their race, and Will
embrace every opportunity TO place
their feet upon the necks OF the white
race. There are now about $50, 600 ne
groes in the Southern States who can
neither read nor write. Neither do
they understand the English alphabet.
And on tho other hand there are about
500 900 white citizens IN the same states
who are not able to read and write.
Therefore, the only means of settling
this vexed question Is for Congress TO
draft an amendment TO the constitution
establishing an educational require
ment, as basis of qualification for the
elective franchise, and submit 1t to
all of he State Legislatures
for ratification; this, together with a
clause based upon the said educational
standard, will settle the question OF
representative districts both North and
South. and will be accepted by both
races as O means of relief from the en-
croachments OF political aspirants upon
the rights of the electors.
We had twenty-five years experience
with Congressional and political maDip-
ulation, since the adoption OF the Fiji
teenth Amendment to the Constitution
of the United Safes. the result of which
has been an utter failure to protect the
colored electors of the South, and
nearly all of the National policies, plat
forms and promises which have been
inaugurated by the Republican party,
have been defeated by reason OF the
hatred existing between the uneduated
masses in the Southern States. The
fact that the Chief Executive of
these United States is today utterly
powerles as to the execution Of the laws
of Congress, las prescribed i'll the fif-
teenth amendment), shows that 1t is
time for the Republican party toretrace
its steps and outline course which
will restore the confidence of the op-
pressed electors of both races of our
National Union and redeem its broken
pledges of protection, which it has pro-
claimed in every National Republican
platform since the close of the war of
the rebellion.
In conclusion / will state that /
speak from personal knowledge of
the character of the Southern people.
resided among them for a period Of
five years before the war, was there
during the war and remained there for
two years after the close Of the war and
travelled more or less through many
of the Northern States during the
ten years preceding the years 1881,
making total of about twenty years
acquaintance with the Southern people.
also have many personal friends
scattered over the Southern States,
with whom I have frequently con-
yersed, and have talked with the edu-
Gated, as we'll as with the ignorant COL
ored people; which enables me to
speak understandingly, and, l trust,
with unprejudiced motives.
Very truly yours,