The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-06-05

lteiilgent negroes OF the SUuth
agree with us, that intelligence
must rule. There was but one col
ored man in our late Constil uiion.
al Convention, and he strongly ad-
vocaled an intelligent qualifica-
ton for voting, pure and s.raig ht.
His name is Montgomery. and he
either had more sense or patriot
! ism, or more Of both Than the ma
! joriiy of the Convention. for his
wise counsel was taken. lie knew
and said so, that this measure
would put his race hopelessly in
The minority.
We have heard Of the utter
wreichedness of the negroes in the
South | sat one Sunday morning
on my poitico and saw eighty
three spring vehicles 90 by with
colored people going to church,
and all of them dressed decen!ly.
Does that look like they are
ground in drtl There is not on
;he face of the earth an equal
number of peasanlry so well To do
and so happy. The negroes are
not so far in the woods as some of
yon think.
But we have heard Of their i'm
moralitieS. Mr.. President, am
bound TO admit that they Go not
stand as firmly by
THE DECALoGUE AS THEY DO BY
JORDAN.
But | have said in Mississippi,
and repeat it here, that the white
people of the South have stolen
more in twenly five years than the
negroes have.
During one administration IN
Mississippi we had detalcationS
amounting to 100000. That would
buy a heap of chickens. Here
there was tremendous applause,
which continued, round after
round. When quiet was restored
The speaker continued. And yet,
brother president, The Soul hern
people are very moderate in their
stealing, compared with you North
ern people. What was that about
your Fidelity Bank in this city ?
You steal banks and railroads
What is Wall street but a com
merce of dishonesty? Loud and
prolonged applause, and with
cries, "that is So"
Negroes immoral and low and
degraded? Yes, that is so in part,
too much so. But what about the
white people in your great city ?
There is more squalor and wretch
edness in the back streets of Gin
cinnati, and meanness carried on
here in one night than among the
negroes of Mississippi in a week.
Now, you reporters be certain 10
put that down. Ii you haye got
that here is more.
Something has been said about
the social impurity OF the negroes,
and it must be confessed. But
how about the white people? ? |
read yesterday morning of three
divorces here in tins city and this
morning two.
When a negro wants TO readjust
his domestic relations he does not
see ary sense in spending $50 on
il he Just goes along and does it.
How much worse in the sight of
God than the way II is done with
yous T"None," none,r rang out ,
over all the house. hope TO see
he day when we can send some
pure negro missionary up here TO
,traighien the North out in this di- {
rorce business. Your example is
Ill wrong, and the South is begin !
ing 10 follow your evil ways. Q
After awhile We will be no better {
han you are.
This home question is, after all, |
he great question for all races {
md all sections.
| read this morning In the Ga j
ette, that since lie English spar I
ows had come in contact with civ d
lization, they were losing The in I
tinct of nest. building When \
ven the birds are corrupted, what +
S to happen only God knows.
Ii is the saloon, the love of mon.
y, every form of corruption
IgaInst all our homes, and until S
he white people do better. it is i
lot worth while TO concentrate all
eIorm measures on the heroes. r
Brother President, l think the c
negroes need three things. i
They need their existing schools
trenglhened aud training schools {
md industrial schools multiplied.
They need the kindly feeling
md sympathetic help of their /
Southern neighbors at every time. 4
And they need, brother presi !
lent, they need, they dreadfully
reed, deal of
LETTING ALONE. s
They are coming along. They have j
heir churches and preachers and 7
heir own ways. as they have a .
right to have. But il is said that
heir meetings are all excitement.
No doubt they do boil over many ]
lines. q
But look at some white churches. {
There Is the great organ, with iour s
yodless SINNERS to sing, and a cold I
1looded preacher. IL has always
,eemed 10 me that such an ar
is all the harm the dew
ought 10 do any church, aud |
lad rather trust 10 the warm
learted services OF a negro con-