The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-17
A OLORED LAWYER.

Gives His Views On the Effect of the Re-
publican Force Bill.
ORLANDO, Fla. Sept. 16.-At the s~olicita-
ton of the Courier-Journsl correspondent
the following statement has been prepared
by John T. shuften, an educated colored
lawyer of this city. defining his position on
the force bill and his reasons thsrefor:
"There is not an honest, intelligent and
patriotic colored man in the south, who has
the interest and welfare of his race at heart
and sincerely desires its permanent p os-
perity in the southern states, who can SON
scientiously indorss any such legislation as
the measure known as the force bill. While,
NO doubt, there are many who would desire
more wholesome election laws and better
management at the polls and in voting pre-
cincts, yet they are not willing to shazard
the peace, safety and material prosperity of
seven millions of dependent people, by in
dorsing a policy which would have a direct
tendency to create disorder in every south
ern community. and at the same time par
alyze and indefinitely suspend every branch
of industry by which the colored population
IL supported and maintained.
The passage of the force bill would
place the negro population in a very serious
position in the south. They would have
all the odds against them in the great con-
test that would necessarily follow the ope. a.
- u buSA q hNA, uAl6Sb IQ6
negro played his part wisely, with an eve
single to his own true interest, he would
lose all and be irretrievably ruined in the
end.
N force bill, under the present circum-
stances. can place the race in that exalted
position IN the government which it Graves;
1t must reach that goal by or through some
other process, If 1t is to be attained At all.
n congressional interference can better
the political condition of affairs in these
states. for. it the negro, through a lack of
sufficient intelligence and Of an influential
moral courage. has demonstrates to the
country that he is as yet incapable of ex-
ercising the right of suffrage %{unless it is
propped up with bayonets and superin-
tended by a military dictatorship), it il in
deed better that he withdraw from acting
the political farce and await with patience
such a time as he. or his children. shall be
sufficiently qualified to DISCHARGE this high
trust with honor and credit to themselves,
without any unnecessary interference by
political tricksters or soheming politicians.
1.-The greatest obstacle to the elevation,
progress and usefulness Of the negro race
10 the allurinR and seductive influence of
politics. 1t is their evil g~erius-the Pan
dora's box from which all the contention
and strife between the two races have ever
emanated; it has been the overshadowina
cloud which has threatened and menaced
the peace and good order of this section for
the past twenty-five years; and it will con-
tlnue to harass and disturb the peace of
every southern community until the rerub-
llcan party ceases to fondle and humbup
tho negro. and leaves him free to turn his
attention from the ideal anu delusiye no.
lions of 4 political greatness to that of &C.
During a more perfect education and to
engage himself in those industrial pursuits
of life which alone can make him indie.
pendent hi respected.
IF such men AZ the Hon. Fred Douglass
and his thousands Of admirers were to de-
vote half as much time to looking after the
moral. intellectual and industrial uualitiss
OF the race here in the south as they have
spent in looking after its fancied political
interest. there would be no cause for the
present sorrow and grief of the president
over the wretched political condition of the
southern negro. JNo. 7. S~HUFrEN."
G., To Tho 10, u;uo