The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-06-08
THE VITAL ISSUE.

national convention, when asked recently
in regard to the platform to be adopted
in Minneapolis, went on to give an out
line Of the declaration which he thought
would be made by the convention. A
part of what he said is extre nelly inter
esting to the people of the South.
Il do not know said he, ''that the
Lodge federal election bill will be spe-
officially endorsed, but do know that
human rights plank of unquestioned
yigor will be presented to the conven-
ton"
Continuing Mr.. Clarkson says:
did it ever occur to you that vour
child might live to see as many negroes
as there are white people today? With
in the next three-quarters of a century
predict the colored population of this
country will be at least 65,O0O,0 900. And
does anyone mean to tell me thai they
shall be denied the elective franchise
guaranteed by the constitution? That is
the next great issue to be fought over, and
we might as well open our eyes to its
magnitude"
AS the negro is not deprived of the
elective franchise guaranteed bv the
constitution" Mr. Clarkson's interview
when reduced to it's last analysis. means
that the great issue to be fought over
is, whether or not the federal govern
ment will consent to put the bayonet at
the ballot boxes of the south, for the
purpose of intimidating It's voters, and
allow the republican party to attempt to
accomplish by force and bloodshed what
cannot be accomplished with a fair and
free ballot.
We may talk about tariff reform and
free silver and remark with considerable
emphasis that they are great and grow
ing issues, or we may say that this one
or tn one is paramount. But it all
amounts to nothing. The real issue be-
tween the two parties is one of sectional
ism. That is the cat IN the meal tub. or.
to speak more pertinently to the facts it
is the niger in the woodpile. We can't
escape that particular issue; it is para
mount and it seems to be permanent.
50 far as the two parties are concerned
there is no need for any platforms or
declamatory resolutions. The voters
know instinctively what each represents.
and they will ally themselves with each
regardless of the issues that play about
ON the surface, The democratic party
as it exists today is formed for the pur-
= pose of resisisting federal aggression and
opposing the spirit of sectionalism which
appeals to the prejudices of the war and
strives to tnrn the south over to an igno-
rant and irresponsible race led bv cor
rupt white men.
The white people of the south may as
well get themselves in readiness for a
renewal Of the old and oft-repeated con-
test. Whatever the platforms of the two
parties may say; whatever the names of
: the candidates may be, there will be out
t one issue-the southern issue, the sec
tional issue. Those of our friends who
imagine that the campaign is to be
fought out on the economic issues of the
: hour may as well lay aside their arcu-
ments and address themselves to the CEN
trail and vital questions of the hour,
namely: whether the time has come to
: surrender the south to the forces which
stand ready to despoil her state and
: overthrow her social organization.
This is the issue and the whole of it,
There may be pleasing display of rhet-
orical fireworks over the tariff, the silver
: question and the other issues that form
the burden of off-year discussions, but
4 l. will amount to nothing. 1t will spark
/ lie and go out and we shall find our
selves scrambling about in the embers of
the war and fighting against the effects
: of the combined and harmonious effort
t OF the republican forces to Africanize
g the South and to renew and complete
a the ruin begun during the reconstruction
! period.
This issue is of more importance than
all the rest put together 1t is an issue
that we cannot escape. 1t is all that
q holds the republican party together. The
! end and aim of its "war mission" is the
+ spoilation and degration of the south.
, While the republican organization pre-
, sents a formidable front the people here
cannot afford to divide on any issue, for
f all issues are insignificant in comparison
with this attempt to Africanize and de-