The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-11
The FORCE BILL.
What an Intelligent Colored Man of
Florida Says of 1t.

What an Intelligent Colored Man of
Florida Says of 1t.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Sept. 10.-The
Times Union tomorrow will publish the
following communication from John T.
Shuften, a colored lawyer of education,
ability and influence in Orange county:
ORLANDO, FLA, Sept 8, 1892
To the Editor of the Times Union
There is not an honest, intelligent and pa
triotic colored man in the south, who has
the interest and welfare Of his race at heart.
and sincerely desires its permanent pros
perity in the southern states. who can con-
scientiously indorse 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 hazard
the peace, safety and material prosperity Of
1000 900 of dependent people, by indorsing
a policy which would have a direct ten
ency to create disorder in every southern
community and at the same time paralyze
and indefinitely suspend every branch of
Industry by which the colored population
is supported and maintained.
The passage of the force bill would place
the negro population IN very serious posi-
ton in the south. They would have all the
odds against them in the great contest that
would necessarily follow the operation of
such measure, and, unless the negro played
his part wisely, with an eye single to his own
true interest, he would lose all and be ire
trievably ruined in the end.
No force bill, under the present circum-
stances, can place the race in that exalted
position in the government which it Graves;
it must reach that goal by or through some
other process, If it is to be attained at ALL
No congressional interference can better
the political condition of affairs in these
states; for, if the negro through lack of
sufficient intelligence and of an influential
moral courage, has demonstrated to the
country that he is as yet incapable of exer-
cising the right of suffrage unless 1t is
propped up with bayonets and superin-
tended by military Dictatorship, it is in
deed better that he withdraw from acting
the political farce and await with patience
such time az he, or his children, shall be
sufficie tly qualified to discharge this high
trust with honor and credit to themselves
without any unnecessary Interference by
political tricksters or scheming politicians.
The greatest obstacle to the elevation,
progress and usefulness Of the negro race Is
the alluring and seductive influence OF poll
itics. It is their evil genius-the Pandora's
box from which all the contention and strife
between the two races have ever emanated {;
it has been the overshadowing cloud which
has threatened aud menaoed the peace and
good order of this section for the past
twenty-five years; and it will continue to
harass and disturb the peace Of every south
ern community until the Republican party
ceases to fondle and humbug the negro, and
leaves him free to turn his attention from
the ideal and delusive notions OF political
greatness to that of acquiring more per-
feet education, and to engage himself in
those industrial pursuits Of life which alone
can make him independent and respected.
II such men as the Hon. Fred Douglass
and his thousands OF admirers we're to de-
vote half as much time to looking after the
moral, intellectual and indus trial qualities 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. JOHN T. SHUFTEN.