The Washington bee., 1897-11-20
POLITICAL INDEPENDENTS OE
THE NEGRO.


Editor of the BEE:
With your kindness wish to OCCUPY
small space in your paper in answer
to an article have just read pertain
ing to the disfranchising of my race in
the state of Louisiana.
AS | am we'll acquainted with the
managers and staff of your spicy news
giver, | lay nothing at your door. You
did no more than your honorable duty
in publishing the said interview of
distinguished citizen of the Gulf State,
Mr.. Hearsey. He tells the Christian
lied and civilized world that ballot
boxes are stuffed because negroes ex-
ercise the rights of franchise in his
State. Ii this statement is true,
blush and lament. But as SoutheI n
negro, knowing the whites and black,
as do, | am free to admit the truth {
few statements in the gentleman's in
terview. | admit the good, but the
devil can take the bad.
The white man of the South is the
negro's friend in trouble, adversely and
education. But | wish to ask MIR.
Hearsey few simple questions
constitution of Louisiana, as mentioned
in your interview, will it disqualify a
20 per cent of white and 60 per cent OF
the black vote?
Second. Will it republicanize, dem
ocratize or demoralize labor?
Third. If the black vote is taken
away, will that purify the ballot? II
SO, how is it in the North where black
ballot is hard to find?
Fourth. Is it not fact that the ne
gro vote in the past saved your State
from corrupt rulers and sent democrats
to Congress
Fifth. Is it retaliation for the white
man to give to the negro the fruits ol
the labor of their forefathers by help
ing to educate them
Sixth. Is not intelligent labor better
than ignorant labor, let it be white OF
black !?
Seventh. What great crimes have
the negro committed in politics did
| not the white man teach him all he
knows?
Eighth. Who protected your moth
ers, wives and daughters while you
,, were defending your cause?
| lioW WIllC iCIidlSs
were outraged throughout the entire
South by negroes left at home; were
! not your all left to our mercy?
Tenth. Did we not help you to builc
up your lost wealth?
IWish to inform the public that | an
not objecting to education and proper
| ty qualification, as every man ShoulC
know how to cast an intelligent ba lot
| am only sorry to see that such law
are made for the negro, and him only
am free to admit that such laws vii
be blessing instead of curse to m,
people. 1t will stimulate them to ge
an education and save money. If we
as American citizens, are required sue
qualifications, the government Shoul,
restore to us the money of the conStl
!, tuition. We don't seek to control Stat
or national affairs; we only ask TO
what justly belongs to us, and neve
get that. We are here and can't ge
. elsewhere We will divide our pol
tics and trust God for justice N
stumbling block will prevent the blac
eagle from stretching forth her wing:
When the negro cease to exercise tn
) rights of franchise, then comes the tn
of war betweenthe whites of the South
1t has been the negro vote that kel
white men together, and wherever til
: negro is disfranchised there you I'm
. hostility and much. confusion. tt
| negro has manfully submitted to ever
: besetment and damnable cruelty sine
emancipation. Nothing has MARIE
our progress yet with all of this "
{ do not wish to rule over anyone. 1t
= true we initiate the character ard trai
| of white men, the bad as we'll as tt
good. Let us alone, and in a Sho
time no one will be ashamed of OF
e citizenship. All we ask is equal rlgh
| in everv branch OF life. | know TIL
e we are divided on race lines; wheth,
| we like it or not, it exists. | believe
j the fatherhood of God and the broti
e erhood of mankind, regardless OF rae
e color, or previous condition OF serV
S tude.
!, wish to inform Mr.. Hearsey TIL
v the native Southern negro will new
! give the dominant race any cause f
4 alarm, only in time of lawlessness. "
6 will not submit to lynch law alWay:
:. it must be stopped, and that sPeedll
;. for too many inoffensive souls are Sc
i, to eternity without time to repent
e prove their innocence. You can vi
late the constitution of the Unite
# States, but you can never stop the l
e tellectual progress of the negro. v
; are coming eight and half mlllit
r strong. We are forgiving and mere
d full people to our enemies. We pr;
for those that spitefully use us. L
us alone, and, God being our helpe
in thirty more years we will be four
in the front ranks of all nations, in e
r cry capacity of human life exec
! lynching.
If our white friends North and Sou
n that fear negro domination will let Il
negro alone, and educate all men
n vote according to the dictates of pu
conscience. we will soon have dem