Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-07

In the following letter. Mr.. Dawson
answers a criticism made in fridays
Dispatch upon his article in the Feb
ruary no. Of the North American Re
view:
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
In reading the kind notice which you
this morning took of my article in the
current issue of the North American Re
view, entitled. "Win the South BE Solid
Againg'-by the way, this was a caption
given to it by the editor Of the North
American Review. not by myself judge
that you somewhat differ with me in
my conclusions. l do not know how
ever. that we are so wide apart after
ALL and ] shall be glad II you VIII per-
nit me briefly 10 make myself plain 10
those OF your readers who. perhaps,
may not have seen. and may not see, the
article reviewed by you.
1 desire II to be distinctly understood
that 1 am not the self-consttuted
champion OF the negroes and l do not
believe that even in the "far-of years,
10 which you refer, will this race ever
approximate TO an equality with the
Anglo-Saxon, or will ever be entitled TO
stand on a plane Of social equality with
him or be able 10 compete with him
along any Industrial lines.
stated in the article which I wrote,
that as long as Anglo-SaXon blood feeds
Anglo-Saxon hearts, so long will Anglo
Saxon intellect and AnglO-SdxOn viii
dominate all inferior races.
You must concede however. that within
the last thirty years, the negro race has
made wonderful strides in the direction
OF lettering their condition. 1 chal-
ienge the Dispatch to cite any people
who were slaves In their own land from
the beginning Of their history, and were
"continued in servitude for two and a
half centuries in a foreign country" and
when liberated made, In the short space
Of thirty years. more progress than the
negro. Neither you nor / would disguise
these facts. because they are facts, and
I am sure you will agree with me when
I say that honesty in politics, as well as
IN other matters. Is the best policy; not
because Il is polite, but because 1t is
right.
'Tf we have whispered truth, do it no
longer,
But speak as the trumpet does, louder
and stronger"
In suppoSing that In coming years the
negro will renew his confidence IN, ana
affection for. the descendants OF those
who were once his beloved masters, and
will believe that their interests are
inseparable from them. l may take as
you suggest, a too optimistic view Dut
II / err at all in my prognostlcauoh VI
the future. would rather err on the sue
NJ the ontimist than on that Of the pessi-
mist. Perhaps ! naturally view the lu'uis
through rose-colored glasses.
7 am convinced ii will follow as ma
turally as light follows darkness that
as the negro becomes more and more
Intelligent and enlightened, he cannon
fan 10 recognize that the principles OF
Denocracy are right, and that he VIII
be gradually led TO support them. Inc
ignorant only will consent 10 De lhe
mere tools OF designing and unscrupu-
tous office-seekers. Are you not IN error
when YOU say that the negro vote OF
fbiz city Is as united against Us as IL
eyer wasp IL so, the efforts when nave
heen made 10 show them that IL IS 10
their interest to vote with our paItS
has been In vain. ] am 10th 10 peHeNe
this we have invaded Jackson Ward,
their stronghold, and carried IL IN ioeai
elections, and even In national eiec''onS
we have reduced the kepuDncah mo
1ority 10 a minimum; this, 100 Whei l..' ou'
own party was divided on hii"iciai qU0S
tons. 49,. o,,,oo+,o,
of the negro has not Improved ms
morals. In answer 20 this. | shaii con
..n, novself by asserting that, the
eievation of the mind which results
from EDUCATION does not bring ABOUT a
corresponding elevation OF the moran
character. then civilization Is a ialiure'
and the uncouth savage, whose NOME
&c m the wilds OF the trackless IoTes''
4. liable 10 be as morally pure as ne
Who has had the advantages or inter
lectual Improvement, and VINO owens III
AN environment Of culture and rehne-
ment. -..a -. &,
I do not wish TO be understood as IN
t,matlne mo such conclusion can rea.
sonab,v be drawn from the fun text or
the article which / wrote, that the
Southern States. or any or them wiz
ever desert the Democratic party pc
cause the principles OF that party are
right. and the South always has peen
on the side Of right, and can always
be relied upon TO cast In It's LOT with
that party, the principles OF which com
mend themselves TO the judgment ana
to the conscience or southern VOTERS
or course. there viii be times IN our
history wnen some question may tempo
rarily arise TO cause a passing eslrange-
menf between our people. but II VIII
nos be for long. Perhaps this view, TOO
Is more optimistic than the facts war
rant. but II Is my sincere conviction
] now have, and always have mad, the
utmost confidence In the fact that the
principles which underlis cur party are