New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09
COLOR LINE IN THE SOUTH
A REPUBLICAN EDITORS VIEWS ON The
NEGRO's POLITICAL STATUS.
trv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

inv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBCNE.J
Washington. May s-The editor OF the principal
Republican PAPER OF leading southern o'h.e 10
ber. on business and freely discusses the condition
and nrospects OF the party In his State ana sectoh'
In conversation this morning with rePreSeh'"
tive of The Tribune nc said:
what the Democrats call the color line mas .oo
long retarded the development or the Sout" i''
progress has been slow. very largely because ."e'c
has been a division OF politics according
voters color start with the declaration 'ha' d
nepro's vote counts for much or snouid count
for as much as a white mans. When you leave the
balo,-box Won find everywhere that II Is 'he
man himself whose actions and conduct 'e'. VI" az
fairs Just as there are white men anu "''e
men so there negroes and negroes al" w
OF those who recognize the fact that society "u''
accent conditions as they are. although reverence
the brave man who anticipates the arrival ol t"e
attinq tine for inaugurating truer ana better
condition ~ things In Hayess time the Natio"
was not altogether prepared for the actioh ol '"e
Administra ton and the great mass Oh .'oi ''e'
voters did not sustain President Hayess supPo'eu
abandonment Of the coored mans rights. There
has been decided change OF conditions since 'heH'
7 give Mr. Hayes credit for great candor. patriot
Ten, and sagacty with the lights before him ana
tho circumstances by which he was surrounded az
the time. 49,,
AT present the problem Is one or the recols'i'u
ton OF the Republican party In the south 1t 10
nroblem involving economic and social matters oi
the very highest import. on the solution OF 'neSe
chiefly depends the future OF the Southern states
and On their solution likewise will depend 10
certain extent the future OF the country Inc NC
publican party stands for ideas or government 'ia
T contend are as necessary to the growth OF my
section as they are the prosperity ana "eh-pe'"o
~ tho North With protection and sound money
the Nation will advance; my state VIII au'a'i0
,tb the rest: political security and good admins
tret,on must inevitably bring about this state Oh
affairs The great bugaboo Is the negro III Po'''.'
NV remedy is to divide the colored vote III "e
South Our State is of those where the Negroes
| ara not in a majority Of the whole NUMBER u
,,o,ars Rut they are In a majority OF the Repuo-
l,can marty Some OF the leaders OF the party Oh
| both races there have been unworthy men. But IL
could not well be avoided under all the c'rcu.n'
stances as under different circumstances WIN
only a portion Of the negroes-and they the peter
norton perhaps-gong with us. It VIII be poss'o'e
- eliminate the bad leadership and other bad nhu.
| ences This will be feasible. for the reason 'nao
while we y slough E f cass who have
heretofore acted with the Republicans IN the Sou b
Give them hem k our Economic and financial policy
better than they like that OF their own par parry; man
ufacturers bankers and wealthy men genera G
who for sound currenGy ana the Tbev never
! baya been Democrats except on local admlnstra
ton The occasion Is ripe for them 10 5 come COCO
to us because We are likely to give mem comjus
Local administration. The time Is soon c0m'ih ~
| when this dream OF all good RepuoIca t, W tbC
| Eli, reoiized We have only had controi Oh tlS
Stale government short whe-n9t 10 long enCu i
feel he entirely favorable but II may not De 80 y,
the short time of term of office he VINO II IL
! onnarent charge OF politics there Is not tne rea
| ilauder we shall not lack for leaders Wno, ar
| ioval to the party and who are men Vi o'o"' o"
| gacity and patriotism. - - illustration of oil,
az will cite instance as an w
programme. certain colored po!iGan towns
The local machinery In one OF our laretst Nv uth
There seemed to be no way to dlsousc MN nitt
| 80, Loss ~ one election We were consoled wiz
the reflection that the defeat Of ms gang WTu Il
noo Tho division OF the colored vote herea1ter u
such manner as would benefit the party az arse
and that IL would be the best thing we couiu 40 :,
| iat tho election go by default. AS we couiu no
| Very well night the nominees. we let them p ,eo Re-
| too;od a the ballot In that city hereaIte'
III ,,re ye will win on different Issues ana D!
pnrsuing policy which will not herd tog srons
Either ~ the races. I am friendly TO inc neg,oes
r. s for their advantage as well as me auvM"tdt az
~ the white people that they should noI tr vo
| Sr tho Republican ticket and that a majority o.
he whites should also not vote for the DemocraI'
ticket As said In the begnnng the re iSenlSedI,
~ Marty lines in the South Is going 70 De uecueu
tor the advantage OF the whole country