Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-05
TOO OPTIMISTIC A VIEW.

Marion L. Dawson. Esq. of this city. the
chairman Of our City Democratic Com
mittee, has in the February No. of
the North American Review an article en-
titled "Will the South be Solid Again? He
says the real bond which united the South
twas not of a political nature in the
truest acceptation of that term" but
rather a race question" 1t was whether
the negro or the white man should occupy
the place of power The world should
have been given TO understand. he de-
clares that the white people of the South,
as well as their brothers of the North,
East, and West always intended TO rule,
and IL there were just cause NOW TO be-
lieve that the negro would still vote
unitedly. and thus menace the South with
negro domination. II is safe TO assert that
these States would remain solid 10 the end
of all time" But all danger of negro
rule has disappeared. he thinks, and in
concluding his article. he says:
We believe. however. that the danger
of negro rule now really exists only in
the distempered imagirations Of political
demagogues. No one can produce any
array of facts 10 convince the unbiased
observer that the negro vote will be any
more united in future elections than the
white vote. This race has made wonder
full strides in recent years. and they have
seized upon every opportunity TO better
their condition. They have been given
the best schools. colleges. and universe
ties. and have not neglected their ad
yantages. Their moral and intellectual
Improvement has been little less than
a. plqrtp1 in fha
history of any people. They are fast be
coming qualified to act. 10 think. and to
vote for themselves. The time has pass
ed for them TO ever again consent TO be-
come the mere tools of INSCRIPTIONS and
designing ofiice-seekers. They carefully
and conscientiously study the issues
which are involved in every political
canvas, and in many instances
thoroughly understand them. Their
leaders read political economy, and neil
Their the tariff nor the currency question
Is a stranger 10 them.
The property interests which are
nossessed by this race i'm the South al
ready exceed twelve millions Of dollars.
They have mastered many trades. be-
come proficient in the Industrial arts.
and sometimes prominent in the profess
sIons. They need not now be told that
their welfare is inseparabe from the
welfare of the South. and the time VIII
soon come If ~ has not already arrived,
when they will support with their sur
fraye only those measures which their
natured Judgment convinces them will
most certainly promote the prosperity of
Tho section i'm which an all-wise Provl-
dence has cast their lot. They have come
10 realize thu the people who give them
ar,nloymenf who annually pay twenty
,nillions of q, liars taxes that their chill
dren may be educated. who make 1t pos
sible for them TO live In comfort and
ease. and often In luxury and refinement;
Who labor side by side with them IN the
field or In the factory. are their best
friends. With returning confluence ana
affection. they will be influenced as the
weak are always Influenced by the
strong and they will be found supporting
tha nartv which their employers sup
rort because they will learn that the
interests of the employer and employees
are one. .,,,.-
coded by ali who profess TO be familiar
with the existing conditions in the south.
AZ they become more generally under
stood the fear Of negro domination VIII
he gradually dispelled from the southern
mind. and this bond OF common interest
Qua self-defence. which has so long
,,nt,ed the solid South" will become
les and less factor In southern cleo
tom. The color-lne in politics viii dis
anpear. normal political conditions VIII
We re-established. and the people VIII
vote as they did before the war. In ac-
cordance with dictates OF conscience or
self-intcrest.
This view Is too optimistic. by far. we
think. Many OF the improvements that
Mr. Dawson gees are not observable 10 us.
That the danger Of negro domination
a NOT now what II formerly was we
cannot but admit, yet we cannot smut
our eyes to the pregnant fact that the
negro vote Is not nearly so greatly d.
vided as the white vote is. From what
we have seen OF the negro vote here In
Richmond we may say that 1t is almost
as solidly against us as II was twenty
wears ago. We think we may safely say
that Of the colored vote cast In Richmond
On recent years more than ninety-fve per
cent. of II has been cast against our
party, and for the Republicans. How
ever, we are told that In some other
parts of the state the colorci people--or
many OF them-frequently vote with the
DAmocrats. particularly In local elections,