The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-08
TILE NEGRO IN POLITICS,

Rufus Is. Bullock, formerly carpet bag
politician in Georgia during the recon-
struction period, has recently written
letter urging the claim of the negro
Lyons TO be postmaster of Augusta, Ca
Among othpr things, he says:
Thirty years have passed since we, IN
the South, conceded all these issues ana
accepted the full results of our defeat IN
the war. Chief among these was the
comforting upon our former slaves all civil
and political rights as citizens, whereby
we secured enlarged representation IN
Congress. IL would be unmanly in us
now to question the logical result of ne
gro citizenship when it comes to us as in
the Lyons case. For the national Repub-
lican party to now submit to the clamor
for a color line in official appointments
and thereby abandon the issues they
forced us to accept, would be still more
discreditable.
Bullock may talk on this line until his
tongue is paralyzed, but he will not con-
vert the better class of Republicans at
the North to his way of thinking. Their
sentiments have greatly changed within
the past several years. With better
understanding of the true conditions in
the South, and with kinder feeling for
the people of the South, there is htth
danger that they will give the negroes
such positions as will be offensive to the
whites They recognize the fact that
the negroes have been most expensive al
lies to the Republican party. They know
that their attempt to rally the negro vote
solidly to the support of the Republican
party resulted always in a solid Demo-
cratic South, and they know that the
Republican party can never succeed IN
the South, so long as its recognized OBJ
ject is to advance the political fortunes of
the black men.
Secretary Wilson. upon his return from
his recent visit TO Nashville, wrote an
article about conditions in the South, in
which he took occasion TO say that the
Southern people were more distinctively
American than the people as whole in
other sections, and he was particularly
struck with the good manners OF the
Southerners. "The average education
is quite high" said he, "and we were
furnished with some gratifying illustra-
lions Of how well bred these people are.
For instance in the middle Of Governor
BushneI's speech Mrs. Mckinley enter
ed the hall. Everybody arose and greeted
her most cordially-men, women and chill
dren. 1t hxs been said that the Southern
people have not given up the old strug-
glo. There was certainly no indication
Of It there. They were put to severe
test. At the close Of the exercises, the
eight thousand people in the hall were re-
quested TO remain seated while the Pres
ident walked out. There were no police
men or militia to enforce the request,
and yet not a man. woman or child moved
until the President had gone out of the
hall That could only happen among
well-bred eonsiderate people"
Mr.. Wilson, in these complimentary
remarks, represents the best sentiment
OF the Northern Republicans. 1t is sim
ply impossible that the administration
which holds the South in such high es-
TEEN will wantonly and defiantly offend
her people by the appointment OF those
whose conduct OF an Office would be Of
fensive TO them.