The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-04

1t is a sad state Of affairs, and
we in the South have to face the plain
infracton of the election laws, for the
simple reason that unless they are in
frnged upon there is no hope for the
South.
This brings up the question, what are
we going to do? The two races are side
by side, mingled and intermingled in every
imaginable way, but not in the
old relation of master and servant, and
having mono of the old sympathy It is
a question which God in his mercy villa
work out for these people, but it is a
momentous question to this country to-
day. The only hope for the settlement OF
the problem is in the gradual enlighten-
ment of the colored race. Nineteen-twen-
tieths of the money expended for the edu-
cation of the negro race in the South 10
raised from the whites, and one-twenueth
from the negroes. When this gradual en-
nghtenment comes there will come with it
a solution of the question.
Don't Wish Negroes Back in Slavery
so many of the Northern people are Of
opinion that we want the negroes back to
slavery No statement can be further from
the truth. I was a slave owner myself.
Child as 1 was in the slavery days and
filled with all the traditions of the South
ern people over that question, l speak as
person who is familiar with the subject
and I say that there is not an intelligent
man or woman South of Mason and Dix
on's line who wishes to see the blacks
back in bondage. They feel at the same
time that the men who were in bondage
should not to-day be their rulers. AS long
as they will grow side by side, receiving
an equal protection under the general laws
of the land, they will receive part of every
crust which a Southern man has to give,
but when they attempt to step forward and
take the reins of the government in their
hands, then the Southern citizens will per-
emptorily and sternly stop that aspiration.
Would not the North do the same? Surely
it would.
mot very long ago 1 heard a speech by
a negro man who has the true idea and
theory of the race question. He was speak
ing TO negroes. He said; Remember my
brethren, this one thing; that you are
pretty near up against the race question
in this country, and when you do get to
it, mark what tell wou, the white people
of this country will settle it, as the white
people have always settled those questions,
vigorously and earnestly, and ia a way
that the white people want it settled.
I'm conclusion, 1 most earnestly and soi~
emily repeat that the one great pre-em-
inent and prominent proposition stands
head and shoulders above this whole dis
cussion, that Notwithstanding the mere
enacting of statutes the passing of laws.
the Southern people do not intend to be
ruled by the negro race. The South VIII
settle this question, justly. honestly and
fairly to the negro race, but she will settle
this question alone and unaided and with
in herself.
Booker T. Washington wrote as followsi
What the Negro Leader Says.
at was unfortunate that my people
permitted themselves at the close of the
| civil war to be led in such a wholesale
manner into politics. In many cases le-
! probabilities were accepted by us when
we were not equal to because of lack or
| education and experience. L do not be-
| lieve that it is wise for the government
nor just to the people sought to be helped
| to confer unlimited suffrage upon any ig-
| norant, poverty stricken, inexperienced
| people. I would let the right to vote lie
! interviewer with the ability to acquire in
| telligence or property or both. The feel
! ing is very strong in the South that since
! the negro pays such a small proportion OF
! the tax to support government that re
should have little or no control in the gov
| eminent
THE feeling also exists in some sections
| that the negro wants to control the white
man. This is not true of the black race
| as a whole. Unless the negro gets into
the hands of bad white men, he does NOT
seek to control any one except himself
and he has pretty hard task often 10
do that.
Negro Must Not Be Discouraged.
ITO my mind the way to remedy the
| present evils is for the negro not 10 get
discouraged. In the past l fear he has set
too much store by politics. In too many
cases he has sought the shadow rather
than the substance. The negro all over
this country must become a large tax
payer, own property, possess a high de,
gree of industry, skill and substantaA
character. We must get our young Peo11
pie off the streets, keep them out ot
! barrooms and dens of crime. The grsaS
bulk of our people in the South are SUN
in dense ignorance; ignorance LEADS ~
! idleness and idleness to crime.
THE time has come when the oess
while people and the best colored peo-
pie in the South should get together lor
counsel, advice and sympathy. ~
negro must not feel that the white man
who is his next-door neighbor Is h1s
enemy Simply because he is Souther~
! white man."