The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-31

cstly and wisely for themselves.
'sI'hcse concilatory suggestions to the
Southern people by the President VIII
lose him doubtless many delegates from
both North and South, white and blacK'
10 tho next nominating convention Tor
President, because majority OF the
politicians Of his party maintain that
the best interests Of the Republican party
and the negro race depend upon the
hatred Of the North and South for each
other over old issues. II may be true
"a 10 the Republican party. but II Is not
true with regard 20 our race Inc
policv has landed n few Of the race in
office. bat Il has left the masses ex-
posed 90 the wrath and Indignation OF
the Southern people. mainly brought
about because of the race issue in poll
ties. Tho less race is referred to IN
polifics the better Il will be for tho
whole race If not for the selfish poll
ticl1ns
III the Republican party cannot sur
yive except upon tho hatred envy and
maltreatmcnt of one race for another IL
deserves TO die. Tho North and South
arc at peace: the South and the negro
are a. peace. having conquered old pre-
iudices and race feelings growing out
OF tho war with all having an equai
chance in the race OF life. with equdi
Justice measured 10 all and special priv
leges TO none. here would be a typical
republic with n standing army or an us
citizens ready and willing 10 DEFEND the
flag on land and sea. Let us have peace.
"B. r. HARVEY.
'Pastor of Antioch Church
II there is a more thorough patriot or
clearer thinker in the United States
than this negro We have yet 10 find him
out. The sentiments. opinions and sug-
cestions Of this letter are worthy of oui
best craftsmanship. Tho letter Of this
negro. taken along with utterances OF
several other negroes that the recent
race troubles have called out. show that
there is great hope for the negro race II
II IS left alone by politicians and Office
seekers. When the three war amend
ments 10 the Constitution we're under
discussion directly after our civil war;
the standing argument Of the advocates
Of those amendments was that II the ne
Gro was given the ballot ne would always
be able to protect himself in the rights OF
citizenship which the amendments pro-
posed 10 clothe him with. Nothing could
have been orter-sighted than the PM
losophy which expected such result
from such a gift. Men who knew any
thing whatever of the human heart
would have known that a superior and
dominating race would never allow an
inferior and recently slave race TO con-
troll them by casting ballots. They would
hr a
use force or artifce or both TO defeat
the effect Of ballots just so surely az that
che elections were held. ana 1t testihes
very poorly 10 the Intelligence Of the
nost-bellum northern statesmen that they
expcc.ed the ballot in the negroes hand
TO afford him any protection whatever
i'm a contest with his old master
The ballot. therefore. was the greatest
curse that the wouid-be benefactors Of
the negro could have imposed upon him
II kept him always encouraged to strive
for a social equality with his old master
that was at variance with natural
laws. and that strife kept the old master,
who had nothing but kindly and benevo-
lent feelings for the negro so long as he
was content TO occupy his natural place
in the social status. always irritated and
always bearing hard upon his old slave
when his natural impulses directed him
10 kindness.
The ballot then, was the negroes
greatest possible curse. and its with
drawal from him would be the greatest
possible benefit to him We do mot mean
that negroes should be debarred from
the ballot BY no means. But the ma
tional Constitution should leave each
State free to permit or deny suffrage
mon the conditions that the state Itself
thought wise. If this were the case we
should see each Southern State prescrib-
inc conditions for negro suffrage that
would permit each negro 10 become
voter as he acquired the qualifications
necessary for exercising the right Of
suffrage intelligently, and the race would
in time become voters in accordance with
natural laws.
Repeal the fifteenth amendment and
all will be well.