The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-16
A K1ueaseA CelsreA Teachers Views
Greensboro. N. c.. December >.

Editors Messenger:
In today's EDITORIAL you made the
statement that while a great majority
of the white men desire n constitution
MI change Gin our election Iaws) the
negroes and the whites who voted with
them In the last election and other
whites who might suffer from a con-
stitutionai change. might again unite
and defeat the very object sought"
The campaign through which We hav
Just passed. and the cause leading
to the bitterness and racial a~ntipathy
which IL manifested. were very pain
full TO negroes who love the hand OF
their birth. and who desire TO have
and enjoy the friendly esteem Of their
white ~neighbors. The sentence from
! your editorial clearly indicates that
you do not understand that the late
campaign and some of Its very sad in
cidents have forcihly impressed n
thoroughly convinced the negroes hat
1t is OF imperial Importance for MS to
sustain harmonious relations with our
white citizens. and that these relations
can only be secured IN maintained by
the elimination OF the negro as n polit-
ical factor from governmental affairs.
Some OF us have long since felt and
said. "a one Of h proprietors Of The
Messenger viii verify, that the politi-
cal influence of the negro In certain
sections OF the state has been wholly
dispropor'tonate with the intelligence
which he represents. and the wealth
which he controls. and that this alb
normal condition would insure TO our
detriment. We now more than ever
see and feel the need for a greater re-
striction OF the right OF suffrage as n
sine qua o for those pleasant and
peaceful relations without which we
cannot enjoy life. liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness" I'm the land OF
our birth. where our ancestor. lived
and worked as well as yours for it's de-
velopment and prosperity. We know
that the negro politician must be elim-
mated and that greater restrictions
must be placed around the ballot box
and knowing this. our reasons teaches
us that IL Is better FOR us who have
been the victims Of violence. better
for the whites who have been polluted
by the communicating touch OF fraud.
better for the commonwealth whose
good name has been sullied and whose
progress has been checked by ignor-
ance, corruption and passion. better
for all that this restriction should be
one OF law and order rather han one
of fraud or violence. Therefore. we
feel confident that you are In error I'm
assuming that II n constitutional re-
striction should be submitted to the
people, that IL would receive the oppo-
sition OF the solid negro vote.
While many or my people are pessi-
mistically inclined. / feel that a better
and brighter day is about to dawn
upon us. Foolishly and stubbornly we
nave fingered in the quagmires OF stu
pidity. idleness and degradation, now
waiting for the pickering rays OF the
ignis fatuus OF political ambition. now
following it's phantom lights along
reacherous and meandering paths.
but we have learned in the inexorable
school OF experience that politics liz
not the star 10 guide us by night. nor
the sun to cheer us by day: that we
must seek paths leading through firm
err and higher grounds to the goal or
virtue, industry and intelligence where
with fear and trembling we shall work
out a destiny which God viii shape
and bless and nan will respect and adj
mire.
Recent events in this and other
states have plainly demonstrated To
us that our future lies not along the
path OF politics, but rather along the
highways Of industrious toll and
Christian character. and ] am sure.
should the question OF qualified suf-
frage be submitted to the people. you
would no longer find the old time solid
ity OF the negro vote. but that many
intelligent and influential negroes
would actively and earnestly favor. as
a salvation for their people, cutting
loose from that weight with which we
have so long been encumbered. In or
der that we may give more attention
and expand greater efforts for the es-
sential ingredients OF good, strong cit
iZenship. Knowing that the ncgro car
no longer retain his former political
power and prestige, the manner by
|, which he Is to be eliminated IA "a po-
IT. 49, - .a1 1..Al. tnV .ut SCI \
while the interests OF good govern
ment and of posterity suggest that
his should not be don by fraud or
violence. You cannot continue whole
/ sale violence without "A disregard for
law and order and without sinking into
a brutality. You cannot resort to "a Ions
!, continued and widely extended system
of fraud without losing n proper re
) gard for honor and without deadeninf
' the voice OF conscience. 1f fraud and
/ violence are to be potent factors In tho
: adjustment OF public affairs. the with
. ering leprosy of decay will eventually
attack the vitals 81 American insti
! buttons and posterity will need "A Glib
bon for the American republic. There
fore, az we wish our country well, ant
as we prefer the elimination Of the ne
gro as a politician to a repetition o
our past experience. In behalf OF CIVIL
zation, Christianity and good govern
ilfilAs We ~ h'pF AitAA VIZ
restriction can Ue arranged without
resort to fraud I'm one hand or vfolenc
on the other.
We DE- not feed and we hope TO con
q vince our worst enemies and marshes
critics that our presence is no impede
u ment to progress. for while some OF q
q will leave. many win remain. fer n
one has more right tn remain than W.
1t Is here that we frst saw the ltgh
Of day. where all tAe ties Of life hav
Y been formed and where all our pos
sessions ave been acquired, vher
alone We can claim the inherited rigi
r 10 ema m a OF an ancestry re;
resenting every stage OF human 90
and condition. from h common har
in the corn and cotton fields to u
z statesman In congress-; from the labo
. er In tire wilderness or In the bowels
the ntountains clearing away for cro
ties and railroad iron to the direct
ami president in the railroad oric
from he humbled mechanic at h
bsv.SH IN fha ehf@F officer ~ this rnv