The times., 1899-09-17
DEPoRT1NG THE NEGROES.
FORMER Governor Bullock Opposed
to the Proposition.
Gov. Rufus B. Bullock, in the "a
lanta journal. y

| (Former Gov. Rufus B. Bullock, in the at
lanta JouEnaI'')
1t Is well known that I do not agree
with Colonel Graves with Bushop Turner
on the deportation plan-first, because it
is not for the best interest of our white
or eolored people. and second, because il
is impossible to enforce it,
Colonel Graves states that this separation
or deportation will be better for the negro.
because he can never. North or South.
be received into social personal relation
with the families of the white race. and
can never. therefore, be a social equal
Where and when in our State has the negro
ever given evidence OF a desire TO assume
or eoyet social equality" with the whites
Is it not true that educated and property
owning colored people are far more inter-
ested in protecting the social purity of
their own race from intrusion than in seek
ing TO intrude upon ours? Where in our
State can Colonel Graves find white people
having so little confidence in themselves
as to fear social equality with negroes
being forced upon them?
1t Is reasonable and proper for US to con-
slider the future in the light of our expe-
rience- No people were ever before sub
jected TO the ordeal through which we have
now successfully passed. The Illogical leg
islation of Congress putting the ballot in
the hands OF ignorant men Just freed from
slavery and Withholding it from large
portion of the intelligent former master
class might we'll lead timid minds. as it did.
TO abandon hope. But as between that ex-
pertinent and irresponsible military author
ity for local government, men who had
done their utmost to sustain the Confed-
eracy accepted the situation" and civil
government was established in our State
on the broad basis OF universal manhood
suffrage.
No harm has yet come to our State be-
cause OF it, but safety for the future will
be found in limiting the franchise to in
teiligence and property. In spite OF all the
distressing conditions to which 1 have re-
ferred. the general prosperity to which We
have attained in our State has never been
surpassed. New relations. new industries
Few lines of progress have been establish
et- ana while the old lines and systems
have been left behind or abandoned 10 the
loss OF few. the new generation has kept
step with progress and adapted themselves
10 the present Our colored citizens as a
whole lave made a record of progress. not
surpassed by any race on earth. thus estab-
fishing not only their own capacity, but
giving the highest evidence Of the kindly
spirit and helping hand of their former
owners A race that has lifted itself from
an illiteracy of leo per eent-absoIute
ignorance-to less than 80 per cent. and has
accumulated nearly $500, 00G, coo of taxable
property within the relatively short period
OF cne generation after its slavery is GER
tainl? not one that must be deported
either for its own good or for the safety
of the communities where these people
were born and reared
Our negro population do not demand.
seek or desire social relations with the
white people. They do, however. ask and
| are entitled to receive all their public.
civil, and political rights under the law as
duly adiudieated. The sporadic cases OF
outrage against them will be eliminated by
the prompt and bold official acts Of exeeu-
tives like his exeellency Governor Gambler
of our State.
If not deferred by outside meddling. the
white and eolOred citizens of the South
will work out their own salvation in Gods
good time, so that the oldest OF us NAV live
to laugh at the idea of deporting 10 900 900
of American citizens because Of the color
OF their skin.