The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-08-10

t'o" "uSt De Settled That the PeO=
pie May Turn to Other Things
Why the Uniettered Whites Can
Vote Inteliigently.
(Correspondence OF the Progressive Farm
er.)
am not conscious of any rejudice
against the citizenship of the negro.
In proof Of this | will, at the risk of
perhaps seeming immodesty, briefly
state my own record in regard to it.
Brought up i'll South Carolina by
Christian, slave holding parents, who
full y realized their res possibility, and
associating all my younger DAYS with
Christian slave holders, yet when a
boy became opposed to the institution
OF slavery and ever remained SO.
When General Johnston surrender
ed at Smithtield, in May, 1868, | at
once took the position that the ne
groes no longer being the wards of
their masters as slaves, were entitled
to citizenship and to the exercise of
its rights. including suffrage, SO far
as was compatible with the welfare of
the State. | advocated extending
suffrage to all without regard to race
or previous condition, with some
very moderate qualification to protect
society - the negroes included -
against the ruinous results of grant
ing suffrage to a mass of ignorant
people. | advocated this as matter
| of simple Justice and also as Il matter
Of policy. 1t seemed clearly manifest
to me that unless we took such action
political greed, fanatical folly and
revenge on the part of some would
cause the North to force universal
| negro suffrage on the South.
Experience has clearly shown that
the suffrage hastily granted negroes
has been Il great in jury to them, and
think it is time that we should pass
Il just election law that will prevent
them from intlicting injury upon
| themselves as well as upon others.
Let the question be settled by law,
and avoid any continuance of intimi
dation, corruption of dishonest re-
| turns. 1t is unwise, as we'll as inn
moral, to do evil that good may come.
Those who do wrong will in the end
suffer more than those who are
wronged.
Besides this, we are allowing this
question to absorb attention to the
exclusion of public questions of
vital Importance. Let this question
| be settled so that as people we
may properly consider other ques-
tions and help decide them on their
own merits.
In recent address in Brooklyn,
| Prof. Booker L. Washington said:
1T must be apparent at this time
that the effort to put the rank and
file of the cOlOred people into a
position to exercise the right Of
franchise has not been a success in
those portions of our own country
where the negro is found in large
mum berS.
In my mind there is no doubt but
that we made the mistake at the be-
ginning of our freedom of putting
the emphasis on the wrong end.
Politics and the holding of office were
emphasized almost to the exclusion
of every other interest and we ac-
cept responsibilities which our ex-
perience and education had not fitted
us to perform with success and
credit.
"For my part say without hesita-
tion that Judging by what | have OBJ
| served in the South since the freedom
of the black man, do net believe
that it is wise for the Government,
nor Just to the people sought to be
helped, to confer unlimited suffrage
upon any ignorant, poverty stricken,
inexperienced people. | would let
the right to vote be interviewer with
the ability to acquire intelligence OF
property of both
He is one of the most intelligent Of
his race, who is devoting his life to
its elevation and speaks in its in
terest He well says that the chief
danger in suffrage is from the large
mum bers massed together in some
portions of tho country.
The illiterate of our white citizens.
with the exception OF some communi-
ties in our mountain region, are
scattered among their betterinformed
white fellow citizens with whom
they are coming in contact con-
stantlv. and in every possible way.
The educational advantage Of this
close association. is very great. for
those whom we call educated get the
best of their education from contact
with the world, observation and en-
pericnce. The negroes where massed
together have no such advantage. 1t
is the blind leading the blind. How
can they avoid falling into the ditch?
Many persons. it seems to me-, are
pravelv in error in assuming that
voting is in itself 4 most important
means for eleyating the masses, and
that therefore the State is obliged to
grant unlimited suffrage. The effect
that suffrage will have on those who
vote will depend on their fitness or
untitness for its proper exercise
Many thousands OF our people are
iniured-ave de based by the manner
in which they use the right of suf-
frage. So far from being obliged to
grant such privilege to those who
would abuse it, the State is obligated
to as far as possible withhold it from
such persons Just as parent Is
bound to withhold edged tools a
play things from their children. IL
; fact the obligation resting on the
State is greater since the incompetent
or vicious voter in jures Others as wei
as himself.
! Special legislation for the heneti
of the citizens of State is essential!
" wrong. In this case 1t is doubl,
& so since it not only fails to benefit
n but actually injuries its proposed o
: pretended beneticiaries and all other
- with them.
am no LAWYER, but from a careful
# examinato ion of the opinions of NOR
/ - l., oanh SiAn of III