The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-01-12
CIV ashin gtOn Post. }

1t Is encouraging to observe that
the Southern negroes are beginning TO
divide upon issues Of Importance TO
themselves, Just as white people do
throughout the country. In such
conflicts Of thought and purpose and
IN the intellectual ferment bred by
mat wholesome friction, the negro :
best hope Of elevation lies. There
could be no more reassuring symptom
than this-nO surer evidence that the
colorcd people axe awakening to their
substantial interests. The policy Of
segregation which they have pursued
so long has had the inevitable effect
Of solidifying the other and superior
race against them, and it has achieved
the still more mischieyous result Of
keeping them upon level and for
bidding the idea OF individual excel
lonce. When, however, they begin to
align themselves upon issues other
than that OF race and to take opposite
sides with reference to social and po-
Iitical questions, there is hope that
they may permit the whites to forget
the color line and to treat them by
the standard Of their individual mer-
its.
Two remarkable uttcrances have
reached Us from Atlanta within the
past two days-one Of incendiary folly,
the other Of enlightened wisdom. The
iitst We find in Bishop Turner's paper
he is Bishop OF the African Meth
odist Church-and it reads as follows:
''Let us appeal to foreign powers TO
intervene in the interest Of humanity.
Let this country mem0rialiZo all the
great powers OF the world in the in
terest Of oppressed and suffering hu-
lnanity in this country. Let them
present the wrongs OF the 12,0)O, 900
coIored people for the past thirty-live
years in eve~y possible detail. Then
let this great council select repre-
sentative delegation % bear and pre-
sent these memorials to The heads and
Legislative bodies of all the great pow
ers OF the world. Let US pray that
they interfere for the sake OF suffering
and oppressed humanity.
This may reflect greatly upon q
country which boasts so much about
its liberty and freedom, when neither
exists. 1t will reflect greatly upon q
country that has spent millions of
money and many lives for the sake of
humanity in the Spanish colonies
when it is unable to extend humane
treatment TO its own people. But
this is our last hope. 1t is all that is
left for US to do. al the courts, both
State and national have III every con-
test decided against Us. The nation
al government says it is poWeTless,
while the white s0-calied Christian
church looks Oh and assents to the
barbaritT and inhumanity practiced
upon the colored people. Yes, let Us
lay the case of our wronged people
before England, Germany, Spain,
France, Russia, Mexico, Turkey and
other powers and urge them to use
their good offices in the interest Of
humanity in America, and | firmly
believe something will be done to
check this mob rule, injust.ceand in
humanity practiced upon the colOred
people Of America"
This is the worst and most vicious
vein Of noisy negro leadership, and
serves ONLY to intiamc and to dclude
the ignorant. The idea Of the Euro
pean powers interfering in our domes-
tic affairs i, too absurd for serious
considerations The author Of such 4
proposition is more to be piticd than
5he credulous dupe who entertains it.
On the other hand, we find in the At
lanta Constitution Of the 9th this very
sensible communication:
..Editor Constitution: During the
recent visit Of President Mokinley "a
The South, in hi, several speeches ne
made few very timely and interest
ing conciliatorv suggestions to the