The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-26
WAS P0PULIST NOMINEE
FOR CONGRESS- FROM THE 9TH
DISTRICT.
THE NEGRO QUESTION MUST Be SETTLED
That the People May Turn them to Other
Things. Why The UnIe!tered
Whit can Vote Intel
lip- nfIv
lig ntly.
Correspondence of the Progressive
Farmerl

Correspondence of the Progressive
Farmer.l
l am not conscious Of any prejudice
against the citizenship of the negro
In proof of this | will, at the fisk of
perhaps seeming immodesty, briefly
state my own record i'll regard to it.
Brought up in South Carolina by Chris
tiap, slave holding parents, who fully
realized their responsibility and asso-
eating all my younger days with
Christian slave holders. ] yet when II
boy became opposed to the institution
of slavery and ever remained so.
When General Johnston surrendered
at SmitAfcld, i'll May, 1860, | at once
took the position that the negroes no
longer being the wards of their masters
as slaves, were entitled to citizenship
and to the exercise Of its rights, includ-
ing suffrage, SO far as was compatible
with the welfare of the State. | advo-
Gated extending suffrage to all without
regard to race or previous condition,
with some very moderate qualification
to protect socety-the negroes included
against the ruinous results of granting
suffrage TO Il mass of ignorant people.
advocated this as Il 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
a great injury To them and | think it is
time that we should pass just election
law that will prevent them from in
tiicting injury upon themselves as well
as upon others. Let the question be set
tied by law, and avoid any continuance
of intimidation, corruption or dishonest
returns. 1t is unwise, as well as inn
moral. to do evil that good may come.
Those who do wrong will in the end
suffer more than those who are wrong
ed.
Besides this, we are allowing this
question to absorb attention to the ex-
clusion of public questions of vital inn
portance. Let this question be settled
SO that as people we may properly
consider other questions and help de-
eide 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 IL position to exercise the
right of franchise has not been Il sue
cess in those portions of our own coun-
try where the negro is found in large
numbers.
I'm my mind there is no doubt but
that we made the mistake at the be-
ginning of our freedom of putting the
emphasis OH the wrong end. Politics
and the holding of office were empha
sized almost to the exclusion of every
other interest and we accepted respoE
sibilities which our experience and edu-
cation had not fitted us to perform with
success and credit. i
For my part | say without hesita
ton that judging by what | have OBJ
served in the South since the freedom
of the black man, | do not believe that
it is wise for the government. nor just
to the people sought TO be helped to
confer unlimited suffrage upon any