The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-26

gress and In the Electoral College is ap-
preciated by the white people of the South.
and they would be prompted. on the one
hand, to establish fair laws for the protec-
ton of their domestic institutions and on
the other hand to honestly administer
them and 10 accord the colored man the
right to participate in politics as soon as
he was fitted for the privilege in order to
increase their representation. This would
put before the negro a constant induce
ment to equip himself, and it would be a
powerful force toward the elevation of the
moral and intellectual tone of the race.
POLITICAL DECENTRALIZATION
1.-THE white people of the South have felt
justified in resorting to subterfuges for the
purpose OF evading the federal laws in or
der to protect themselves against the
colored vote until there prevails In many
localities a general condition of political
decentralization. The cheating of election
laws has come TO be looked upon as a
virtue. The respect for law that is so con-
spicuous a characteristic of the American
people in most sections of the country has
received a great blow in the South. Can
We expect anything but lynchings and mob
laws are trampled in the dust by the gov
erning class by subterfuge and evasion?
In the fourteenth amendment, in my Judge
ment slumbers the most potent power at
the command OF the federal government to
facilitate a correct solution of the race
problem. L know that legislation cannot
put character into the lives nor brains into
the heads Of people. but IT can put into
action social and political forces that may
tend TO promote healthy moral and intel
lectual development. The colored race
must win its way TO prominence through
the slow and tedious process of evolution
if it ever wins that distinction, but IL is
the duty of the government to encourage
and not retard that process. This is the
first auspicious opportunity the government
has had for the enforcement of the four
teenth amendment We must either avail
ourselves of that opportunity or acknowl-
edge our inability to do anything for the
protection of the colored people. If there
were nothing in this question but party ad-
vantage 1 would not think for moment
! of injecting it into the affairs of the coun-
try, but it carries with it problems of such
Importance, morally and socially, that its
significance cannot be overvalued.
objection has been made to the agita-
tion of the question at this time, on the
ground that it might ALLEVIATE gold Demo-
Gratis and expansion Democrats from the
Republican party next year in some of the
close States. / cannot believe the Repub-
lican party has reached such a stage that
it will purposely ignore great poltico-
| moral question-one that affects the des-
| tiny of a whole race-for the uncertain
prospect of securing few votes from the
| ranks of its traditional enemy upon an is
sue that is now practically settled. That
great party is never so strong as when it is
right, and never so weak as when il sub
ordinates principle to expedienecy. When
| it loses its self-respect it cannot hope to
command the respect of the adherents OF
| other parties. L believe in gold as a stand.
ard of value. but not as a standard OF
morals. If we permit this opportunity to
! go by without decisive action we will lose
| five Republican votes for every Democrat
| we will gain.''