Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-25
"THI CASE OF TIE NEGRO"


as yet given TO the public and /. shows
that he has come to full appreciation
Of the true condition existing outside
OF the institution OF which he is the
distinguished head.
He does not believe that the removal
of the Negroes from this country will
settle the question, because he does
not believe they can be removed.
he questions the advissDility of the |
settlement Of the Negro in Northern
States, believing that he is ct his best
In the Southern states.l
Prof. WASHINGTON is standing on .
bedrock principle at last when he an
nouncess
x+''I would not have the Negro de-
prived OF any privilege guaranteed TO
| him by the Constitution OF the United
| States. It is not best for the Negro
| that he relInquish any OF his constitu-
tional rights; il is not best for the
Southern white man that he should. "#*
Prof. WARRINGTON now sees that the
talk of disfranchising of the Negro az
. 'cure for all ills" 10 . visionary
proposition. contrary to every princi-
pie OF right and reason.
he is severe IN dealing with the Ne
! gro extremists Of the North, alleging
that they are more liable to sggravate
the situation than to alleviate the ex-
listing conditions.
He modifles his utterances however
by saying:
"All intelligent and well-considered
discussion OF any important question,
Z or condemnation of any wrong, wheth-
er in the North or in the South, from
public platform aud through the press,
is to be commended and encouraged"
He gives us hope and virtually tells
us to struggle onward when he de-
clares'
mo race or people ever got upon its
] feet without severe and constant strug
gle, often in the face of the grestesI
! Encouragement"
The following warning to the poor
3 white man contains words OF wisdom
: which while falling upon needless ears
g contain nevertheless the elements Of
n divine truth:
"I would mention my fear that some
of the white people of the South may
6 be led to feel that the way to settle
the race problem is to repress the as
: Iirations OF the Negro by legislation o
a kind that coDfers certain legal or po
# litical privileges upon an ignorant and
poor white man, and withholds TIT
same privileges from q black man in
similar condition.
"a Such legislation Injuries and retard
j. the Progress OF both races. 1t is an in
= Justice to the poor white man because
= it takes from him incentive TO secur
l. education and property as prerequi
10 sites for voting.
He feels that because he is q whit
man. regardless of his possessions,
way will be found for HIM to vote.
81 would label all such measures laws t
q keep the poer white man in ignoranc
is and poverty
l. Prof, Warrington criticizes severed
i. the disfranchising laws of MissiEsipI
d and says:
"By such q law, the state not onl
commits q wrong against its black cit
:. zens. il Injuries the morals OF its whit
citizens by comforting such power W
% on any white man who may happen
a be judge Of elections"
,. He says:
~ such laws are hurtful, again, bt
cause they keep alive in the heart {
the black man the feeling that til
s~ white man means to Cypress him."
,eI And again:
~ "The only safe way out il to set
a. high standard as teet Of citizenship
Al and require blacks and whites alike
- come up TO it"
This is the only way, Prof. WAsHM'
TON. Oh, that the white South won
realize this and profit therebyl
% Speaking OF the division of the n
~ gro vote, he tells the whole stol
when he says:
"Where, it is matter of principl
where q question Of fIkhS or wrong
OF involved. would advise the Neg
TO stand By principle at all hazard"
He continues:
as ga Southern white man has no 1
ed spect for or confidence in Negro WI
AZ acts merely for policy's sake; b
there are many cases, and the numh
10 is growing, where the Negro has not
at ing to gain and much to lose, by O
M posing the white man in matters to
he relate to governments.
He speaks plainly when he says:
eft William Lloyd Garrison, We
deli Phillips, or George L, Steal
were alive to-day, I feel sure that th
lty would advise the Negroes TO ident
md their interests as closely 90 possil
,elfI with their white neigbors,-alwsys |
an lderstandlng that no question OF ril
or wrong is involved"
in 1t is the determining OF the last
the saviag clause which viii test
Ingenuity and wisdom Of the most
tal1irenk element of the race to-day