The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-23

1 ShftD WhlEh w., LOUISVILLE, M
a delegation from the Northern white ma
sons called on the mechanical engineer
and said thy could not work under a ne
gro foreman.
The engineer had placed a negro man on
one corner of the building, and had given
him little authority, as he appeared to
be much the best mechanic in the lot. He
was native Columbus Negro. Rather than
delay the work, and with the idea of pac-
flying these Northern masons, the engin-
eer told them that if they could pick out
a man from their own number who could
take the place of the negro he was ready
10 make the change. They selected one
of their number and, after twenty-four
hours experience, the engineer sent for the
committee and told them he was not
pleased or satisfied with their selection,
and he wished a candid expression from
them as to whether or not he had made
a better selection for foreman in the ne
gro than they had given him in the white
man. After some little parleying, they
agreed 10 resume with the Columbus ne
are carrying up the corner Several OF
these Northern masons, after admitting
the negro was the better mechanic, said
they would never work under a negro.
They left. All the white men who left
were from the Northern states. No white
man from the South abandoned the job.
Significant Incidents.
To show the spirit of the white people Of
the South toward the rights of the negro,
l need mention only two cases, fully rep
resentative of the conditions, both of
which occurred during my administration
as the executive of the state
In the city of Atlanta, Peter Daniel,
negro, had brutally slain a negro woman.
He was brought before the courts and
promptly convicted of murder. For some
reason, have never been able to explain,
general sympathy for this man was arous-
ed all over the state among the white peo-
pie. Scores and scores of letters came
to the executive office, earnestly asking
executive clemency. So general and pro-
nounced was sympathy for the man, that
1 was waited upon by five of the lead
ing white ministers of the city of At
lanta in Daniels interest. Finally the
man of largest wealth in the city came 10
my office to say that he feared the negro
had not had proper defense, and agreeing,
if I would give Daniel sufficient respite
he would, himself, employ counsel and
give him another chance for his life. This
l did in Difference to the generous SYM
pathy expressed but the man was return
ed to me under the same sentence and
executed; not for the lack of untiring eff
forts on the part of the white people in
his behalf, but because the stern demands
of the law SO ordered.
Again, in the county of Henry Zone of
the best in the state) a negro was charged
and convicted of a criminal offense and
sentenced to be hanged Under appoint
ment by the court, he was defended by
two of the most prominent lawyers in the
county. After sentence was pronounced
his attorneys called at my office, asking
executive clemency. The scene enacted
at the close of the last interview did great
credit TO a noble nature and should put
to shame every baseless SANDER against
the white people of the South for their
alleged disregard for the status of the
negro at the South before the law.
Taking me by the land, one of the at
torneys said: Now, Governor, / have
made my last appeal for an unfortunate
and. l candidly believe, an innocent man.
l am working in the interest of humanity
and right, as L see it. 1 will not receive
one penny for the service 1 have rem
dered. L have not asked it. nor will l."
The tears started down his face as he
grasped my hand the more warmly aud
said: For Gods sake, do not let this
man die, until you satisfy yourself, be
vond a doubt. that he is guilty of the
charge of which he has, in my judgment,
been improperly convicted"
This man was not executed, but the
scene in my Office was worthy lasting
commemoration in marble, as tribute to
southern devotion to the rights of these
people for whom il had become our duty
to care.
The Negro and Religion.
Next. the relation of the negro to re-
ligion:
The negro at the South, as 1 take 1t,
and at the North as well, is nothing IL
not religious Before the war they be-
longed to the same churches, in all de-
nominations, as the whites. L am sure
Won would be interested If you should
read the church records, recognizing these
people as Of equal right, re1siously with
the white brethren. 1t was only after
the negroes themselves broke the bond
of union that we became two peoples
Whilst they have their own and separate
churches for their services, every CHRIS
tan denomination at the South expends
fair proportion of their general contribu-
lions for religious purposes for the re-
Tigious development of the negroes. They
will never suffer along these lines, as
long as their brethren in white are able
to aid them.
II may be well to say that negroes
religion is patterned very much after his
own ideals, and, POSSIBLY, has more OF
what ne Calls rem StpH anu iSS9 " "iAN'
we know as morals than is found IN the
standard indorse6i by most men.
Next. his relations to society:
heard very admirable speech from
very intelligent negro, before the South
ern Baptist convention. during its session
at birmingham. Ala. rne negro preacher
was discussing the race problem, and
when he reached this feature of his sub
iect he remarked hat many people SEEM
ca afraid the negro would at no distant
lo,, .1e,,,or,d social a0ualitV. He then said