The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-23
NORTHERN ON THE
NEGRO QUESTION.
Georgia's Ex-Governor Tells Boston
People Some Truths.
MASSACHUSETTS RESPONSIBLE
For the Introduction ofthe Negro Into
the south-Undcr Like Conditions
She Would Act as Gcoi gia Does
a. TO Negro Fiends.

I'll
| Temple tonight and listened 60 two
eloouent speeches on the Southern negro
. question by Former Governor Mortimer
| OF Georgia, and Bishop Arnett, OF ONO
| Governor Northeu spoke in part as foi-
lows: ,
Mr.. Chairman,-I was quite put at ease
| for this discussion because Of a statement
| accompanying the invitation to the erect
| that the people OF the East had grown
TO believe that the people at the South
knew more about their relations and du-
ties TO the negro than the East had
| heretofore. given them credit for.
The people at the South have certainly
! had all possible opportunities to learn
what these relations are, and / am quite
sure have authority for saying that they
are righteous and just enough to appre-
ciate and make the best OF them for both
races. II duty and humanity should fail.
certainly personal or self-interest would
awaken the white people at the South
10 see that the very best relations posi-
! bic shall be maintained between the races,
| consistent with the good order and THRIFT
| OF the community.
No people ever met more bravely so
| serious a condition as confronts the South
or sought more righteously an equitable
| adjustment of ~ difficult problem than
| the people at the South have undertaken
| I'm the negro problem.
NORTHERN SENTIMENT.
In coming 10 the discussion OF so inn
portant a problem as involved in the re-
! lations Of the negro at the South, al
| though somewhat relieved by what I am
sure will be your sympathy and courteous
| consideration. / must confess to degree
| OF embarra ssment because Of the violent
denunciations that have appeared from
| time 20 time I'm the Northern press OF
which your own city has furnished n
! large part and the severe criticisms that
| have been made upon our civilization. or
what is called the lack Of it, both in this
country and abroad. because of what is
| said 10 be our treatment OF the negro.
May ] add that I am still further en-
barrassed by the fact. as ! understand II,
that the story Of the South as told by
Southern man or a visitor who sees the
| conditions as the people Of the South
know them 20 be is always discredited
while any incendary and violent state
ments denunciatory Of the South. are al
ways believed and trumpeted abroad with
righteous Indignation and horrible dis
gusr.
am not hero 20 apologize for the
South. The South has her Ills her sins
and her crimes. What section has not?
| The South has had and will have violent
shocks 10 her civilization. What section
has not2 The south has had her sorrows
| God knows they have been grievous and
| hard TO be endured.
So much 7 desired 70 say for the white
no0ple Of the South. For the negroes OF
| 10
! taken as a mass I would not exchange
| them for any I have ever seen in any
other parts Of the United States without
| tremendous money boot i'm the exchange
! am the friend of the negro i'm my state
| and they recognize I'm me one or their
| strongest defenders. I am not here 10 de-
| fame them God forbid. ] am here 10
J speak their worth. when they deserve IT,
| and To- condemn them when their wicked
ness so demands.
Lest / may not be understood, | desire
| 10 say. with emphasis that / shall not
| speak to you I'm any sectional or partisan
| spirit. Let us thank God that sectional
| ism is. or ought to be. dead.
| All history shows that two races, ap-
] preaching I'm any degree equality in num-
/ bers cannot live together unless inter
marriage takes place or the one is de-
pendent and I'm some sense subject 10 the
| other.
! Miscegenation by law will never take
| place I'm tho South That may be accepted
| AS an established fact and settled be-
! yond question. Inter-marriage at the
| South need not be argued moment
| Unless the South breaks the record of all
| history there is only one alternative left,
and that is that the negro must be de-
| pendent. i'm a measure, at least. upon the
! white man. as he cannot hope to domi-
nate him
If / discuss for a moment. how the ne
gro ever happened IN the South as
slave. I hope | will not be considered out
| side the scope Of the duty assigned me To
discuss his present status as freed
man.
So far as I know. the first African
slaves sold upon the soil OF the South
were brought by a Dutch slave-tradins
| ship and landed at jamestown. Virginia.
[ do not believe IL is anywhere charged
that the South brought these negroes or
| that the South, specially cared TO receive
| them.
MASSACHUSETTS FIRST
do rot know that any State preceded
| Massachusetts, in building and fitting out
a ship for the purpose of traffic IN human
beings as slaves. OF course many OF
| the hest people I'm Massachusetts, were
! shocked at such horrors. just as many
of the best people OF Georgia are shocked
by the brutal things that occur in my
| State. Yet. Massachusetts, and Georgia,
it seems are held responsible for all the
evil things that happen within their bor-
ders.
| Up to this time I have no knowledge
! OF the introdution of the slave trade al
the South. certainly no information as
10 the construction of vessels 10 engage
| IN the iniquitous traffic.
! Whilst Georgia became slave sta'e
about the same time as Pennsylvania and
! New Jersey. this condition in the South
was made possible because Of the trafiic
I'm slaves by the States at the North, and
not by any original efforts made by Geor-
| ola or any sister state at the South.
,rbese statements would seem TO indi-
care that the South was not in at the be-
Ginning however much she may have
| horne the curse of her sins. later on, as
well as the sins OF those who preceded her
In the inlquiy.
A REPUTATION.
II never word had been written In de-
Tense Of slavery at the South the con-
duct of the negroes during the entire four
years OF our civil war f. enough 20 be-
J lie all that has ever been spoken or writ
ten about the viliainy of the slave mas
ter and the inIquites practiced upon the
slaves at the South.
Whilst almost the entire male population
of the South was absent from home In war,
the women and children were left with