The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-06-08

and the greatest obstacle TO his pro-
gress is the politician, and the negro
| politician is the worst of all
- 1t may be said that in 1860 the
colored race was totally iliterate, ;
says Hon. w. I. Harris. United States
Commissioner of Education. In 1870
more than 80 per cent. of the colored
| population Of the South, ten wears of
age and over, could not read nor
write. In 1890 the percentage Of
| illiteratcs had been reduced to 70 per
cent. and in 1890 the illiterates COM
! prised about 60 per cent. of the
colorcd population ten years of aye
and over. In several Of the Southern
States the percentage is even below
50 per cent.
In thirty years 40 per cent. of
the illiteracy of the colored race had
disappeared. In education and in
dustrial progress this race has ac-
cOmplished more than it could have
| achieved in centuries in different
environment, without the aid of the
whites. The negro has needed the
example as we'll as the aid of the
white man. In sections where the
colpred population is masSed and re-
m wed from contact with the whites
the progress of the negro has been
, retarded. He believes in educating
his children, because he can see that
an increase of knowledge will enable
them to better their condition. But
segregate the colored population and
You take away the OBJ ject-lesson.'
NO INTERMAKKIAGE
The relations of the negro to re-
ligion and society were next con-
| sidercd 10y the Ex-Governor. In re-
gard to intermarriage he said:
''lntermarriage at the South not
| only makes the union void. but sub
jects the officiating clergyman to
punishment in the chain gang, the
penitentiary or heavy money fine, in
the discretion of the udge.
''If the people of the North see fit
to differ with us on this point we will
not have any dispute over the matter,
as the people of the South are not
much given to the effort at control
Of other mems matters. We are in
perfect harmony with the old adage:
There is no disputing about tastes
Il heard very admirable speech
from a very intelligent negro, before
a Southern Baptist convention, dur
ing its session at Birmingham, Ala.
The negro preacher was discussing
the race problem, and when he reach
ed this feature of his subject he re-
marked that many people seemed
afraid the negro would at no distant
day demand social equality. He
then said there need be no fear on
this point, as he knew many white
men he would not allow to sleep in
his bed.
$50 we are pretty well agreed on
both sides down South that social
equality is not desired by either race,
and, in my candid Judgment, it will
never obtain. Social equality would
beget amalgamation, and amalgama-
tion would result in miscegenation,
and miscegenation would be an open
violation of the law of God. God
made one negro and the other
white man. 1t is the opinion of the
people of the South that He intended
them so to remain.
"Miscegenation by law will never
take place in the South. That may
be accepted as an established fact
and settled beyond 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 dependent,
in a measure at least, upon the white
man, as he cannot hope to dominate
| him.
A RIGHTEOUS SETTLEMENT.
The relations between the races
at the South are in no sense alarm
ing. Under God we will work out the
problem in righteous settlement for
| both races if we are left alone.
Negroes are employed upon our
farms in preference to white people.
They are used as coachmen. mechan-
les. and in all trades. They never
suffer for lack of work if they want a
job. We provide for them good
! schools, that are superintended by the
same boards as control the white
schools. Their religious training is
carefully guarded by the churches in
constantly strengthened, as the ne
groes are beginning to know the
white people at the South are their
best friends.
"It Is only very small per cent.
of negroes that are malicious, crimi-
nal and mean. The race should not
suffer in reputation because of the
bad character of few. The better
part of the negroes. and this is by far
the larger part. are beginning to CO.
operate with the white people for bet
ter conditions.
| INCENDIARY NORTHERN NEGROES.
In addition to denunciations by
the press our colored brethren of the
North have assumed dictatorship
over the white people at the South.
In a recent issue OF the papers Of
this city appeared an account of a
meeting, | suppose. of colored peo-
pie. described to be enthusiastic. in
which it was said. referring to the re-
cent lvnching in Georgia.: The eli
max of the evening was reached, how
ever, when Captain Williams and
Lieutenant Jackson said that every
negro should carry Winchester and
wherever negro was killed their
brethren should go out on the high
ways and the byways and the first
white man they saw should be shot
down.
This is one way to settle it, accord
ing to the colored people of Boston.
Not one word about the viilainous
scoundrel who did the double tragedy y
"a human tiend. Kill every white
man you meet who dares defend the
women of the South against such
iniquitous outrage, and the race prob
lem will be settled in the South,
The colored people of New iorl
mat hout the same time and banded