The colored American., 1900-06-02
ISSUES OF The HOUR.
Continued from 1st page

In the discussion Of the first question
pEOpOunded, suppose must not ex-
pecL an unanimous acceptance Of the
opinion which l shall advance. But
however faliacious my opinion or un
sound my conclusion, the effort will
not be in vain If in some way | can ss
slst in directing more attention and
thought to whatever errors the past
may hold up to our view, and through
such study, prepare ourselves for the
fewer errors and the greater triumphs
of the future.
EEFRAEOAISRMENT NOT A CRIME.
| believe it is the fashion to speak of
the acknowledgment of the freedmen
as the gigantic crime Of the century
as the blunder without parallel in po-
litical history. But in this matter, |
must confess that L am nol fashionable.
To my mind, ignorance Is not tAe
greatest obstacle in the way OF proper
exercise OF the rights Of enfranchlse-
ment. In the great cemetery of the
nations Of the world, net ignorance
but corruption hiding its h1deOus de-
formities beneath the splendid attire Of
Intelligence and Opulence, has dug the
grave, and pronounced the funeral
Obsequies of nearly all past national
greatness. OF the OLD, untutored ex
slave many of whom long since have
been gathered to their peaceful graves,
some OF whom still llnger upon the
shores of time, | contid' ntly asserS my
unWaVeTiDg conviction that no Dody Of
men ever marched to the ballot box
with purer motives and nobler in
ts0tions than, when with all the re-
ngion OF their souls, with charity for
all and malice towards none, they cast
their ballot for that great party which
they sacredly and RelIg1ousiy regarded
"a Cots instrument "a their emanci
nation. The hand of violence is being
laid heavily upon the Negro IN some
parts OF the country. State legislatures
are grinding out with di5couraging
rapidIty legislation which tends to hu
initiate the Negro, and to crush his
ambition, but these untOward events
must not be attributed 10 the blunders
of the unsophisticated eX'slave, who
usually contented himself as q citizen
with the privilege Of casting his ballot
without regard so muoh as to which
way it was counted. Eos HIM despite
his voting, the friendIiest relations ex
isted and do now exist on the part OF
the ex stakeholder and his children.
In those parts of the South where the
relations between the whites and the
blacks have been strained, where racial
prejudice has been Intensified, where
the opposition OF the white man has as.
sumed its bitterest form, 1t is easy DO
trace these conditions to the activity, |
the ambition and aspiration of the
educated Negroes Of younger gene
ration.
What means the ory against NEGRO |
;" for "White supremacy"
WhIoh has been heard N every south
eFn state? 1t is the protest OF the whites
against Negro office holders, and Negro |
politicians. 1t is the announcement |
that wealth and intelligence have de- |
termined that ignorance and poverty |
must take back seat. 1t IS declaFa
tion to the educated. ambitious young |
Negro that the question Of official
prominence and power cannot be set |
tied by aD ignorant aud helpless ma |
jority adversely to the wishes of q |
wealthy and intelligent minority. It Is
the announcement that intelligent men,
while or black, must not aspire
to positions of prominence and petit
cal prestsge uuless they nave the ap-
prOVal Of the wealth and intelligence or
the community they represent. 1t Is a
re- iteration OF the WOTld's heartless
oreed OF survival OF the fiItest."
In my native city OF Wilmington,
North Carolina, have seen q govern
ment supported by maj Ority of voters,
TOO 70 Yor0tooE re- ctfIzana 0r aVan