Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-13
WHILE THERE IS TIME.

It is distinct pleasure to find occa-
sionally in the esteemed Richmond
Times something touching politics with
which 1t is possible to agree without
calling on reason to abdicate. and with
out kicking facts down the back stairs.
The Virginian- Pilot would like, there
fore. to give currency to the following,
uttered by that newspaper in defending
itself against charge of bitterness to-
ward the negro:
Another thing that would prevent
The Times from being needlessly harsh
or offensive to the negro is that the
negro race is not In a position to resent
such attacks. 1t requires no courage
for a newspaper conducted by white
man to attack the negro, for the white
man knows that he will not be called to
account"
There is nothing original or startling
in this declaration, but it embodies
fact that is particularly timely just
now. and one. withai, that should be
kept in mind by the press and public
speakers OF the Democratic party for
the next while.
campaign that shall have for one OF it's
main objects the elimination of the
major part of the negro vote in this
State. 1t is ptifully easy to arouse
racial antipathics, and no risk attaches
TO 1t Gas the Times points ouD. for the
white orator or the white mans news
paper. There is n temptation for the
~ Il
because he can always get shout of
from his audience, and Il
shout of approval is music in the spell
binders ears. For the newspaper there
is less excuse. 1t speaks, or should
speak, calmly. 1t voices, or should
people. Upon this matter, certainly,
what IT has to say should be said calmly
and sanely.
The Nirginian-Pilot does not believe
that there will be any particular neccs-
sity for a rantankerous. anti-negro
Democrats will, of course,
have TO reckon with the mouthing,
frothing fool who makes Incorporate
appeals to the negro, in season and out,
to stand UP for his rights" The way
to deal with this species OF animal,
however. is not to initiate him. The
white man can be trusted to stand up
for his rights in the premises, without
any particular urging. He has always
done so in the past: he will infallibly
keep uD the lick without fiery appeals
to his passions. Let us be spared them,
if possible.
The Suffrage question is one that
needs to be looked at in dry light; 1t
Is nre-emincntly one where we should
nothing cxteHua;e, nor set down aught
in malice" The vast majority of
negroes arc mere children. easily
aroused. easily mislcd. Naturally. as
suffraEis:s. they are an unsafe element.
But what is the use or benefit of abus-
ing them on that account? The negro
did not give himself the ballot: the
white men among whom he lives did
not 90 so. The condition is one that
was forced upon both races and is
c'early abnormal. But 1t is neither wise
nor generous to raise hue and cry
against the negro because others gave
him a privilege he was not prepared to
exercise wisely and has. therefore, in
evltably abused.
a rabid campaign on race lines will
inevitably leave dlsagreeablc legacics.
Nothing but the imminent danger of
negro domination could justify 1t. IN
this State there is no such danger.
The white man has the situation well
in hand. He can do what he will in this
suffrage matter and can do 1t coolly
and deliberately. There can be no eX-
cuse for his doing anything otherwise.
by all means. then. let Virginia be
spared the blind and insensate fury
that would mark a campaign. as it will
be but too easy to preciptate.
r # p r-FA VIPER ISM