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

necI an unanimous acceptance OF the
opinion which | shall advance. But
however faliacious my opinion or un
sound my conclusion, the effort will
not be in vain If in some way can IS
s[st in directing more attention and
thought to whatever errors the past
NAV hold up to our view, and through
such study, prepare ourselves for the
fewer errors and the greater triumphs
of the future.
EHFRAxoAIsRMENT NOT A CRIME.
/ believe iI is the fashion to speak OF
the enfranchieement of the freedmen
as the gigantic crime Of the century
as the blunder without parallel in po-
liticsI history. But in this matter, L
must confess that am mol fashionable.
TO nv 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, not ignorance
but corruption hiding it's hldeous de-
fermities beneath the splendid attire OF
intelligence and opulence, has dug the
grave, and pronounced the funeral
obseuuies of nearly all past national
greatness. or the ole, untutored ex
slave many of whom long since have
been gathered to their peaceful graves,
some of whom still linger upon the
shores of time, confid. ntly assert my
unwayeripg conviction that no b0dy OF
man ever marched to the ballot box
with nurer motives and nobler in
tantions than, when with all the re-
ugion of their souls, with charity for
aii and malice towards none," they cast
tbair ballot for that great party which
thev sacredly and religiously regarded
a.. Go1's instrument IN their emanci
nstion The hand of violence is being
laid heavily upon the Negro In some
narts of ths country. State Legislatures
ore grinding out with discouraging
yapidIty legislation which tends to hu
initiate the Negro, and to crush his
ambition, but these untoward events
must not be attributed TO the blunders
of the uhsophisticated eXfslave, VINO
usually contented himself as citizen
with the privilege Of casting his oallot
without re gard so much as 10 winch
way it was counted. Eos him despite
his voting, the friendliest 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
nreiudice has been Intensified, where
the op pposition 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 q younger gene
ration.
What means the CRY against Negro
domination, Ufor "White supremacy"
Whloh has been heard N every south
ern state? 1t is the protest Of the whites
against Negro office holders, and Negro
poIiticiaps. 1t Is the announcement
that wealth and intelligence have de-
termhed that ignorance and poverty
must take back seat. 1t Is deciara
ton to the educated. ambitious young
Negro that the question Of official
prominence and power cannot be SET
tied by an ignorant and helpless ma
jority adversely to the wishes OF
wealthy and intelligent minority. 1t Is
the announcement that Intelligent men,
whether white or black, must not aspire
to positions of prominence and pslltl
cal prestsge uuless they nave the ap-
pro1sl of the wealth and intelligence OF
the community they represent. 1t Is
re iteration of the worlds hsaftless
oreed of q "survival of the hltest."
Inmy native city Of Wilmington,
North Carolina, have seen q govern
ment supported by ajority OF voters,
too weak to protect its cltlzens or even
TO project itself. I have seen the mayor
and the sheriff fugitives-heeing ior
their lives from the wrath of an intell1'