Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-01-19
THE RACE PROBLEM:
Important Conference of South,
ern Men to be Held in Al
< - ALBANIA.

A committee of white citi-
zens was appointed at, a recent
meeting in Montgomery. Ala,
to make arrangements for a
large conference of Southern
men TO consider the race ques
ton as affecting the South. The
purposes Of the proposed confer
euee are. stated as follows in the
call that was issued inviting at
tendance at the preliminary
meeting ".'.1 Il .''' "
Gas Southern men, We feel
that any real solution OF our
race problem can. be best APP
preached by the people Of the
South themselves, and under the
leadership of those forces which
represent the dominant infuen-
ces of our own section. We
have realized, however, that
there is as yet among us no par
Lament either of men or of ideas
There is no general organ or in
stitution through which the vas
ried aspects of Southern con-
viction can gain expression. Be-
ljeving, as we do, in the value
of debate and in the use of argu.
ment, we feel that a conference
Of Southern men upon this SUBJ
ject will have a deep and far
reaching influence upon our
public opinion. This confer,
ence. if successful, might be
held each year, and might be-
come our recognized organ for
the expression of Southern seq
timent in relation to the most
vital of Southern problems. In
Older that it may command in
the fullest sense the interest and
the confidence OF our people, we
prefer to have its sessions open
to the ADLER and more respon-
sible advocates of the various
conflicting opinions which OBJ,
tain among us. We should like
to see this conference deal with
such subjects as the relation Of
the negro to the franchise, the
relation of the negro to educa
ton and to religion, and the re-
lation of the negro to the social
order (including a discussion OF
the lynching question: We see
no reason why this conference
should not become national in
Its interests and its influence,
and as citizens of Montgomery
we see no reason why Montgom
cry should not become its annu>
al home"
The committee has published
All official account of the meet
ing thus held, III winch It /
said:
at is intended that the cons
ference shall be as representa-
tive as it can be made. The de
bates will necessarily be oCCas-
Ions IF certain amount of con
troversy, but this controversy,
expressing the honest, though
conflicting, opinions of our own
section, will not be the contro>
ve1sy which is embittered by
sectional prejudice. The very
freedom of debate will not only
command for the conference the
confidence of all classes of our
people. but will bring the ablest
to realize that this is a fair OPP
portunity for the advocates OF
every serious measure for relief.
In such all arena, guarded SO far
as possible with scrupulous fair
1nindedness from every abuse OF
the privileges of debate, the
truth must ultitn ately prevail
There must result the broader
education of the public mind
both North and South in the
facts of the case and in the bet
ter understanding of the 1eme,
dies suggested.
"While it is intended that the
conference shall remain strictly
within the control of Southern
men, and while most Of the
speakers will be selected from
the South, it is hoped that two
or three men from the North
who have given this question
serious and helpful consider
alton, may be induced to be
Present as Our guests"