The gold leaf., 1900-08-23
NO LOVE FOR
THE NEGROES.
NORTHERN REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS MILD
IN THEIR COMMENTS
Anent Restricted Suffrage in the South
Privately They Have no Use for
the Negro and Similarly Situated
They Would Treat Him Politically
Just as We Do-The Negro In WASH
ington City.

They Would Treat Him Politically
Just as We Do-The Negro In Wash.
ington City.
(Washington Special to Baltimore Sun,
1t is noted here with much interest
that the comment. Of the Republican
press and politicians of the North on
negro disfranchisement in the South
are, as whole, couched in very
moderate tones.
This is not less significant than the
tone OF sentiment here, which prac-
tlcally is in thorough sympathy with
the movement. One con-
stantly hears it's leading representa-
tive men admit, 1--WE would be very
sure to do the same thing under the
same circumstances" OF course this
is not said for publication and these
gentlemen would be very quick to dis
claim any snch expressions if invested
with their personal authority. They
have no hesitation in making such ut
terances under the protection of pri-
vate conversation.
1t may surprise the country at
large to be informed, what is so well
known in Washington, that there are
no men anywhere who have at heart
such contempt for and antipathv to-
ward the negro as the Republican Of
fcials, high and low. This is carried
to such an extent that not q few of
them in both branches of Congress
and in the executive department will
not employ them in their households
An evening or two since, while sit
ting in conversation with a group
composed, with the exception of my
| self, of officials entirely. an army Of
iiccr remarked: II wish we could
have some of the North Carolina
methods here" and grunt of assent
went all around the circle. This
feeling toward the negro in this COM
munity is not because Of his illiteracv.
for Congress has provided the most
lavish means of education, going in
deed to the verge Of absurdity. 1t is
because education and civil equality
have failed to produce the improve
mcnt which was anticipated. Ask
| any observer who comes from the
North to Washington '.Who do you
think are the best classes of negroes?"
and the instant reply will be Those
| who come down from slave times.n
| This city is the heaven of the ne
gro. He takes liberty and license
which the white man would not think
| of. The great aim and ambition of
uncomfortable, disagreeable and an
noying to the whites as possible. In
| the nights of summer their conduct
and their language on the suburban
cars are at times so disgraceful and
disgusting as to be almost unendur-
able. In the last week or two the
newspapers of this city have been
filled with communications on this
subject, appealing to the authorities
and the railway officials for relief.
| Who set the example of disfranchis
ing the negro but the Republican
Congress? In very few years after
comforting the suffrage the Republi
can party in Congress at one blow
wiped the negro from the body polite
of the capital Of the country. Why
was this done? Because the negro
had shown himself to be unworthy of
and untitled for the exercise Of the
| privilege. TO disfranchise the negro
in the District of Columbia, which
was right, Congress also disfran-
chiscd the white man, which was
wrong. The white man in Washing
ton had from the foundation of the
city enjoyed, in common with his fell
low countrymen, the privilege of the
elective franchise. He had exercised
that privilege intelligently and hon
estly, and until the "wards of the
nation" were thrown in one mass into
local politics no scandal. no taint OF
corruption had ever attached to the
municipal government OF Washington
and Georgetown. AS it is. the white
man is content to be deprived of what
was his by right and inheritance
rather than return to the era of vice,
villainly, depravity and dishonesty
which characterized and which mark
ed equal and impartial suffrage.
When the subject of negro disfran-
chisement comes up in Congress this
feature of local disfranchisement will
| necessarily enter into discussion and
consideration. 1t is an embarrassing
question. but it must be met. If the
illiterate negroes of the South should
vote. why should not the educated
negroes of the District of Columbia9
There is probably not one young ne
gro desperate in ten in this city not
able to read and write. Some Of them.
through the prodigal generosity of
Congress. many know bookkeeping
and music and all that sort of thing.
Nevertheless they are not good citi-
zens and the substance and intelligence
of the District would rise up in indig-
nant remonstrance against any prop
osition to give them access to the
ballot-box
Many of the deep thinking and far
seeing men of the Republican party,
while they may be driven by party
pressure and discipline into the sup
port of repressive and retaliatory
measures toward the Southern States
which are eliminating the negro from
politics. are inclined to resort to other
courses for maintaining and enlarging
party supremacy. These are begin
ming to doubt the efficacy and the e1-
pediency of force bills aud reduction
! Of representation.
| For years past it has been the talk
among the politicians Of both parties
that the fear Of negro domination
once and forever removed from the
minds of the people OF the South, the
States of that section would split up
on party divisions. just as do all other
| States OF the Union. This, whether
true or not, is certainly most plausi-
BILE, and the idea has found a deep
! lodgment Through motives Of policy