The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-15
NEGROES UNFIT FOR
POLITICAL RIGHTS
No More Comprehension of
Political Principles Than
the Bob Tail Dog.
DRIVES AWAY IMMlGRA-
TON.
Negro Suffrage Keeps Out Desirable
Foreign immigration.
AMENDMENT MEANS INDUSTRIAL DEvEL
0PMENT.
he South Needs More Folks But They Will
Not Come as Long as There is
Unrestricted Negro
CuHroro
Negro Suffrage Keeps Out Desirable
Foreign immigration.
AMENDMENT MEANS INDUSTRIAL DEVEL
OPMENT.
Suffrage.
Especial to News and Observer. }

- d gentleman or Northern birth
Republican in politics, came to this
county some years ago and purchased
land at Highlands. He owns property ane
is deeply interested in immigration and
agriculture. Since his residence in the
South, Mr.. Stewart has made it a point
to study the negro question, and in a com
Franklin Press, Mr.. Stewart writes an
able and strong article in favor of the
pending Constitutional Amendment. It is
as follows:
THE PENDING AMENDMENT
To the Editor: This subject is worthy
OF the deepest consideration. There never
has occurred in history anything like the
facts upon which this amendment ia
based. One occurrence only has ever han
pened like the sudden enfranchisement OF
some millions of slaves, semi barbarOus
and entirely ignorant of the duties and re-
sponsibilities which attach to the position
of a free intelligent citizen. And that
one occurrence was the sudden liberia
tion from slavery of the Hebrew race the
total numbers of which when they were
permitted to depart from Egypt amounted
to only six hundred thousand souls. But
what happened in that case? This large
number of slaves, ignorant and supersti-
tious, we may be sure, from their beha-
vior in the wilderness, were forced to I'M
dergo forty years of solitary wandering
until the last ancient slave was dead, and
a race of people, young. hardy, enured to
toll and hardship. and self sustenance,
increased in numbers many times, were
precipitated like an avalanche upon the
first nation they met with, as they were
permitted to emerge from the scene of
their wanderings and tutelage under
Moses and their religious instructors, and
pour like a flood upon the people whom
they had to wage war with during still
more years, until they were able and
well fitted for self government.
In our case, on the contrary six mil
lions of people, ignorant and unfit for
civilized citizenship, were suddenly pre-
cipitated into equality. politically and, to
a degree, socially, with an educated re-
fined people. This we may we'll be sure
was done as a punishment upon the South
by a victorious, overbearing North, de-
sirous of humiiating, and destroying-in
measure-the self-reSpect and liberty
VI luSlI uSIedleu opponents. VI lnIS i
am personally cognizant from my then
position an editorial correspondent OF
Northern political paper.
What could be expected from such an
unexampled occurrence? Precisely what
happened. The South lying helpless I'M
der the grievous burden of humiliation.
divided some in their natural pride and
independence stood aloof, while the noto-
rious carpet baggers descended like vul-
lures on their prey, and by the aid of
these ignorant negroes captured the gov
ernments. robbed the people, stole and
plundered for years, until a partial recoV-
cry of the South was accomplished and
by slow degrees some order and system
were infused into public affairs; and the
Southern people set to work as best they
could to bring order and prosperity out
of ruin. What has been effected stands
as miracle of patience and industry;
for without help by immigration, which
was all diverted to the richer North. and
brought enormous wealth of all kinds. the
South has worked out her own saliva
ton, although burdened by the load laid
upon it by her conquerors.
These are the facts, disguise or cover
them over as one may. And after less
time than was spent in the complete en-
reimbursement of Hebrew slaves, this ne
gro element In Southern population still