The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-18
THE TIMES RICHMOND VA TUESDAY. DI EMBER - 1900

It Will be generally approved by the white
Republicans of the South. The Trans
cript further says that the revelation of
Southern sentiment afforded by Mr.
Pritchards words Is interesting and sig
nificart- and that its significance IS found
In its political sympathy with the white
supremacy programme openly atoWed by
the Southern Democrats. Mr. Pritchard
utterances,' it goes on, ARE more canoio
and emphatic than those OF southern re
publscans generally, hut they gain most
of their Importance by being only PFe'''a-
turc. This is a fact that needs to be borne
in mind by Nortnerner:s IN considering 'he
Southern race problem, for 1t "ouio 'aAe
only a very little indiscreton, very niue
haste in the North, to bring the secret
solidarity of Southern whites into me
open and to reduce the white Repuohcali
party, now a struggling, but stiil grow"
ing, organization to a political nonenuty.
Then reminding the Northern people
That whatever may be said at Northern
baruuets and on other such occasions OF
the solidarity of the Union the South is
Sold in opposition to what it deems negro
rule, it adds:
This is not saying that we of the North
should tamely allow the Constitution to
be Interpreted south of Mason and Dixon's
line directly opposite to the Interpretation
north OF il; ii is simply saying that the
color problem cannot be solved without
taking into consideration Southern senti-
1nent as Il factor not to be eliminated save
BY the most delicate processes. The prob
lem is one of the gravest that contronts
us The Soutiis position is in effect null
LITIGATION OF the Constitution ny concerted
action within State lines. mat cannot
be disguised: but grave as the proD!em IS
to-day, its gravity can be intensified ten
fold by hasty action. undertaken in
punitive spirit, which might bring the
Northern Democrats, now silent on this
important question. into active co-opera-
ton with their brethren OF the South.
1t is an encoura ging sign that New
England Republican journals are taking
this very conservative and sensible view
There is no sort of doubt that the pen
atty clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
was conceived and enacted not so much
in the interest of the black man as
punishment to the Southern whites for
refusing TO let the negro vote. 1T was
conceived in malice and hatred OF the
Southern whites and there is place in
our scheme Of government, in the Union
Of States, for any such spirit or for any
measure enacted in SUCH a spirit. The
enfranChisement Of the negro was great
outra ge and is now so regarded by every
right thinking man at the North The
Southern people were compelled, III the
interest of good government, law and
order and every other interest, to prevent
indiscrimnate negro suffrage from having
free course and it has been through the
greatest distress that prohib!uVe measures
have been adopted to prevent negro RUE
The Northern people NOW see what Ter
!il,le wrong negro suffrage was, and now
the Southern people have suffered. They
know full well that under similar clrcum-
stances they would have acted i'll the
same way with less consideration for the
black man Taking that view of it and
seeing as they do see that the people OF
the South were compelled by the necessi-
ties OF the case TO prevent the great mass
of ignorant and vicious negroes from Vot-
ing, the fair minded men at the North
are not willing we believe, to punish
the Southern whites for taking this ac-
ton. The Transcript gives timely warn
ing. Whenever the attempt is made TO
intlict punishment upon the Southern
whites. their friends at the North VIII
come to the rescue, and there Will be
trouble, as sure as fate, for the Republican