Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1900-06-06
VIRGINIA AND THE NEGRO.
IF. t. Miller in Bristol Conn. Press. ]

| IF. T. Miller In Bris oil Conn. J Press
| Virginia has called Constitutions
Convention for the purpose OF disfran.
chising the black vote, In South Car.
DINA, Mr. Tillman has frankly inform cd
us, they have "disfranchised tae negro
mo we are proud of it," in Louisiana
and MisslssIppilegal barri srs debar the
negro from active politics. In a Ger.
tsin little town in North Carolins the
black voter 70 "taueht" to vote by the
persuasive seven-shooter; in another
little iowa he is "taught" 10 keep out
Of sight on election day. A friend told
me on the steps of the capitol at Wash
Ington the oher day that in his town
n Georgia that they were perfectly
wiling that the negro should vote, che
can vote twice if he wishes to-for we
never stop to count them |"
After years study of the situation
and Going through one campaign with
a political nominee in q mounta n dis
trict in old Virginia I am persuaded
that the historic old State; the mother
OF States and Presidents, does need q
constitutional provision that will at
least close out the "brute" black vote
The Virginians are the few remaining
old colonial Americans; culture and g.
hnement are their character, ts and
brains not money are their standard of
mans value--and still today, the bal
lot of "son of Jefferson is DESTROYED
by the big, burly incompetent that
doesn't know whether no is voting for
Gree whiskey" or John Brown"
l sat before the cabin of colored
politician on bank Of the North branch |
OF the James river one evening during |
the last county campaign and he told |
me In his arguments "'bout de wa
when GenI Grant an Pres'e emit Clebe-
land done bab fight right front dat
do! An Napleonian Bon'pot SIREN
5ered to Gen'l Wash'ton out in dat
co'nfel' back O. de cotehousel'
Virginia needs a proper educational
qualification. Let the colored man vote
1nalded at the next election and there
would not be properly cast ballots
enough left in the box after the i'm
prepared ones were thrown
'ut, to feel lonesome. And again-it
8 the ugly, brawling, burly, poultry
aislng. watermelon ignoramus, who
'elieves that white man is as good
s bigger" if he only behaves him
expects the nomination to
congress and aspires to the political
snors and gubtYaatorill honors quick
r than his m3re enlightened and in.
'lligent colored brother.
The Booker Washington negro will
ndoubtedIy make thinking citizen;
ut the Tuskegee black is rare, and
W and far between. He Is only
curiosity. The typical representa-
We black is shiftless, INDECENT, ambi-
onless, with less than a good Ken o
cky horse-sense and an aggravated n
final immortality He needs help,
ID ne needs it badly; he is merely a =
lcleus citizen. He is still in the dark u
d dense embryo and is no more G.
allied to cast an honest ballot today
an is missionary masticating, hula
lu cannibal.
HIS vote can be purchased today for IL
lrin6 OF "moonshine;" (you see he has tt
eady acquired the Montana instinct, Dc
,epting up there it takes two drinks n
isn't Republican and he isn't a
one thing on the
ction morning and doz On different
ngs before night, and he votes at
J, l doubt he always knows! The m,
Icated negro will undoubtedly make NJ
God citizen, but not in time to vote
for Bryan or Mckinley.
,irglnia needs proper educational
LITIGATION and it is vital to good
eminent. Oh, yes! 1t would shut
large part of the illiterale 800
tie" vote-but it's intelligent voting a c
% talking about, and not shades = y
textures of skin. -
p, well-if it's simply the negro you nai
t to rid yourself of because a creator
'tpaint him your color-then you'd
er come up to New England and TaJ
Our negroes up here are men; we Ker
MT got many of your Sou.bern the
oes and we don't want them.