The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-16
JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES
ON RACE PROBLEM
Separation, He Says, Is Only
Permanent Solution.
PEOPLE MUST FACE ISSUE

PEOPLE MUST FACE ISSUE
Question Can Now Be Settled With
out Bloodshed-Delay Is Dangerous.
Legislation of No -Avail-Parting of
Ways Has Been Reached.
MoSrGoMoRY, Ala, May 10.-The fea-
ture of today's session Of the race con-
ference was the speech of the Hon. John
Temple Graves of Georgia. Mr.. Graves
speech was one of the ablest efforts OF
his life and shows deep study of the
problem. The distinguished Georgian
was never in better voice and was given
the closest attention throughout.
Mr.. Graves paid tribute to the efforts
Of Council, Booker Washington, Bishop
Turner and other leading negroes, but
his speech shows that he is uncompro-
misingly in favor Of separation OF the
races.
He contends that there is no room IN
the industrial field for the negro, and
that education only awakens ambitions
which can never be realized, unless there
is a separation. To make his argument
more pointed Mr.. Graves refers to the
time when the Lord led the children OF
Israel from the land Of Egypt, thus re-
leasing them from bondage.
The speaker dwelt at length upon the
race problem as it presents itself to the
thinking man, touching upon the ne
gro's industrial, political, social and
civil standing in the United States. He
stated that the industrial education OF
the negro only tended to bring him IN
closer competition with the white man,
thus augmenting the bitter feeling al
ready existing between the two races.
Proceeding Mr.. Graves presents meth
ods for the solution of the problem,
and advocates the repeal Of the fifteenth
amendment. He regards the enfran-
chisement Of the negro as the American
mistake of the century, but the disfran-
chisement Of the negro would not be
permanent solution.
Must Separate the Races.
The only permanent solution, he says,
is the separation Of the races. Proceed
ing, he says:
"On this great question I stand now
where have always stood-where Web
ster stood and Henry Clay; where
Thomas Jefferson stood, and Abraham
Lincoln, and Henry Grady, and Council
and Turner and the rest-where III time
all men will stand who see the light and
dare to face it.
esSeparation is the logical, the inev-
liable, the only way. No other proposed
solution will stand the test Of logic and
experiment.
s.For no statute will permanently
solve this problem. No anodyne OF law,
no counter irritant of legislation Will
quiet it longer than the hour of its ap-
plication. rhe evil is in the blood OF
races, the disease is in the bones and the
marrow and the skin Of antagonlstic
peoples.
Religion does not solve the problem,
for the Christ spirit will not be all per-
vasive until the millenial dawn.
Education complicates the problem.
Every year of enlightenment increases
the negro's apprehension of his position,
of his merits and attainment, and OF the
inconsistency between his real and con-
stirutional status in the republic. Edu-
cation brings perception, and ambition
follows, with aggressive assertion against
the iron walls of a prejudice that has
never yielded and will never yield. The
conflict is nrepressible and inevitable.
Time Complicates Problem
.'Time complicates the problem by
giving increasing numbers and addi-
tional provocation to the negro, and in
creasing danger to the struggle which
logic and destiny render certain.
s'Politics complexities the problem by
bringing times of fierce civ;c c,,n:llcr
when the passions and prejud:ce;o OF IL :
ton may be moved to p"r L. II ;..i..:!
ment with the deep and luz. x t:::,i
gers OF the race question
1--WE have cone III God $ T-o!ii"n;e
to the parting OF the ways.
s.In the name Of histc..v s,:d @ h.i-
mailitv: III the interest of ..o;n :.,,:,.-',
and III the fear Of Gc,, / cal 90 . ,iis''
sion
I'VE can make Il ii..e;.c .si':''y ,lny:. y"
NAV be forced To accomplish L ii , o,.,..
hereafter.
"The time is propi;io:i> ;::.d Il, Cal
try is ripe Tor separations.
In conclusion. the speaker say:
Away with experiment! LII rs Eava
done with tcmlerizinG. .s.".S "i,ii
timidity and hesitation! Let .lsi;.c. ;:::
great question like men! Lei u: ss:el,.,e {
the mighty issue ''ravvly and one, ,'g
all. Let Us see the erd fro:n tbs: '''.s:ss
ming, and go forth 10 nee. IL with f.!it:;
in God and III our race.
"And Almighty God. tae last in,lal-
nent factor in the desrinieS Of men. VIII
strike the scales from our clouaed eyes
and lead to the kindly light people
who, with earnest fai!h anf' >tren,, =,
endeavor, have sought to help ether;
and to help themselves.
Charter Applied For.
COLUMBIA, S. c.. May IA ccnnn;s
sion has been issaed 20 the N'innslo1n