Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-11-17
MORE ABoU T THE LILY.wAIpIs.

in its issue OF the 18th inst, under the
caption OF white Mans Republican
Party" discusses the attitude Of the
administration towards the citiz an of
color. Il said:
1T is said there was discussion in
the White House last Thursday of the
outcome OF the recent election OF sew
ersi Republican leaders. during which
it was suggested that Mr.. Mckinley
had q golden opportunity to organizs
white mans Republican party in the
SouIh by welding Jne Gold Democrats
aud white Republicans into an orgsni-
cation from which the Negro would be
omitted. The name of the Republican
statesman who made the suggestion l.
4 not given in the New York Herald
! where the story is told, but be probs-
bly, bel, ngs to that visionary class OF
which Colonel Sellers was q distin.
guished type. Naturally enough the
spoils OF Office constitute an important
factor IN his calculations regarding
the Gold Democrats. lie proceeds up
on the sssumpti IN that it is only neces
ssry TO take from the Negroes the OF.
| tices they now hold as Collectors OF
Customs, Collectors OF Internal Reeve
pue and Postmasters and give them 30
/ the Gold Democrats to CORRAL the lat
ter safely IN the Republican party.
This is very natural conclusion on
the part Of Republican spokesman
who is under the Limitation OF his en-
viz Inments, and who Judges every.
body else by himself"
That is well said. 1t continued:
In the first place. the Gold Demo
Y e. ~ NH -
gence and character far above the av.
erage voter OF either party. They a t
not oticaseek ers nor are they believer
| Ia Republican principles and policies
except on the gold standard question
and they cEDD9t be induced To endors~
Mr.. Nc kinIes's prosperity theory OF
| high t.xes, Imperialism and Trusts
for the sake OF Office"
1t seemed strange to us that any one
should need be told this. The class o.
men constituting the gold contingent
in the south is of itself an answer to
any such assumption. The INDEx-AP-
PEAL continued:
"Besides, depriving the Negro OF
| Re deral Nffice dues not throw him out
of the Republican party necessarily,
nor does it create q white mans Re-
publican party Und er existing party
conditions IN the south the Negro
woulr continue TO be the dominant ell
ement 10 the Republican party wheth-
er he held Office or not."
And again:
"A white mans Republican parlyi
wholly impractic.ble in the south. 1t
lie curse 60 the Republican party and
10 the south that the Negro vote il
solid for one party. lie is solid because
1T ia ignorant and unreasoning."
And we might remark that it is q
curse to the Democrats party .and to
the North that the laboringlswhite
vote of the south is solid for one par
ty It lie solid because it lie ignorant
and unreasoning. g
We agreed with the INDEX APPEAL
when it said:
1.-THE remedy for this is to elevate
the suffrage franchise by imposing an
educational condition for it's exercise
and then appealing to the intelligence
OF qualified coiored voters, encourag
ing them TO study public questions
and to divide on party issues, Just as
white voters do. When the Negro vot-
er is man OF Intelligence and educa-
ton, and learns to divide on public
questions, there will be less reluctauce
IL any at all, on the part of white men
IN the South to vote the Republic an
ticket when it stands for their cenvic
tions, as in the case of Gold Standard
Democrats, thousands of whom did
not vote at all in the late Prssiden
| election"
The INDEX APPEAL is all right on
this question and its Party is ell wrong
on the same subject.
Colored voters are not permitted to
divide on public questions, and ap-
pealing to his intelligence ia regarded
well-nigh as crime.
Toprove the truth OF what we say,
we have but to call attention to the
fact that educated Negroes are barred
from participation 10 the Democrats
Prim aries.
No selfrespecting white person will
deny this, Then how can you blame
or censure hin for not doing what
your party will not permit him to do?
The INDEx-APPEAL in this matter is
no doubt expressing its own personal
opinion rather than the public opinion
OF it's Party on this subject.
1t sizes up the situation when it
concludes as follows:
'The best interests of the south can
not be promoted by a white mans par
ty, nor black mans party, whether
Democratic or Republican. Either
would irritate and exasperate the race
question instead Of alIsying and re.
moving it.'
The ISDEx-APPEAL is the true friend
of its Party and the South. When
will it be enabled to lift ITS political
colleagues to the same lofty level
which it now occupies.
Candid.