Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-02
NEGRO WELL TREATED.
(From Baltimore SUM-

Messrs. Editors: No matter what
may be mans politics, he should ne
yer seek to profit by unfair misrep-
reservations OF any person or section.
The South and its people should be
judged in spirit of fairness, not from
| political bias OF any kind.
On travelling through the South, in
GLIDING the States of North and South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Flort-
da. was much impressed by the fair
and kind treatment universally given
the colored people by the people of the
South.
In New Orleans there are about 3S
per cent. of the population colored peo-
pie. Now. apply the number OF col
ored people in this same proportion to
Baltimore. Would we exhibit any SUI
perior harmony and success in dealing
with the colored race If we had the
same proportion in our midst, viz. 2O0,-
600 colored people, and same Irritating
conditions? Under the same conditions
we might have the same race agitation
in Baltimore. perhaps to Il greater de-
gree than they have in the South.
The colored people have the same
school facilities in many places that
the white people have. and, notwith-
standing the impoverished condition OF
the South for the past 30 years. the
colored youth in the South has been
able to obtain II rudimentary educa-
llOn at Inc eNDc!lSt I'll tIc Nlute III
which he lives.
The older negroes I found respectful,
abiding and trusty. / found that
many of the young negroes, infamed
i i13y ,seiitic s,@s I-lliSlsM- and bad advice
from designing politicians, were grow
ing up Just the reverse. I found n
well-developed tendency among them
to bring their politics into their
churches, both on the part of the men
as we'll as the women. This. II we are
to preserve the fundamental princi-
pies of our Government, should never
be countenanced by either race. white
or black.
In one county the negroes carried an
election by 2S majority. which was OBJ
tanned by several instances of marked
brutality on the part of some of the
innamed negroes against members of
their own race who they thought would
side with the white people. their best
friends. and yet. Notwithstanding the
above, with the white people owning 80
per cent. of the property and possess
ing the greater intelligence. they sub
mitted quietly to this result. Would a
white community of the North have
done the same thing? In one city I
visited I found the white people had
practically given Il church to the col
ored people. who were needing house
of worship. and yet were struggling
themselves under a debt of their own
church of over $4,000. The law-abid-
ing negro is useful. respected and has
an even show with the white people in
the community in which he lives. But
what is the remedy against the vicious
influence of negro domination, when 1t
is led and influenced by designing
politicians? I take 1t to be an act of
justice TO the colored people and bet
terment of their conditions to require
of them as n suffrage qualification
sufficient intelligence to interpret the
laws or sufficient property qualifica-
tons to make them respect them
In my judgment. the Southern people
deserve much praise and credit for
their moderation in dealing with this
very difficult question. in awarding the
negro his full rights. and at the same
time in protecting themselves against
conditions that we further North do
not appreciate.
RICHARD ]. BIGGs.