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.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, May 1O.-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-
mlsingly 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 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
thlnklng man, touching upon the he.
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 a
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 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 in time
all men will stand who see the light and
dare to face it.
"Separation is the logical, the inev-
table, the only way. No other proposed
solution will stand the test of logic and
experiment.
"FOr no statute will permanently
solve this problem. No anOdyne of law,
no counterirritant of legislation will
quiet it longer than the hour of its ap-
plication. The evil is in the blood of
races, the disease is in the bones and the
marrow and the skin of antagonistic
| peoples.
Religion does not solve the problem,
| for the Christ spirit will not be all Der.
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.
stitutional status in the republic. Edu-
| cation brings perception, and ambition
follows, with aggressive assertion against
the iron walls Of q preju lice that has
never yielded and will never yield. The
conflict is irrepressiole and inevitable.
Time COmplicates Problem.
"Time complicates the problem by
giving increasing numbers and addi-
tional provocatiOn to the negro, and in
crcasing danger to the struggle which
logic and destiny render certain.
"POlitics complexities the problem bv
INvsIpN NCYIp ~
when the passions end preiudicci OF ta =
ton may be moved to par IL "A a!irn-
ment with the deep and lurA.lg t:an.
gers OF the race question.
1--WE have come III Gods providence
to the parting OF the ways
"In the name Of hiStCrv and o. hu.
| manity; III the interest Of hJih races.
and i'll the fear of Gcl, call .or q diva
| sion.
1--WE can make it pcac ably nov. W.
may be forced to accomplish 1t il 5:o,,!
hereafter.
"The time is propi,iou> and ;Ev couu.
try Is ripe for scparutiolI.'
In conclusion, the speaker says:
"Away with experiment! L,t us lave
done with tcmperiHuG. Aw.iy Wi,h
timidity and hesitation! Let lli ace, t!.r
great question like men! Let IL: Sruppr a
the mighty issue bravply and once ~
all. Let us see the end from the begin.
ming, and 60 forth 10 nlee. il with fAitn
i'll God and i'll our race
"And Almighty God the last immi-
nent factor i'll the destinieS of men. will
strike the scales from our clOudel ewes
and lead to the kindly light O people
who, with earnest faith AMI stren,l ~,
endeavOr, hnve sought to help others
and to help themselves"
Charter Applied For.
COLUMNA, S. c., May IA commits.
sion has been issued to the Winnsl,rn