Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-04-21

In dealing with the Negro of the
South. sad for that matter, the repub-
lican party. too, judging by it's supine-
ness and inaction in the premises, pro-
ceeds on the assumption that the Ne
gro has no rights aud that he shall
have no voice in matters vitality AZ
fecting his welfare and that he shall
be kept degraded and shall never be
permitted to rise above the condition
of laborer and farm hand. But never
was assumption more groundless and
never was conduct based thereon more
reprehensible and unpsrdonsb,e, for
the Negro has every righ. that the
white man has, that is, provided sol
emn enactment and contract, national
and state, mean anything.
Thus, the Negro is first citizen by
national enactment, made so because
of his loyalty aud because he freely
shed his blood TO maintain the in
tegrity OF the Union. And second, ths
Negro is citizen by solemn state
enactment, because in order to be re-
habilitste rs states in the Union aud
TO obtain the great advantages of the
Union each southern state ratified all
these Constitutional Amend ndmepts that
conferred citizenship upon the Negro,
and that prohibited all discriminati ton
on account OF race, color or previous
condition. Now. therefore, how can
anybody, however exscted, have high
er title TO citizenship than the Negro?
II anything is. or can be sacred and
inaliensble 1t Is the Negroes right of
citizenship.
RIenTs NULLIrIRp.
But in spite Of the sacredness and
inaliensbiiity of the Negro's rights of
citizenship the Southern states, from
8. 0. TO Texas, have completely aulli-
ned them soon the nulliHc alton will
extend TO N. @. and ere long the knell
OF the Negro's liberty and citizenship
will be sounded from the Potomac TO
the Rio Grande. The Negro is now
prostrats in the dust in the greater
part of the South and soon will bs in
all the South. He not only has no
voice in his own welfare, but is re-
garded like the animals that till the
helde. Indeed his condition in many
respects worse, because it 10 some
body,s interest to protect them while
it is nobodS's interest, not even the
laws to protect him he is fair prey
for all. The Providence that tempers
the wind to the shorn lamb is not for
him His chains are heavy and riyet-
ed fast, and apparently, there is no
hope for him, certainly not from the
South. Yet he is not without hope
provided he uses firmly, wisely and
unitedly the power he possesses in q
certain quarter. What lie that quar-
ter? Let Us see.
srATEMeNT OF THE CASE.
Although the N4gro's rights of eiti-
| zenship are sullifiei aud although he
lies helpless and prostrate in the dust,
subject TO lynching and every outrage
throughout the South, yet he is not
without hope, but this hope will prove
. delusion unless he effectually uses
the means that are undoubtedly with
in his reach. 1t is vain, however, &C
look to the south; his only hope is in
the Republican party, not from his jus
tice but from it's fears. Hitherto the
Negro has done everything for the Re.
| pHblican party, but has required the
| Republican party to do nothing foI
him. IL is and has been over again
| the old way OF the hunter and the In
dian in the division OF the game. I'll
take the turkey, says the hunter, and
| you'll take the buszard, or you take
the buzz ard and Pll take the turkey.
The Negro has gotten the buzzsrd ev.
cry time. The Republican party feel.
ing it caa play this game indefinitely
feels under no coustrsint to trouble it.
self about SO slight matter as the Ne.
Rro's rights, vital though they be.
MUST CHANGE HIS TAcrIcs.
The Negro must change his tssTics O
giving all and requiring nothing and
must require q full equivalent for hi
services which are essential to republi
can success; for without the Negro
vote in New York. Ohio and Maryland
the Republican party is inevitably
doomed 20 defeat. These states there
fore are the key to the political situa
tion and the Negro holds .the key