Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
THE RACE QUESTION
How the Negro Has Been Eliminated
From Politics.
EFFORT IN NORTH CAROLINA
How Whites and Blacks Regard
Each Other.
THE PARAMOUNT ISIS . E
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


RALEIGH, N. c.. August %, 1900.
For many years the ill:terate blacks OF
the south have been deprived of their bal
lot illegally. This fact has not been con-
cealed by the whites OF the southern states;
in fact they have freely and openly de-
clared that so long as the negro was en-
titled by law to the same right of suffrage
as themselves they would that either
he did not vote or else that his vote was
not counted as 1t was cast The recent
movement throughout the south toward
the Acknowledgement of illiterate negroes
is merely an attempt on the part of the
whites to lcgalize what has been done il
legally ever since the war.
The social relations Of the white man to
the black man in the south are not very
Wei understood by the people of the north
ern states. Despite the fact that the whites
have ceased to own the blacks as chatteis
they do own them in fact the dominant
and controlling power socially and CONNER
cia.ly. The blacks do not resent this reIa-
ton to the whites. but seem to accept it
as the natural orGer of things and as not
entirely undesirable This is thoroughly
we'll illustrated in North Carolina today,
where by an overwhelming majority into
the character OF which the less inquiry is
made the better, 10000 or $1,000 negroes had
their suffrage taken from them. Such action
i'll northern state would produce local
revolution accompanied by armed violence
In fact, such course would be impos-
sible under any circumstances except those
which prevail in the southern states.
How the Races Regard Each Other.
The negro of North Carolina looks upon
the white man of property or of influence
as his natural born superor-one to whom
he not only gives respect but to whom
he looks for protection in time of trouble
and assistance in time of need. On the
other hand the white of North Caro-
ma, and these characterizations apply to
nearly all OF the other southern states as
Well, looks upon the negro his social
and commercial inferior, but at the same
u!ne leels great responsibility as to the
negro welfare ana happiness Following
out this theory and relationship the white
man very naturally and consistently does
not believe that the negro should nossess
the same power in politics as himself and
under no circumstances Should be placed
In political position where he may WELD
authority over white men
The closer the investigator gets to THE
problem In the south the more liberal view
he Will take of this movement to d;sfran-
chise thousands of those who are techni-
caliy American citizens In conversation
with the business men, the professional
nien, and all others who are in any wav
identified with the real life of the south il
VII. be found that while the white clement
VIII vigorously and emphatcally repudiate
tn negro a political equal 1.-THE defense Of
the negro as member of the community,
"a labOrer. and as a unit to be taken
care of by the state. is ready and equally
emphatic. 1t is this feeling which prompts
tho leading white men Of the party of dis
Reimbursement in the south to urge that the
color question be left out of the political
situation SO that the people of the south
may express their real sentiments anenI
the issues as outlined in the platforms of
the national parties. SO long, however as
the race question is issue in the cam
paign the solid south will continue to roll
dpmncra ir IN f1r ha dam,
Ocratic party is the party of diSfranchise-
ment, and few se!f-respecting white men of
the south will allow themselves to go on
record as opposed TO the issue.
1 Difficult Political situation.
The situation politically, however. is a
very difficult one Ninety per cent Of the
negroes in North Carolina as an instance.
vote the republican ticket. The amendment
of the constitution which adopted Au-
gust and which DISTINGUISHES between
5000 and 100000 negro voters, or about 50
per cent of the negroes in the state does
moi go into effect until 1862. The oppor-
tunity is offered. therefore. in the approach
ing election for the republicans to array
this vote solidly against the democrats on
various pleas. The republicans have an
nounced that they intend to make unusual
effort to register, organize and vote the
negroes in November. Owing to the dam
gen which threatens the democratic ticket
from this source the democrats in self-de-
of disfranchiSe ment to rally and defeat the
purpose of the republicans.
The democrats would be glad to let the
race issue alone believing that very few Of
the negroes who will be disfranchiSed two
years from now will take sufficient inter
est in the present election to cast ballot.
The conservative element of the democratic
party puts the matter in the light of a
question which has been settled They
say that the negro has been eliminated
from politics that the result desired by the
white element has been accomplished and
thai they seriously object to another cam
paign of abuse against the negro. toward
whom they stand his best friend and
natural protector. They say that with the
race issue again before the people nothing
else can be taken into consideration. Ma
t:onaf questions, such as those or sound
money tariff or imperialism, cannot be dis
cussed for the reason that the Vot;s Will
be cast for the party of Acknowledgement
regardless of the CONVICTIONS OF the voters
upon the issues at stake In the nation.
Bryanites Want the Race Issue Up.
few of Mr.. Bryans ardent supporters
are anxious TO bring the race question into
the campaign In this state, on the ground
that it will assure a large majority for
their leaders beyond any question These
men are not 50 thoughtful as 10 the effect
of this method of campaigning upon the IN
te-ests of the state in the future as those
DESTROYS of disposing of the race question
so as to allay bitter animosities which arose
during the state campaign this summer.
Mr. Bryans Jealous friends look to the mo-
ment only and from a selfish point OF view
they may well do go, for the old-time dem
ocrats of North Carolina and many or the
other southern states are many of them In
favor of the gold standard, enthusiastic
over expansion, and some of them are even
protect!onsls. They do not think very
much of Mr.. Bryan or his platform. They
are well satisfied with the present conduct
of national affairs. though they may take
exception to certain features of republican,
ism which obnoxious. such the APP
pointment of colored E1en to public office.
few of these men voted for Palmer and
Butler in 1896 a few voted for Mckinley,
and more of them stayed away from the
polls There has been no change of senti-
ment among this element, and. in fact, II
seems to have grown stronger. and today
there is more republicanism in the south
than there has been for many years past.
II II were possible to separate the race
issue from other political considerations a
number of the southern states might be
placed in the doubtful column. With the
race question as prominent as it is today,
however, and so intimately associate with
the ballot, there can be no hope for party
in those states where the people have de-
termined that the illiterate black shall no
longer have a say in political affairs. This
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