The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-02
DISCUSSED THE NEGRO PROBLEM.
DR.. Durham Gave the Members of
His Race Some Good Advice.

His Race Some Good Advice.
At the church, the exercises of the
Emancipation Association were held. with
Rev. G. W. Griffin presiding. The exercises
were marked by the address delivered by
Rev DR.. j, ]. Durham, who took as his
theme the resolutions recently passed by
the industrial convention that met at
Huntsville. Ala. His remarks were list
ened to with attention ard punctuated by
frequent applause. In lart he spoke as
follows
What should be the policy of this coun-
try toward the negro?" asked DR.. Dur
ham.
Both wisdom and justice to the negro
would dictate that the policy of this coun-
try toward the negro should be in harmo-
ny with his legal status as an American
citizen, and as a permanent and increas-
ing factor in all the economical indus
trial and political institutions of his
country. Attempts to deal with him as
something less than a citizen have cost
this country more blood and treasure than
1t took to establish its independence"
"At the industrial convention recently
held at Huntsville, Ala, ex-Gov. McCorkie
of West Virginia, a native-born Southern
man, and a Democrat said: 1.-The time
has come when the Southern whites must
face the fact that there can be no perma-
nent peace and prosperity for the South
until the negro question is settled, and II
will not be settled until settled right The
next day the convention Iassed the tol-
lowing resolutions without a dissenting
vote: That to remove the race pcob EN-
from the domain of politics, where it has
so long and seriously veXed the industrial
progress of the South, we recommend to
the Southern states the adoption of an IN
telligent standard of citizenship, that will
apply alike to black and white II should
be evident to all that the South needs the
labor of the negro, that it constitutes the
most available, tractable and efficient I'M
der proper treatment; that it
is free from anarchisdc tenden-
cies and is here to stay; so that every
reasonable means should be adopted
TO maintain the best relations between the
races in the South.
I'VE recommend the industrial educa-
ton of the negroes and the opening to
them of all avenues of industry free from
intimidation and under the protection of
just laws"
II believe" said DR.. Durham that
these resolutions adopted by that large
influential and representative body Of
Southern white men, indicate the true
and proper policy that should be pursued
toward the negro in this country. They
recognize the legal status and citizenship
of the negro and call upon the South to
adopt an intelligent standard of citizen
ship that VIII Apply alike to all citizens
without regard to race, without loop-holes,
understanding" or grandfather"
clauses. Those resolutions recognize the
fact that there is no difference between
black ignorance and white ignorance, that
citizenship in the hands of white ignor-
ance is no better and safer than citizen
ship in the hands of black ignorance;
that it is no more wise, just or patriotic
to disfranchise black ignorance than IL is
to disfranchise white ignorance. 1t was
the recognition Of this same great truth
be 1t said to their eternal honor and spirit
of justice and fairness toward the negro
that caused the late Legislature OF Geor-
gia to kill, with a vengeance, the Hard
wick DISTINGUISHING bill, which proposed
to make a difference between black ig-
norance and white ignorance"
Those resolution recognize the fact
that the negro is here to remain, great
and increasing factor in all the industrial,
economical, social and political institu-
tons of this country, for good or evil,
according to his proper or improper treat
ment, and call upon the South to adopt all
reasonable means to maintain peace ana
friendly relations between the races, as
necessary to the material welfare and best
interests of both races and of the whole
South
TWO things we think are about settled