Fergus County argus., 1901-02-13
THE EDITOR IN
ARKANSAS
CONTINUED from First Page.l

CONFESS tnhl lne negro prODlem lh n
difficult one To solve. II northern
statesmen are reunreasonablein saying
that there should be no restrictions
placed upon the rights Of the black
man, the statesmen of the south are
rcsorting to dangerous eXpedient
In an attempt to minimize their
strength and power. educational
qualification as regards the right To
vote which does not apply to the
whites as well AZ the blacks, is dis.
honest aud oi doubtful constitutions
ality. Such methods may serve the
purpose Of grasping politicians for n
time but they lack the clements Of
true craftsmanship and desire 10
settle n great moral question with
justice to all concerned. No doubt
an educational qualification would
be- good thing il it were operative
in every stato In the Union, but it
must apply to all men alike.
The deportation scheme is nlso an
idle dream. The negro Is here to
stay. What he does in the way Of
emigratlng must be Of his own free
will. But ne il not disposed to go.
II he went, where would he go?
What would he do elsewhere? He IL
not an originator, an explorer, an
adyenturcr or u pioneer, No race
has ever cqunlcd the whites In open
ing NJ the resources Of fnewcuuntries,
and it has required courage, intelli-
gcnce aud indOmitable will tn sue
ceed. The negro has always been a
helper. n servant; he hns been train.
ed to follow, not To lead. DcpOrta-
tion 10 any country IN large numbers
would not better his condition, even
ii practicable. As n matter of fact,
the condition of the colored people in
the south Is not so very bad. They
are generally at work, many are well
tu do, dress neatly, behave we'll and
command the respect of the whites.
In great many instances the bonds
OF friendship are very ystrong between
the whites and the blacks. In poll
tics. more than anything else, is an
tagonism displayed. But thenegroes
are progressing. They are accumu-
lating property. In some states OF
the south their holdings run into the
millions I'm value. They are gaining
confidence in themselves and by cX-
ample and imitation are becoming
independent instead of dependant.
As the negro IL here To stay il
would seem that the only thing to do
Is To make the best oi the situation.
and that IL TO educate lin and make
him iii for citizenship. The schools
and colleges are doing much in that
direction now, but more could be
done. Possibly matters will drift
along much n" they do now for sew.
cral generations, but eventually,
through the medium of schools, col
lcgcs and churches. the mental and
moral standard of the negro will
RISE. aud with old time projudiccs
wholly oblitcrated he Will gradually
receive political recognition, even to
holding places of honor and trust In
local, statcand national affairs, even
with the apprOvalUf the descendants
oi their former mas ters. All other
schemes will prove failures, and in
stead of studying how To defraud the
negroes Of their constitutional rights
in depriving them of the exercise vi
the ballot the whites, aided by the
friends cf education in the north,
should set about ii to improve the
condition OF this onceensavcucd race.
In the line at the postOflire few
mornings since we discovered l..
Belanger, formerly of Maiden, but
more recently of Cape Nome, having
left the latter place last November.
Mr.. Belangcris suffering Will rheuma-
tism and came here for relief, after
trying the hot springs OF California.
He hasn't much faith but will give
the doctors and the waters n trial.
lie expects to return to Nome ii
cure Is effected.