Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-19

when DR.. FELTON, read the open letter OF
Rev. Thomas A Hoyt. copied rom the
Nashville American into Georgia paper
he remarked: II am repaid for saving
Tom Hoyt's lie many times over. l did
good work when rescued him from death
IN the sOconee river. when We were both
grammar school boys In Athens Tom
was sinking for the last time when got
hold Of him and brought him 20 the bank
We were all I'm swimming. and Tom was
almost done for that day. DR.. Nathan
Hoyt. one OF the best preachers and finest
citizens IN his day. came TO me ana
thanked me for his sons rescue from
death with an his noble heart, but this
letter OF Toms pays the debt in fun. II
there ever was any obligation for rescu-
ing the dear boy. who was as bright as
q shining new dollar when he was at
school and IN college"
Here's a part OF the letter:
The dispute between the north and
the south Is not settled. and viii not be
settled while the negro remains. The
south cannot treat the negro as the north
demands. and the north viii not try 20
learn the reason. The north expects OF the
white race Of the south what is impossi-
bic 10 grant The south naturally resents
this dicta.-On from people at a distance
who are ignorant Of the facts
The contest Is as irreconcilable as IL
was IN former days. Then the issue was
slavery, now Il Is eQuality-sOcial and po-
liticaL Emancipation was forced by
bloody war. The negro became the ward
OF the nation The white people OF the
south were placed under the ban as 'reb-
els and the struggle began, still contin-
ues and will last as long as the nation
exists IN its present form
"An the dreams and fancies OF peace
and harmony between the two sections
- -. rr. ars slN
President Roosevelt. This Is its signih-
canoe: 1t has broken the truce OF God.
and sounded the signal OF civil strife. I
would not Judge him harshly. think he
acted from impulse. am told that he
deeply regrets Il; stin the baleful effects
remain. II gratiied the hatred OF north
ern fanatics: IL shocked the sensibilities
OF the southern people. and It filled mill
ions OF negroes with vain longings for an
impossible equality. The end IS not yet"
He says further:
The southern people have an invincible
prejudice against social equality with the
negro. Is there q reason for this preju-
dice? II would become the publicists and
philosophers OF the north TO seek this
reason Does Il ever occur TO them that
millions OF intelligent and virtuOus peo-
pie. covering oue-third Of the area OF the
country would not cherish such a pretu-
dice unless there was some good reason
for it, There IS a good reason. 1t is that
such relations between the races would
lead TO intermarriage. miscegenation and
the production Of a hybrid race, inferior
20 the whites mentally, and 20 the blacks
physically. Such an admixture would
mean the degradation and ultimate ex-
finction OF the Anglo-Saxon IN the south.
This Is the good and sufficient reason
for the universal prejudice in the south
against social equality with the negro.
&c M
prejudice. but becomes a sacred senti-
meut. firm conviction. an inviolable in
stinct. a fixed habit OF nature. These d.
vfnely implanted motives are arrayed as
armed sentries at the gates TO guard the
sanctity OF home. the purity of blood, the
Just pride Of the superior race. Such hal
lowed feelings. shared by a whole people,
cannot be violated with IMMUNITY. They
should be respected and especially by the
chief magistrate. They were respected by
President Mckinley and. for the most
part, BY his predecessors"