The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-13

Education OF the Negro in the South,'''
before the Southern Educational Asso-
citation in .>4uhmond, December 20, 1900
AT the present time when the Ssnegro
EisF being eliminated as a political factor,
1T may seem .sinopportune to speak Of
ecduca ting him as a voter; but L am dis
#cussing this Qhestionsin the firm belief
that it cannot befssettleG4 by. temporary
make-shifts of doubtful morals and still
more doubtful expediency. Whether it
takes. one century, or two, or five to solve
this problem, we may be sure Of ono
thing and that is, that it will ever be
settled by injustice. The truth may
be so obscured now as to be only dmly
apprehended by people in the South, but
it remains true that it is the chief glory
of our country that; it is great enough
to give equal rights before the law to
all classes of its citizens OF whatever race
or condition. If it be taken for granted
that the suffrage has been made too free
throughout our country, it must, never
theless be admitted that at the present
stage of the Negroes advancement, what
ever restrictions are placed on the elect
i've franchise whether OF education or
property or both, should apply with
equal Justice and fairness to the voters
of both races alike And it should be
borne in mind that it is a far wiser
policy to fit men for. intelligent citizen
ship than to disfranchise any considera-
HE number on account of illteracy or
poverty For as James Russell Lowell
so pertinently says in his address on
Democracy 1t may be coniectured that
it is cheaper in the long run to lift men
up than to hold them down, and that
the ballot in their hands is less danger
Gus to society thah q, sense Oh wrong
in their heads.
"Our Southern people, with their love
of fair PLAY, will not long tolerate laws
which put a premium on the intelligence
of the negro and on the ignorance of the
white man-laws which incite the former
to make the utmost efforts to qualify
himself for the Intelligent exercise Of
tho elective franchise, and which en-
courage the latter to remain in state.
OF chronic apathy with regard to educa-
tons A law which in the letter dis
eliminates against the negro and which
has an Understanding clause" by which
it is intended that he shall be further
Disseminated against at the ballot box,
according to the Whims of the officers
in charge, is a. discredit to any civilized
State that prctends to legislate on a
basis of equal justice to all its citizens.
Such laws operate to the. injury of both
races The. negro is profoundly dis
Outraged in his efforts to educate and
improve himself: he resents the injustice
done to him and still further distrusts
the white man, while the latter loses re-
spect for laws which permit such in
Justice. Already from Mississippi and
Louisiana we are hearing reports Of
alarming apathy among the white voters,
indicating that there is little political
life IN those States AS a matter of
fact the election returns show that-ln West
virginia there is one congressional dis
.Iict = d in various northern and west
cvl States there are other districts. in
oo oh, of ic1, IN CT
fail than were cast in all the congressional
districts together in either Mississippi
or louisiana" (The same thing may
le said of my native State, South Caro-
l.na.)
I'VE have happily passed the period
when the negro domination was possible
anywhere in cur country. Any State in
the South could now pass laws of absolute
fairness to restrict the suffrage without
the least risk that the evils of the re-
construction re:Iod would ever be repeat
ed. Henc" it is our plain duty. as well
as good political policy, tc treat the
negro with sympathy, justice and abso-
Lutte fairness. and to condemn in indvid-
uals or States anything like duplcity
chic@nery, and injustice in dealing with
him =
Tets expression of my views was made
after a great deal of study of the politi-
cal Situation il the South for years.
see 40 reason row TO change one word of
wnat I said in December
I firmly Believe that in the long run
tbs h'sics: interests Of both races and
Tie greatest pscsperitsi of Virginia win
III" promoted bE~aooptins a constitution
which will insure equal and exact justice
to all classes of voters alike
The intelligence of the white people
can direct and control the affairs Of
the State by purely legal methods without
the aid C any unfair provisions in the
new constitution. and when we speak of
'the divine right to rule as inhering
in the white race. let us not forget that
no such right can be founded on wrong
or Injustice.
JULIUS D. DREHER.
Roanoke College. October I, 1901.