The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-30

man in clearing the forestA buildin1 | the railroads, cultivatfng the lenon l working the mines. as we'll ae m many | forms of domestic service and in ofhei | activities. Our fathers and mofherl have helped nurse you and your cnii- dren. and when the male members q the family were away from nomt | fighting in war that might have meant | our continued achievement, we re- mained at home, working your farms, supporting and protecting your help less wives and daughters. When we have been called to perform any duty of citizenship, whether fighting for eign foe, working the public roads. or any other duty. we have tried to do our best.
 We beg of you to bear in mind that for more than twenty years the negro in this State has not, as rule. been disturbing or offensive element. I'm uiediately after the war. we made mis- takes just as would have been true of any people placed in the same po-
 sition. but we have learned our lesson from those mistakes and they are moi likely to be repeated.
 The changes wrought by time and the providence of God, it seems to us place your body iu q particularly re- sponsible position. You assemble at time when your actions will not be di- rected or restricted by any pressure from the Federal governiment or else where. The North. is almost unani- nous in its agreement that the future af the negro in a large degree rests with the South. Almost for the first time since freedom came to us. law making body assemblies in the South, bearing the supreme law-making power of the State. and is left free to act en- tirely untrammeled by outside influ- ences. Al.eost for the first time, the negro is to rest his future in a large | degree upon the conscience and intelli- gence of a great law-making body of a great Southern State. You have the power. The world will watch while you act.
 It requires little thought. effort oi strength to degrade and pull down a weak race, but 1t is a sign of great statesmanship to encourage and lift up a weak and unfortunate race. Destruction is easy; construc- tion Is difficult.
 There are those among your petition CTS who have consistently urged the ne- gro to learn to trust his future with
 his Southern white neighbor and that | when the supreme test came he would EcCChFG Juctilc dt n&h1Ss AhAb AE a crucial hour for those who have thus advised our race, but We do not be- lieve that our faith in you will be misplaced. We believe that the pos session of great power will deepen your sympathy for the weak and dependent elements of our population.
 It seems to us on the whole, that the relations of the two races in this State
 are reasonably satisfactory, and we tremble with fear lest something will
 be done ito disturb these relations and
 to bring Encouragement and demora-
 lization to our race.
 economic consideration. The greater
 portion of our people are settled upon
 the plantations in the cotton raising
 districts. while a large number of oth-
 CTS Is in the mining districts. These
 people are occupying and cultivating
 land that is largely owned by white
 people or operating other industries
 owned by white people. Still others are
 buying homes and thereby contribut-
 ing to the welfare of the State. In
 most cases. they are a contented, pro- alarm is beginning to spread among
 them and their fears are being worked upon by emigration agents and exodus associations who are telling them that
 under the new Constitution the negro's citizenship will be taken from him and that his schools will be virtually plotted out. These agencies expect in One way or another to reap gain by reason of something that you will do in your Convention.
 Anything that will unsettle and cause excitement of people at the present
 time when, more than ever. in all
 ri fha. hA
 is beginning to improve. to settle
 down to habits of thrift, economy and common sense, will not only prove in- furious to our race, but to yours also. The history of all races proves that a contented. intelligent, friendly working class is the greatest possession of any State.
 The negro youth must have some in- centive for right and useful living held out to him. Let the negro feel that no matter how intelligent or useful he makes himself, that there Is no hope of reward held -niIt before him and there will be danger that he will be- come a beast, revelling in crime and a body of death about the neck of the State. In a thousand ways, the ignor- ant. shiftless. criminal negro will re- tard the progress of the white race.
 The negro is not seeking to rule the
 white man. In this State the negro holds not a single elective office. When ever he votes, he usually votes for some
 white man and is learning more and more to vote for the best white man. There is in the last analysis a feeling of tenderness, good will and sympa- thy existing between the two races in this State, which the outside world can hardly understand or appreciate. We pray that this relation may not be dis turbed.
 The negro does ask. however, that since he is taxed, works the roads. Is
 punished for crime, is called upon to defend his country, that he have some humble share in choosing those who shall rule over him. especially when he has proven his worthiness by becoming a taxpayer and worthy. reliable citi- zen. While the amount of direct taxes paid by the negro is small, all will ac- knowledge that he is a large factor in enabling some one else to pay taxes for the negro who rents a farm or a house not only pays the rent. but indi- rectly, the taxes also.
 We rejoice in that we have reached @ period in our development when we can speak in frank but friendly terms of the objects of your convention, the chief aim of which is we trust, the wise and just government of the people of Alabama. In this high purpose, your petitioners
 agree and sympathize with you. We
 are all owners of property and tax
 payers and have the same interest In