Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-09-11
.Hoee's Estimate of the Negro

Colonel j. Hampton Hoge Is the I've,
publican candidate for governor Q,
VIRGINIA He caunot hope to be elected
without securing the solid support OF
the lac, 900 negro citizens OF the STATE
and vet the con ention which nom,-
nlted him gave the negro the colu
oul er and compe led him to tSke a
bacA seat. 1t was the evident purpose
tf Il at convention to do what 1t cou'o
- tree the Republican party OF tne
State from the odium OF being called the
negro party.
Though Colonel Hoge depends upo-
negroes for his chef support, he does
not seem soIlcitous 10 c'nc'nate tn'
GOOD will of the negro Republicans, II
one may judge from the tone OF his
interview in Washington the other day.
in which he is quoted as follows; :,
"The negro today is more IL moral,
an. is more nearly barbarian, than
he was when be was first brought into
America. In the South the in Institution
marriage among the negroes sdying
out. The place of the negro is descend
ING. He is approaching the status OF
the brute more and more each year.
But the is no danger to be feared from
is, for the white man, individually
and collectively, can successfully cope
with the ques ion at alltimes. The negro
In Virginia politics will not amount to
a great deal in the coming campaign.
For myself 1 believe in giving to the
negro all the rights endowed to him
through the constitution, the right OF
suffrage, the privilege of owning prop
erty. But do not favor the negro a.
an oficeholder. The day when negro
could become member OF Congress or
a United States Senator has passed,
They will never again secure these
elective Offices"
Now, that is painting the negro in
darker colors than he has been painted
by any prominent Democrat. 1t is a
very strong statement to make that the
negro is now more immoral, more
Learly barbarian, than he was when
brought to America from the savage
wilds of Africa. If it is true, it is a
severe arraignment of the whites as
well as the blacks, for thenegroes have
been intimately associated with the
W htes for two hundred and fifty years.
1t is also severe arralgnment of tn
Republican party, which enfranchlsed
tie negro and thereby decla ed him
capable of discharging all Of the duties
and qualified to enjoy all Of the priv
leges of American citizenship on foot
ing OF perfect equality with the white
citizens of a free republic.
Col mel Hoge makes it perfectly
plain that he and his white associates
only want the votes of the negroes.
They have no idea of dividing with
them the spoils of victory. On the
contrary, he plainly notifies them that
they need not expect to be elected to
any Office. They are good enough to
vote, but not good enough to hold
Office. sit possible that Colonel Hoge
expects to win the support of negroes
by talking about them in this way'
Perhaps he has so much contempt for
his black allies that he feels perfectly
sure OF their solid support, regardless
of any indignities that he may heap
upon them. He looks upon them as so
many sheep ready to follow tier
leader in any direction, and always
willing to obey the word of command.
Colonel Hoge never did stand any
chance Of being elected governor, bat
if he had ever had any chance he has
taken very good way to destroy it by
villifying his expected supporters. 1t
is not easy to understand how any
seli-respecting negro can vote for a
man WHO uses the lang uage employed
by Colonel Hoge in the above quoted
interview. -Lynchburg News.