The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-11-09
MR. BRYAN ON THE NEGRO QUESTION.


The following extracts from Mr. Bryan's comment in
the Commoner the action Of President Roosevelt in in
ytug Booker Washington TO dinner will be read with
great interest;
"The action Of President Roosevelt in inviting Prof
Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was
unfortunate say the least 1t will give depth and acr
mony to race feeling already strained to the utmost.
The question: far concerns cooed popn
aon presents itself four phases rst the legal rights
OF the black man; second his educational opportunities
third his political privileges, and fourth his social status
"As to the first there be no question The negro
IS citizen and as citizen is entitled to all the guaran
tees of the Federal and State constitutions. He hos free
dom to speak and to wre freedom of conscience ant
the right TO life, liberty and the suit of happiness
In these respects there distinction between him ant
the white man.
SIN the matter of education the negro is entitled to al
the opportunities offered to the white man. The negr
mus be educated; community afford to permit an
portion of its population to remain gnol ant to become
imbrued The whites, for their welfare well
for the good Of the negroes must to it that the FREE
school is oren to every child, white and black.
The negro has already made great progress in intel
ectual development and this too, largely through thu
aid of the white people of the South The former slave
have at their expense been educating the for
mer slaves while the more partisan Republicans
them holding Office by the aid Of negro votes, have beer
melting the negro to oppose everything advocated by the
Southern whites regardless of the merits of the PROPOSE
ton under consideration.
1.-The political rights of the negro have for aquarer Of
a century been the subject of public discussion.
''The Republican party did not urge emancipation IN
the beginning; Lincoln the head of the party expressly
declared that he had intention of interfering with sav
cry in tho states in which it then existed but emancpa
ton followed result of the war; and one in all
IoIx Aof If
slavery.
The franchise was conferred upon the negro aft
the by the Republican party but during the past
few years that party has shown less and less interest in
the political status of the colored man.
SIN of the Southern states educational quali6ca-
tons have been prescribed with view to securing white
supremacy in the state and local governments.
Whle universal surageis the ideal condition toward
which the world is moving and while it is matter to be
regretted that educational qualifications
found necessary it must be admitted that such quaca
tons have been prescribed and are in existence in
Northern well az in some Southern states.
Northern States imposed qualifications upon white
before any Southern state imposed qualifications
black men.
The social phase of the negro question has seldom
been discussed for the that or party has
advocated social equality between the white and the
black man.
"The natural rights of all are the same and it is the
province of protect these natural and na
enable rghts-rIghts which vested in main by the
Creator rights which cannot be taken from him without
rendering his life yaueess to him and to his fellows But
man chooses his society for himself. 1t much
matter of taste the selection Of husband or wife, It
for oense any that you prefer to asso
ate with else depends upon your chara cer
md virtues whether the preference compliment to or
reflection upon him, but in either you have rig
choose congenal companions and in dong you are
not only within your rights, but you doing what every
does Those who love books enjoy each others com
oany, although some may be very rich and some very
The rich may enjoy each others company although
ome are ignorant and some intellectual Peope are
rawn close together by family es by church relations
" neghborhood associations and in multitude of other
ways Usually social lines invisible ones but thew
re everywhere recognized. They are no more incon
isant with universal brotherhood than are family ties
ational obligations. /
$50, the members OF race are bound together nv |
ympathes and sentiments which are both natural and
Those who oppose social equality between
ne white man and the negro do the ground that
hey do not believe that the amagamaon OF the two
desirable They think it better for the white man to
york out the problems of his while the black man
7okng out the problems of his race There can he no
cooperation and helpfulness without inter-marr
ZACH race can recognize the natural rights of the other
nd both can contribute as far swithin their power
strength and development of the nation The
OF social equality will tend to throw the white and the
lack races into greater antagonism and conflict rather
Ian to bring them together and the wiser members of
le race know this.
President Roosevelt doubtless recognizes as all well
formed men do, the great service which Mr.. Washing
IN has rendered to the members OF his race He is NOT
only colorel man who deserves great credit but he is