The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-15
n RACE QUESTION.
Prescott Writes Governor
Aycock for a Copy of His Inaugural
Address-Whatthe Former and Pro-
lessor sThayer Have TO Say on the
Subject.
Especial correspondence

Especial Correspondence.)
Raleigh, March IL.
Governor Aycock recently received i
PETER from Professor Henry Lee Pres
lcott. of Harvard university, requesting
a copy OF his inaugural address. h
governor in sending h address wrote
Professor Prescott as follows:
1 am anxious that the people who
wish to know the truth should under
stand n conditions and reasons which
Drought about our constitutional
amendment. My address is not in the
NATURE OF a defence. but is a statement
lof the truth. If we could be understood
our course wuold be appreciated and
pustif1ed. We intend no wrong AMI
shall work out only good for white and
lcoiored alike. Theoretically 1 have al
ways been in favor of universal suf-
frage. but practically We nave been
confronted with conditions which rem
loer that theory unavoidable. We
nave simply met conditions with de-
termination 20 do those things whicn
are necessary to preserve good gov
Iernment. but at the same time we ar.
lresolved TO treat the negro with entire
fairness.
Many people in the north and somu
IN the south fiippantly inquire why we
did not disfranchise the u%nlettered
whit men. 1t is the truth that the
Iunlettered whites of North Carolina are,
as a rule. informed as to public mat
ters. They are a church going people,
VINO also attend h courts and all sorts
tof political meetings. In this way,
while they do not read and write, they
are we'll informed people. sensitive Of
their liberties and determined to MAIN
tain them. They are capable of self
government and our purpose vas TO
deprive no man OF participation IN the
government who was capable to per-
form the duties incumbent Upon the
lvoter.
The principle upon which We rely
for this alleged discrimination is well
STATED my Professor J.. B. Thayer in his
comment on the report of the Ha-
waiian commissioners. in a recent ar
tlcle in The Harvard Law Review or
Our Recent Possessions
Il regret that my inaugural address
is not an adequate presentation of our
views, blu I am pleased to send it TO
you. as presenting in some measure this
reasons which have moved u.s."
The governor has received a letter
from Professor Prescott, acknowledge
ling receipt of the address and aging
Though / ave always had a keener
10y iipoluy lIdh Ilduy Will TIE Ollll-
lculties n eXaSperations of the south
ern whites in this race problem which
lconfronts them. / must confess that
your address has made we think still
more of the white mans point OF view
and to be willing to abide a little more
by it, because out of the address I
Caught a note Of that same sincerity and
courageous elevation of which
has always been to me one of the pow
lnryC IN NC AYo- C~ +;-1
and naturally enough, 1 oppose, in the
smoke of the first readjustments the
people up here have not been able to
feel that they could trust the purposes,
the candOr. of the people of the south
i'm this problem, and the people of the
south, naturally enough. too, 1 suppose,
discerning this. have been inclined to
suppress their and their feel
ings, saying what's the use of tryfna
to make things clear But such utter
ances as your address and your Letter.
to me will illuminate the situation and
create more liberal views in all parts
Iof the nation. Professor Thayer, 20
whom you referred, stated to me his
Views. l asked if 1 might repeat them
to you. He said: Holding the enact
tments regarding this question, as on
all matters. of the southern, as of all
the states. strictly to the test of the
IconstitutiOn-within that limit it seems
to me that this race problem is one for
the southern people themselves 10
work out, n that we of the other re-
lgions should not NEEDLE in it. We can
not understand the condition or it's
treatment as well as they, and it is but
just to let them deal with it as they
with their nearer vision, may see best.
1t is their affair and I believe they are
honest in it, That. 1 think. is the grow
ing disposition in this old Puritan
stronghold"
F. A. OLDS.