The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-17
LIGHT BREAKING IN YANKEEDOM.
Washington Post Thinks Liberal Views Must
be Growing in The Puritan Stronghold "
Washington Post.l


Some correspondence between Prof.
Henry Lee Prescott, of Harvard UNI
versity, and Governor Aycock, of North
Carolina, is of more than passing inter
est. Prof. Prescott requested a copy o.
the Governors inaugural address, be-
ing an earnest seekec after truth and
especially desiring enlightenment as to
the suffrage condition in North Caro-
lima. In complying with his request
Governor Aycock explained that un-
lettered whites were allowed franchise
because, as rule, they are church go
ing people, who also attend courts and
political meetings and who are we'll in
formed, even though they do not read
and write. They are capable of self
government" wrote the Governor, "ano
our purpose was to deprive no. man of
participation in the government who
was capable OF performing the duties
incumbent upon the voter Incident
ally, Governor Aycock referred to the
article OF Prof. j. b. Thayer, in the
Harvard Law Review. on Our Recent
possessions" as containing an EXPOSE
tion of the principle which actuated tae
amenders of the North Carolina ,ol-
stitution.
The effect of Governor Aycock's in
augural address upon Prof Prescott
was to cause him to think still more OF
the white mans point of view and to
be willing to abide a little more by it"
This is liberation which is surprising,
in view OF the bigotry with which New
England generally regards Southern
problems. But what is even more re-
markable is the expression of Prof.
Thayer as given to Prof. Prescott. lie
says:
Holding the enactments regarding
this question, as on all matters, of the
Southern, as OF all the States, strictly
to the test of the constitution-within
the limits it seems to me that this race
problem is one for the Southern people
themselves to work out, and that we
of the other regions should not NEEDLE
in it. We cannot understand the con-
dition or its treatment as we'll as they
and it is but just to let them deal with
it as they with their near vision may
see best. it is their affair. and | be-
lieVe they are honest in it."
Prof. Prescott adds that his col
leagues views are growing lin this old
Puritan stronghold. Let us hope So
No one realizes more sincerely or more
deeply than the Southerner the serious
nature Of the problem which confronts
his section, and no one is more anXt-
Gus to reach a wise and just solution
His environment is peculiar and cannot
be fully understood OF even appreciat-
ed by any one who esides in Massa-
chusetts or in Oregon. The Southerner
must be allowed to ork out his own
salvation He Will do it, and success
fully, with all the more conservatism
and prudence because of the business
conditions which prevail in the South
today. The dollSr is jingling in that
section, as it is elsewhere in the count
ry, and its music has restraining
sound. The fire-aating period is pass
ing away, and I'M it's stead there comes
the quickening sense Of commercial de-
Velopment. 1t is Nhis sense which will
aid the SouthernGr in rightly deciding
the course which he must pursue in
order to secure hanest and capable gov
eminent, placed in power by intelligent
and property-owxiing voters.
We are glad THAT Prof. Thayer's views
have been Made public. A light is
dawning in Yhnkeedom, sure enough.