The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1901-01-18

the pursuit Of happiness and the right
to dicker with the white man as e
who shall control the government, that
has so blessed him. That the negro
had none Of this i'm himself, is proven
by the fact that his kinsmen left be-
hind, are in the same state Of sayagery
they were when FIST discovered. That
the negro cannot govern even himself
is evidenced by those islands where
he has made the attempt.
If then the white mans sense Of JUS
tice and humanity has brought the
negro so far, without any assistance
from the negro himself, should it not
appear clearly, that the negro is best
off when thrown on the sense Of justice
Of the white man: Why should he ex-
pect to advance faster than he has in
the past?
If the white man has settled in his
own mind, that wherever the negro
has vote he interferes with the adj
vancement Of both races, why should
the negro insist upon interfering? Is
he not in danger, when he does so, Of
being deprived Of even those rights re-
garded by the white man as funda-
mental?
The only sections Of the United
States where no negro is allowed to
live, are north Of Mason and Dixon's
line. No such affair could occur in the
South, and from the same cause, as
occurred in New York city.
The present generation Of white peO-
pie in the South has most kindly
feeling for the negro. Had he not then
better settle all these questions with
the present generation, than leave it to
the next? Why should it not be stated
that the present conditions, seem at
least to forebode nothing but trouble,
in which as sure as the sun rises and
SETS the negro will be wOrsted.
Already it is being claimed by those
opposed to the negro vote, that if an
educational and property qualification
is now required, that it will accomplish
little now, and nothing for the future;
that the negro will still hold the bal
ance Of power. Those who think this
way are already discussing the right to
prevent it under the Federal constitu-
ton.
The fourteenth amendment says: No
state shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or
immunities Of citizens of the United
States.
1t has been decided that this section
grants no new right to the citizens of a
state. That it means only that no
state shall grant to its own citizens a
privilege that it does not grant to ciu-
zens of another state, leaving the ques-
ton Of dealing with its own citizens
where it stood before.
The fifteenth amendment confers
only the right to vote, on the negro;
that is that the right to vote shall not
be denied or abridged on account Of
race, color or previous condition of SER
vitude.
If therefore the state said that no
negro should be educated as long as the
fifteenth amendment stood unrepealed.
what would the negro do about it? If
I said that no negro should hold office
n the state, what would the negro do
'bout that? II is claimed these are
neither privileges nor immunities
by the constitution. That
hey are not fundamental rights, and
lot therefore secured by the constitu-
ion.
1t is understood that the negroes pro-
'ose to establish a lobby during the
esslon Of the convention, forthe pur.
ose of defeating any attempt to divide
he school fund. Had he not better be ,
areful that all school fund is not taken
way from him? There seems to be no
esire not to give the negro the bene-
is Of an education, but there does
Gem to be an intent TO keep him out
politics, at least for the present,
nd that if to educate him brings him
ack into politics, to refuse to educate
i'm.
| have already tresspassed too far on
our space. fit seems desirable | will
gain have something further to say
reference to the Constitutional Con-
,ntion. w.