The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-03-21
A POLITICAL SWAN SONG"
The Disappearance From Public View
of North Cardinals Negro Congress-
man noves Boston Transcript to
HypocritiCal rawlings.
(NewpOrt News Herald.)

Under the above caption the Boston
Transcript takes the valedictory speech
of Congressman George II. White, the
colOred mt mber from North Carolina,
as a text to preach Il sermon to the
South, and point out to it its duty
toward the negro.
Since the days Of Wendell Phillips,
the average New England editor has
persistently hammered away at the
South, and preached OF the down trod-
den negro. They have persistsntly
blinded themselves TO the wonderful
material and educational progress Of
the negro in The South, and plead for
his social emancipation. They would
have us embrace social system at
which they would hold up their hands
in horror.
After quoting at length from Whites
speech, the Transcript says:
''In less than month, this man, who
was at least able to command admira-
ton for his utterances il not sympathy
Tor his Cause-fOr his speech was greeted
with loud applause-gOcs back to Estate
that has practically denied manhood suf
frage to his race"
The Transcript should familiarize
itself with the facts before it sets it
self up as a critic of the South and its
treatment Of the negro. 1t ought to
learn that it is only the sorehead pol
itician that is complaining among the
negroes, and that the only way to get
the average negro TO 90 to Massachu
sstts and live there would be to tie
him and carry him there and keep him
tied ever afterwards.
The negro is beginning to learn that
he has been used as catspaw and the
better class of them are eschewing
politics, realizing, as the Transcript
ought to realize. that the Anglo-Sa1on
rules wherever he sets foot-has done
80 since history was recorded, and
will continue to do so as long as gov
srnments exist.
But the Transcript SAYS:
This man (White) goes back to q
State that has practically denied man
hood suffrage to his race
Yes, denied suffrage to those of his
race who cannot read and write, for
the same reason that Massachusetts
denied suffrage to the illiterate ele-
ment OF that COmmonwcalth-for the
sake OF good government.
The Transcript should remember, if
it ever knew, and it should learn If it
doesn't know, that the South is sx-
pending $40, 900, 600 annually for edu-
cation.
The negroes contribute one-thirtieth
OF this amount and yet they have the
opportunity to reap the benefit Of
nearly one-half Of it.
In its editorial the Transcript refers
TO bill recently introduced in the
North Carolina Legislature prohibit
ing the Supreme Court from issuing
law license to negro.
We want to say to the Transcript
that that bill had about a. much
chance OF becoming law as the
Transcript has Of understanding the
relations between the whites and
blacks OF the South.
The negro i. not shut out from any
OF the trades or professions in thu
South. He is working alongside the
white man in the shops, on the rail
roads. in the engine cabs, at the car
fNi oeheh "ho III ehc helaS, AM
there is very little friction.
He is not taken into the social life
for the same reason that Massachu
setts and other Northern States ex
clude the Chinaman, the Slav, tn,
Hungarian and like classes from theil
social life.
The transcript may rest easy. Tn
South NAV draw the line at SOFIA
equality, but it doesn't ship rum t,
the African savage for the purpose o
ciyiliZinG him.