Richmond planet., 1901-05-25
QUOU QUE TANDEM MOSTRA
PATIENTIA ABUrERE

The above interrogation propo und ed
by Cicero Co the hsDd, Ostiline may be
httingly asked By the Negro to the ir-
tellIgent mind of to-day. This ques-
tioD has been silently asked by the
Negro for N any years, and manly an
swers have been evaded. While 1t has
occasioned Citation, it seems as II it
has not been given its proper consider
alton In the United States-the prscli-
cal Usopia"-the land Of the free and
the home OF the brave.
MacCsulay says, 1T were better for
me n to be ruled by enlightened publis
sentiments than by brute force" Has
enlightened public sentiment much
weight in this country when Negroes
are concerned?
Does enlightened public sentiment
govern here or does brute foreef D.
the highest political and civil officers.
men who are supposed to Represents
the highest type OF human character
do all in their power to alleviate and
make right the unjust conditions that
exist TO-DAY? Let realities speak out
in eloquence greater than can tongue
or pen
The Negro question has been passed
through the sieves OF speech frem gen.
erstion to generation throughout the
centuries. Is has sometimes been
thrust into the background and crush
ed, but like truth, 1t has risen and will
continue to do so until it finds it's lev
Ella proper ad justment OF M lst con-
ditians.
The aon Frederick Douglass gave
the eLly solution Of our racial d. ffi,ul-
ties: All we ask is fair play" Upon
the recognition of this proposition
hangs the destiny OF the race. "Mis.
like me not for my complexion"
We realize that no such problem as
this has ever been kaown in the hi--
tory Of the world. Races or men have
invaded the territory Of others and the
cocquerors have lived in harmony
with the copquered, but instances are
none, think, where races have lived
under q democr attic form of govern,
ment with exercise CT equal sLff age
also think instances are rare where
conditions cond ueive to the highest
mental and moral development hav
been shaped and m essured by color of
skin in so great degree.
"Fleecy locks and black complexion,
Do not forfeit natures Claims"
"a mans q man for o. that"
There are some rights of the Negro
that the wGite man is bound to respect
and this must be Brought about before
our country can hope TO real;zs its
true development
Many of these disadvantages have
been the outgrowth of the Civil war.
The abolition of slavery, the placing of
the ballot in the hands OF the freed
man, cash played their part il the en-
gendering Of racial animositY in the
south.
The former made the north and the
Negro friends; the latter made the
south and the Negro enemies.
Taking q Retrospective view, we can
see the policies of these measures un-
avoidable. The north put great stress
upon the ballot and believed it esser-
tial to manhood completion Of free
dom. Prior to this manhood suffrage
with q few exceptions had wrought
such success that as q result it natur-
ally SCENE d 3 panacea for all political
ills. One can imagine the great re-
sponsibility accordingly placed upon
the freedman. For any one to assert
that he did not deport himself nobly
it would be unjust in spite OF the hor-
rors Of the Reconstruction. The bal
lot was in the Negro's hand then by
the white mans consent. Now, If he
could vote then, why can he not con-
tinue to exercise his right of suffrage
after thirty years Of unparalleled ad-
vsneement Ia the history Of nations?
We know the mass Of the Negroes
are still ignorant, but goodly num-
Der Of individuals are upon . high
plane of Intelligence, and the atom
must undergo 3 change before the
masses can be transformed-the indi-
vidual before the nation or race.
Then why not land our successful
individuals and not tie them to the
mass when recognition Is sought? The
advancement Of the Negro has success
fully disputed every theory advanced
against him and has put to flight all
the gloomy predictions" of his enc.
mics.
We can realize how poignant and
piercing to the Anglo-Saxon heart is ID
to come to the keen realisation Of che
fAllacies Of his theories, but this
should not hinder the accordance Of
our guaranteed rights. How manly
and alfrufnkf0 wnufd a ho 20 exiwa 10