The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-27
THE CASE FOR THE SOUTH.

Josiah W. Bailey in the Forum
The southern white people have had TO stand
together in politics. No matter into Nhat
condition their party might tall, no matter
what IL might dc, no matter who should lead
il. they have had TO vote all one way or give
over large sections TO the rule of negroes -
which, men Of the north surely meant corrup.
ton and anarchy. The negro cannot rule,
whatever else he may be capable Of. Here Is
case in point. In one congressional district
in North Carolina, Mr., Mckinley appointed
twenty four selected negroes as postmasters. In
three years, eight of them were arrested for
rob6ng the mails, What delegate TO national
Republican convention docs not understand
thoroughly the vcaality OF the negro! H. is
not matter of prejudice in the south, but
matter Of incontlov,rtlble fact, that 1t is the
exception and not the rule when negroes are
found capable of responsible position Of trust.
That there arc such negroes is a blessed fact;
but they are not in politics. The very nature
Of southcn-and | hear, northcrn--politiCS in
all parties is Corrunting and il tho white man
finds it diihcut 10 resist temptation, We cda
scarcely expect the negro, whose conscience has
not been lorg under the tuteiagc Of ndcpcnd.
cHcc, TO withstand IT, So, then, as between
municipal Circlcssnc>s, boss rule partisan laws,
and passionate politics on one hand, and mum.
cipll carClessnesS, boss rule partisan laws, aud
passionate politics, plus negro Incompetence,
weakness and mSolcncc, on the othcr--the south.
cn people have chosen TO have the former when
they must; and make haste to say that it has
not always been Necessary, not by amy means,
North Carolina has had many a year of good
government, aud 80 have other southern states.
Tie point Is, though, that the negro has made
corruption ever near at hand and kept rs power.
less against it. of course, it is obvious that,
caelting such an influence, the negro vote has
made political progress exceedingly tedious, Re.
forms and more timely laws have come tardily,
lest their suddenncss might divide the white
vote.
The south is in the morning Of new day.
tories have begun TO attract the tide of popu'
lation. The latest census indicates that hcr
population has increased by larger percentaSe
than that Of the west. The new regime IN
Cuba and the opening OF our lsthnian canal
will enlarge her market BY manufacturing
her own cotton she will easily increase her an.
nudl income 800 per cent. Her industrial life
Is fast becoming identical with that Of the
north and her political sympathics will inevta
bly, tend in the same dircction--but not il the
party in power strikes down her arm as she
raises it to tree herself. So, then, I submit
that II is good craftsmanship to leave the south
10 her own way IN working out her salvation
from the ignorant negro vote. II her plans
shall be proved unconstitutional, ! submit that
IT would be better to abrogate the Fourteenth
amendment than TO drive her back into the will
derness. I submit that it is good political
policy. hold no briet for any party; but I
say what Democrats and Republicans in the
south all know when I declare that the Only
fopc Of the Republican party and Of political
progress in the south lies in the elimination
of the ignorant negro from the voting body
Republican victory by means OF the negro vote
will never bring the right stamp Of men into
its councils; nor will It have any basis OF per.
mancncy, But there will not be any Republi.
can victory Of consequence so long as the negro
Is suffered 10 vote.