The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-04-02
THE RACE PROBLEM
In The South as Seen By New
England Republican.
ENFRANCEIsING TEENEGRO.

MIR. Littletield, a Congress
man from the State
Of Maine.
The Washington correspondent OF
The News and Courier says Charleston
will hear with interest OF a speech
made in Washington Wednesday night
by Representative Littletie?d. Of Maine
upon the Race Problem Of the South.
Mr.. Littlefeld was q member OF the
Congressional party that visited the
Charleston Exposition week before
last. lie returned to Washington Sun
day week and has been generous in his
good words about The Ivory City
ani "The Old City by the Sea-" His
speech at the annual meeting OF the
Washington Congregational Club last
night is but in line with number o.
other views held by the distinguished
gentlemen from Maine, whom Demo.
Gratis and Republicans recognize as one
of the broadest-minded men in Con
gress to-day.
Mr.. Littleheld gained considerable
prominence several years ago by d
speech he made in defence OF Brigham
H. Roberts. the Mormon member from
U3ah, whom the Republicans refused
to seat because Of his religion. Mr.
Littleield ranged himself with the
Democrats on that question. claiming
that there was no legal reason why
Roberts was not entitled to seat III
tie House. In the debate upon the
Porto Rican tariff bill Mr.. Littleield
again showed himself broad enough to
cut away from party fetters and op-
pose that measure. His latest utter
ance on the negro problem is in striS-
irg contrast to the Crumpacker reSolu-
tion which an clement in the Republi-
can party is endeavoring to get into
the House, with view to cutting
down the South's representation on
account OF educational and Qualihca-
ton suffrage laws here. The speech
a.so gains in significance, delivered,
as it was, Immediately after Mr.. Lit
tletield'S visit to the most Southern
city in the South. 1t was the trst
tip Of the Man from Maine" to that
section of the South and, while de-
s.rous Of seeing the Exposition, it is
understood that the main object OF
his trip was to see for himself the e1-
act conditions in the South.
Mr.. Littlefeld, in taking up the ne
gro problem. said that the black slaves
was vital factor in the development
CT the country when cotton became
the staple production of the South.
at the close Of the war the United
States was left with four millions OF
blacks on its hands. This was the
most serious problem left by the war.
These negroes had been freed from
slavery and were occupying position
Of peril to the Government. The CIV
ilization of the white people, said Mr.
Littlefeld. had been accomplished
after years of struggle and association
with the greatest races Of mankind.
The negro had been brought direct
from his home in Africa and no efforts
had been made toward his education
Or civilization.
by what right" asked the man
from Maine, the man from Blaine,s
own State, docs an Act of Congress
seek to place an inferior race on an
equal footing with men who have liv-
ed through two thousand years OF
Christianity? The nation sought to
create in the negro race the ability
not only to govern themselves, but to
assist in the government of others.
What was the result? This race was
in the midst of a people developed in
the highest state of civilization known
to man. 4 people who have been
overwhelmed by one Of their own KIND
and whose wounds, physical and NOR
al. were smarting under the blow OF
defeat.
The Kuklux klan was the out
come, with it's civilization behind 1t,
trying to suppress the newly-created
citizens. Then came the "grandfath-
er clause ;" which virtually disfran-
chises every negro in the South where
it is in existence. If the elective fran
chise had been given only to those
who had the intelligence to use it the
tendency in the South would have
been to increase its representation by
legitimate means. To-day the tenden-
cy is to keep Southern men in lgno-
rance and to keep the negro out Of con-
troll. To increase the representation
properly under such conditions requires
the utmost intelligence.
Few men to-day know what is to
be done. The negro is with US. He
has the right of citizenship and we
cannot adopt the measure so often
suggested to deport him. There IS
no authority under which we can de-
port citizen from the United States
That nameSake Of the Father or his
Country, who is working down in Ala
bama. is doing the most practical
work. We must look to the practical
education Of the negro as the only So
luton Of the problem. Fundamental
mistake was in enfranchising the race,
placing ii the hands Of those people
powers they were unqualified to exer-
else, giving them power over a civillz-
ed race overpowered by war. 1t takes
more than a generation or two. or
three, even. to civilize any people. For
tunate will be the generation that will
see a true solution Of this problem"
In closing 3Ir. Littlefeld touched
upon the Philippine problem as anoth-
er one which the country was called
upon to solve. 1T is not possible"
he said, by any legislative act or by
education to create in any race the