Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-10-24
ADVICE TO THE NEGROES.

The following is an editorial from
our colored contemporary, the Valley
Index, published in Staunton and
edited by James M. Morris, the only
cOlored lawyer at the bar. His gen.
tlemanly behavior has made him many
friends among the white people of
Staunton. and his sound judgment on
questions of Importance to his race
has given him prominence in the com
munity among persons of both colors.
The article below is remarkable for its
sound advice, it's clearness, conciseness
and grammatical construction, as we'll
as for the ideas advanced. Not a word
is amiss, not thought but we'll .ex-
pressed, not sentence but contains
food for consideration. We commend
Its sentiments alike to white and black:
The public schools are opening up
all over the county and it is hoped that
parents will see to it that their Chill.
dren get the benefits to be derived
from them.
The requirements under the new
Constitution have raised the standard
OF citizenship and those who fail to
measure up to it's requirements will be
relegated to the rear.
Whatever objections that may be
urged against the requirements Of the
voter from now until 1904, all must
agree that after that date, every voter
will have to meet the same require
ments, and those requirements are
within the reach of all who will make
the necessary efforts to obtain them.
1t Is our humble view of the matter
that the thing for the cOlOred citizen
to do is to adjust himself to the situa-
ton and endeavOr to meet the require
ments rather than attempt to make
the conditions conform to his situa-
ton. In doing the former we act with
the common sense of the sailor who
adjusts his sails to the prevailing
winds over which he We'll knows be has
no control and steers bis ship into the
desired port, while to attempt the lat
ter would be like the sailor who failed
to use this prudence, rather than ad-
just bis sails would foolishly contend
with adverse winds.
There Is still another side to this
g question, and that is. it has been urged
by those who have been opposed to the
free exercise of the electoral franchise
by the negro, and even by some not
opposed to it, that In confering the
suffrage upon the negro, he was in
vested with privilege which he was
wholly untitled to properly exercise.
and one which he could by no possible
chance win for himself under any test
Tor citizenship. 1t was cOntended with
much warmth that the negro had re.
,eived the boon of franchise by force
of the northern arms and that the |
slightest barrier placed between him
Ind the ballot box in the form of q |
orereQ u1slte to the exercise thereof |
would be insurmountable to the aver
'ge negro and show to the world his
litter incapacity for American citizen
hip. These tests have now been
,rought to bear upon the negro in the
most severe form and despite the I'M
alrness with which many of them have
'een applied the negro is rising above
md overcoming them all like some
'reat cliff that meets and mocks the
waves of the sea.
HaN ing won his right to vote over
UGH odds, surely he will cease to be
boxed upon any longer as an orphan
asst upon the body polite by the
orthern arms and perpetual ward
1 the Republican party, but rather as
n American citizen who has won his
lght to suffrage by force of his efforts.