Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-21
Mr.. LineoIn's Views on Slavery Before
a the Civil War.

the CIVIL war.
Mr.. Lincoln was not an ultra-abolition-
fst before the civil war began, and his
ante-beIlum statement has been widely
circulated;
II am not. said Abraham Lincoln at
Charleston on September IS. ISIS. nor
ever have been in favor OF bringing about
IN any way the social and political equal
ity OF the white and black races. ! am
not nor ever have been. IN favor or max
ing voters or jurors OF negroes. nor OF
qualifying them to hold ONCE. nor to IN
termarry with white people I viii say IN
addition 10 this that there IS a physical
difference between the white and black
races which I believe viii ever forbid the
two races living together on terms OF so
cial and political. equality: and, inasmuch
as they cannot so live. while they DO re-
main together. there must be the posi-
ton OF the inferior and superior, and
am. as much as any other man. in favor
OF having the superior position assigned
to the white race"
These words are plain enough and their
meaning Is so clear and the purpose OF
the speaker Is sufficiently manifest TO al
low them 20 stand without comment were
Il not that the pressure on Mr.. Lincoln
became SO heavy that he was forced TO
Mat with the tide in the remaining years
OF his life and give support and coun-
tenance 10 the rabid efforts and purposes
OF his party associates.
The suffrage question for the black race
uas entirely an afterthought. In the ear
II seventies I inquired OF q very radical
western representative in congress con-
corning the beginning OF the negro SUI
frage agitation after the war. He said
IN substances: when we begun 10 con-
sider what position the black man would
occupy in the south after he was set free
without a voice in the selection OF his rul-
ers or the making OF the laws he would
live under. we decided that his latter con-
dition would be infinitely worse than
when the slave owner was interested IN
protecting hlur for selfish and pecuniary
reasons.
We were not assured By any means that
II was the best thing TO do 10 give him
the ballot. but we took IL as q choice OF
evils. AS the republican party gave him
his freedom Il was deemed best 70 give
him all the rights OF citizenship Never
theIess. ne underStood at the time and we
are stIu aware OF the difficulties that APP
pear 10 hang around this suffrage Ques-
ton. We can only say we did the best
we could. but am willing TO say 70 you
that the alternative was accepted only az
ter prolonged and serious thought.
was gratified that this explanation
was made candidly and without Interior
purpose so far as was able 70 discover.
ny acquaintance with the speaker ripen-
ed into respect and then friendship.
tried to put myself in HIS place and see
with his eyes. and also 20 appreciate his
environment and prejudices.
When I reminded him that the south
was solidihed against the promoters Of
this suffrage scheme for blacks and that
the race question would always be supe
rfor to politics and that the negro's ballot
would be controlled By force OF by brib
at the time we were speaking the demo
Gratis had a very large majority in the
house and were fast capturing the con
troll OF the senate. The one negro sena'
tor. Bruce. has never had a successor
and the negro representatives went out
In a few years.
no northern state has ever sent a negro
70 congress and no Republican president
has ever proposed to offer black man a
cabinet position Frederick Douglass ad-
Tnirers fought President Grant in his Sec
y ond race. because the president invited al
the commissioners sent TO Hayti, except
himself. 10 a white house collation. or ban
quet. They were very affectionate TO the
negroes that lived in the south. but they
became dstestable as soon as they rubbed
against them in social life or anywhere
else save in politics.
Mr. Lincoln emphasized his Opposition
TO miscegenatiOn at Charleston in 1855. He
was an honest man. and when he declared
himself opposed TO making voters OF ne
groes." IL Is simple justice TO his memory
70 suppose he would have been stiIl op-
posed. when the question was debated by
Sumner, Morton & Co. before pressing the
fatal amendment to the constitution which
conferred the ballot on an inferior race
after Mr.. lincoln passed on to his final re.
ward
The physical difference {" still obtains
and the crime OF political equality has
been q disadvantage 10 the inferior race
admitting (as all fair-minded people do
that exceptional negroes have been the
Individual benefciaries OF a mistaken pol.
icy, which has injured both the white and
black races BY its enforced operation tax,
en- as a whole.
II is more and more apparent that the
two races cannot live together on terms o.
social and political equality. Mr.. Lincolr
said there was a physical Inhibition, and
being q white man himself, he was IN
favor Of having the superior race, tbs
white race. assigned 70 the superior posi-
ton
We are face TO face with three plans OF
policies for settling the present difficulty.
First-colonization in territories On is
lands
second-DepOrtatiOn to their nativ,
Africa.
Third-Or a withdrawal Of the balIot
from the negro as a privilege Of citizen
ship belonging 20 the superior race. al
fully explained by Mr.. Lincoln himself.
Which shall Il be? Which will be cas-
fest % do2 Which viii fnfiict the least In
jury upon the inferior race?