The colored American., 1902-05-31

OF some biased minds. to inveigh against
the action OF the fathers of '6o-'zo for
many things done by them; and which
from their point of view, seemed wise
and discreet. Especially is this true
"hen referring to the XIV Amendment
by virtue of which the right of suffrage
was made universal in this country: and
raised all the freedmen 10 the status of
iiun-hedged electors. Nay, their conduct
IS even viewed in the light of crime !:
ana IN the same breath some atternpt
not only by innuendo, but even by open
aVo~aI, TO decry and belittle the heroic
services OF Our veteran soldiers To all
Such we have but one answer: the IA
therS who sought to heal the bleeding
wounds which the long war had made
and reconstruct" the Union along the
lines OF constitutional law and order were
IN quest, not more OF men of brain than
men OF heart. They stood second TO
none. perhaps, in their appreciation of
moral and educational forces as factors
IN the great work which they had in
hand; but the conflict was too recent. and
the dangers avoided too real, for them to
lose sight OF the fact that, when "braiuy'
men, some of whom had been educated
by the Government, and had even taken
oath to support the Constitution, sought
TO destroy the Union, there were nearly
two hundred thousand Of the ignorant.
uneducated Negroes who came to the
front and aided, with their true hearts
and strong arms, in shielding and pro-
tectlng II. They believed that at time
when majority of the adult males of
the South were diSfranchised, by rea-
son Of the part which they had taken
against the Union, they could trust the
native, patriotic Negroes who had shot
right to vote right And had those whites
IT the Southland to whom the boon of
suffrage remained shown a disposition
TO tall IN with the logic of events, accept
the results of the war, and cooperate
with the Government and their former
slaves IN bringing about condition of
peace. amlty and prosperity, the country
would have been saved the carnival of
vice and rapacity in the South which, in
some instances, diSguSted the whole ma
ton, and, ultimately, relegated the Negro
voter there to place of mastery inac-
tivity."
In view of the progress made in Mis-
'lssippi, Louisiana, South Carolina,
North Carolina and Alabama toward the
elimination of the Negro as a political
factor in the South, the disposition on
heir part to nullfy and even rescind
hose amendments is question which
will scarcely admit of debate.
In fact, there is no effort put forth
IN the part of some of the leaders of
popular thought and effort in that sec
ion to conceal the fact that the Negro
'oter IS, to them, persona non grata, and
ought to be and will be suppressed-by
mild means, if practicable; by harsh
means, If necessary. Indeed, it is no Sc
ret among the politicians of the South
hat in the adjustment of every question
# general economic import, whether of
arlf, finance or expansion, all must
Iuall before that paramount issue of the
of the Negro politically
In a current number of the Atlanta
issued during the last fall,
he following quotation was found in
NE of its editorials: Not until the Ne
.ro has been completely eliminated as
n issue can there be any serious division
mong the white people of the South.
With that question out of the way, the
Democratic party will welcome the open
eld which il will give upon which TO
ght the battle of party policies, and be
ontent to stand or fall upon the popular
erdict."
Will they ultimately succeed in rem {
ering nugatory this great boon which {
OH and your dead comrades struggled
nd suffered for? Will the wheels of
rogresS be reversed and the car of lib /