Evening journal., 1902-03-15
A conoREp MAN,s LNrTNR

We take pleasure in publishing IN
another column a letter from an IN
telllgent colored man of Bridgeyille,
which is interesting because it allows
MS an inside view of the motives and
aspirations OF the men of his race
The writer in private letter remarks
that he considers the Evening Journal
the only fair paper in Wilmington and
we deem il a rare compliment to be so
considered by those Of a race which
has few to speak for It,
A general charge that any consid-
cradle number OF negroes do not work,
cannot be sustained. II for no other
reason. they labor because they must,
since there cannot be an idle class
without some means of subsistence
A majority of them work as hard as
any class Of parsons anywhere, and
even the minority work with consider
able regularity when work is to be had.
In every town there are a few who are
lazy and shiftless. and who work only
from necessity, but this Is true OF any
race and the negro has no monopoly
of this falling We suspect that one
reason there is a scarcity of labor is
because farming has changed so radi-
cally in that section that much more
labor is required The growing of
small fruits and trucks requires as
many men for ten-acre farm as it did
for one Of a hundred acres a quarter
of century ago.
OF course the statement is absurd
that this alleged idleness is due to the
habit OF grating" especially when
that term is used in a political sense.
The negro may receive one day every
two years a small sum at the polls
which does him no good. and goes as
easily as it came. But elections do not
come every day, and 1t goes without
saying that this great body of people
cannot live on gratuties, but it must
be and is self-supporting.
But our correspondent has admitted
a condition which is to be deplored.
and the taking Of money for vote
once in two years is a sad commentary
on a race which has been given the
franchise at an enormous cost OF
blood and treasure The Evening
Journal is proud to stand as the cham
Dion of the oolored race, and it will
not hesitate to defend it against itself
But it may be said that If the negro
sells his vote, someone buys him This
Is true. and the real purchaser is &
white man. not the mere tool through
whose hands the money passes, bu
the conscienoeless scoundrel who hold
nothing sacred but his own success.
and who sees in the poverty Of the ne
gro opportunity of securing vote
by barter thus undermining the char
acter Of the very race he should see
to elevate.
The negro who sells Is not blameles
far from it-fOr II he doesn't kno'
that it is crime against his countr.
his race and himself he isn't fit to e,
ercise the franchise. But unfortunat,
ly. he has compared himself with II
white man and has initiated to an e.
tent his faults as well as his virtues.
We hold with the great colored edl
Gator. Booker T. Washington, that Il
recognition of the colored man as
race depends upon his own conduC
That each man shall cast his ball
without improper influence is the hig
est consideration. He could win q
respect Of every man, including 4
tempters. by letting the world knc
that his vote was a manhood vote.
condemn the race because individuS
have done wrong is not fair. but
must be admitted that this selling
votes has increased alarmingly a
that the race is charged with it as
whole.
Here is a thought given in all XIII
ness: It is said that the colored n
must assist the faction that has org
lied a system of corruption. beca
should the Democrats come into POI
the rights of the colored man would
abridged and his vote taken aw
But let him remember that If ey
colored man would cast an uncoruI
vote, no party would dare inter
with his right of the ballot If
practices OF the last few years {
tinue. the enemy will have excl
made ready for their purpose.
correspondent says "you cannot ki
tree by cutting at its branches, but
must put the axe to the roots" II
right and If such as he all over