The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-09-11
FOOL NEGROES.
Smart Alexis That Are Hurtful to the
Interest of Their Race.
Baltimore Sun.

The colored people Of the South
have been holding ''Christian Edu-
cational Conference" at Atlanta, Ga.
The orators who have spoken for the
race have expressed themselves in the
main very sensibly and conservedly,
and sensibly in respect to the rela-
tions between the white people and
the negroes of the South. A decided
ly radical and possibly dangerous
speech, however, was made by a
representative from New Orleans. He
is reported to have said that 1.-THE
time has come when the negro should
decide the policy OF this country
toward his race. If the white man
won't help US, we will make him. 1t
is no longer for the white man to say.
1t is for the negro to say-and say he
will. If the white man does not ex-
tend to us the helping hand, we will
make him."
These are valiant words, although
.:trifle indiscreet." The orator ad-
dressed his threat not simply to the
white people of the South, but to
those OF the whole country. He is
tired of entreaty and persuasian. and
evidently of the opinion that it is time
to apply pressure to the heartless
and Indifferent white men of the
North and the East and the West as
well as the South. II the white
brother does not respond Immediate
ly and literally, the New Orleans ora
tor proposes to coerce him into a
more generous policy. 1t is not plain
that this coercion policy is practicable
| as there are about six times as many
white men as colored in the United
States. Perhaps the New Orleans
orator has had a revelation and dis
covered that the white man can be
held up and compelled to deliver, de-
| spite the numerical superiority
Whatever the future may have in
store for the white race, it is certain
| the suggestion of coercion will de-
light our Massachusetts friends. They
have, from a remote distance, lavish
ed so much affection upon the coloreo
brother of the South and have urged
upon him so eloquently to stand VI
for his rights against the "Southerr
oppressors Of the race" that they
ought to be prepared to give the
army of dusky coercionists cordla
reception when it comes on Bostor
and exact tribute from the descend
ants of the Pilgrim Fathers. Th
New Orleans orator may find it profit
able to lead his hosts against the HUI
without delay. He will find it cit.
of fat dividends and great philan
throphy. The Mayor will give then
the freedom of the city and he ca
help himself to what he wants. Ne'
England is yearning for the invasio
and longs to be coerced into doing it
duty by the colored brother.
The New Orleans orator said in hi
speech that "the negro in the Sout
is not given a fair chance" That
not the fact The South, althoug
impoverished by war, has contribute
generously to the education of tn
, negro, using for this purpose fund
that were sadly needed for the educs
; ton of the white youths. 1t ha
. given the negro employment on th
r farms and in the workshops. 1t ha
taken care of negro paupers and IL
, sane 1t has, in fine, done everythn
for the negro which its resource
justified. 1t has provided normi
e schools for the training of neg1
teachers; it has not drawn the colo
line on negro mechanics, as is dor
1 in Northern States. Its people ha,
G more kindly feeling for the raj
than the people of any other section
S There is no barrier against the neg
$ in the South except that which sePa
e ates the negro on social lines. Th
n barrier will never be taken dow
o The most intelligent of the race
" the South, those who have the large
interests, are satisfied with existli
D conditions. Only reckless agitato
would disturb the present harmon
| Gus relations between the white pc
IS pie and the colored people OF t
South.