The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-05-28
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
A Northern Viadication of the South
A GREAT Republican Paper, the
New York Sun, Replies TO Brook
:yr Negroes Questions.

Below we print a strong defense Of
the South's policy regarding the
negro from the time of reconstruction
to the present. 1t is from the edito-
rial columns of the New York Sun,
and is Il reply to the questions of
Brooklyn negro. 1t is Il virtual ad-
mission of the justice and necessity
OF every position the South has as
sumed in dealing with the race ques-
ton since the slaves were freed. 1t
is a powerful vindication of her hand
ling of the most important problem
she has had to deal with since Lees
surrender 1t admits that the en-
REIMBURSEMENT OF the newl y-freed
| slaves was grave mistake, ac-
knowledges the inexcusable horrors
of the reconstruction era. justifies the
inevitable efforts of the superior
race to protect itself against negro
domination at any hazard" frankly
confesses ''the Norths misunder-
standing of the necessity of the
South struggle for self-defense," and
theoretically, at least, intimates its
conviction of the necessity of the
eventual repeal of the fifteenth amend
ment. Against overwhelming odds
the South has during the long years
since the Civil War borne the white
mans burden. and at the same time
the suspicion, opposition, interior
ence of the North. But she was never
daunted, and conscious of the recti-
tude of her course she has pursued
the even tenor of her way, until time
has wrought her vindication, as it
will do for all who learn to wait as
well as to labor; for the position now
assumed by the Sun is increasingly
that Of the Northern mind. The in
cident OF the Punishment of ''Uncle
Toms Cabin from the public school
libraries OF New York City is still
| fresh in mind. The North has all
along been the prompter behind the
scenes, whispering to the negro to in
sist upon his Unconstitutional" rights
to suffrage. Now it is beginning to
see that it was wrong in this course.
1t is to be hoped that the negro will
see that he was wrong in thus listen
ing to the voi:'e Of an alien, and that
in the future he will turn an intent
ear to the admonitions of Booker T.
Washington, who is teaching him
that Industrial education is the key
to unlock the door that henceforth
opens for his race into the temple of
| success.
Following is the article from the
New York Sun:
We reply with pleasure to certain ques-
tons put to us by a colored citizen Of
Brooklyn who signs himself The Son OF
a Black Soldier" but communicates his
name and address. His numbered ques-
lions are printed separately below in or
der that the answer may Immediately
follow each OF them for the convenience
of the reader:
l. 'Why dOyou characterize as 'hasty'
the policy which invested the enamel
pated males of African descent with the
full right of suffrage?''
Because that seems to be the right
word for the sudden and wholesale ex-
tension of the suffrage, less than four
years after the end OF the Civil War, to
millions OF people whose capacity for the
responsibilities Of the ballot was untried
then, exceedingly problematical in view
OF race characteristics, and by a genera
TONS experience since then absolutely
demonstrated not to have existed.
2. Give details OF the direful conse-
| quenceS OF this error of national judg-
| ment."
The story of the horrible conditions in
the PROSTATE States in the early days of
reconstruction, first adequately told in
the case of South Carolina by that veter-
an Republican, abolitionist and old
tribune writer, the Hon. James s. Pike,
OF Maine; the destinies of men, women
and children of the superior race at the
mercy OF ignorance and responsibility
in these commemorative where the black
man was numerically predominant; the
| evils OF lawlessnesS growing out Of the
| inevitable efforts of the white race to
protect itself against negro domination
at any hazard; the delay in the perfect
reassimlation of whole section of the
restored Union of States; the political
hatreds kept alive for years by the
NOrth's misunderstanding of the neces-
sity of the South's struggle for self preser-
walton; the demoralizing effect of a con-
dition of law, organic and statutory, i'm
possible of reconclement with actual
conditions OF society. These are some of
the consequences of which the adjective
direful is mildly descriptive.
3. "Would the boy of ) or the woman
OF 3O' ever be called upon to bear arms
in defense Of the country as the eman-
cipated males of African descent have
| been?'
Probably not Fitness to fight may
exist with or without fitness to vote
Fitness to vote may exist with or with
out fitness to fight. Neither capabllity
excludes or implies the other
+. 'At any time have white females
and white children ever been counted in
the appOrtionment each as three-fifths OF
a person? II not, why were those OF
African descent represented and the
| Others nOt?''
Our correspondent misunderstands the
fact. Previously to the adoption of the
| Fifteenth Amendment, under the old pro-
| vision OF the Constitution referring TO
slavery, when the enslaved blacks count
ed each as three ffths OF person, for the
purpose of appOrtiOnment, white women
and children, like all other free persons.
except Indians not taxed counted as
whole persons.
). WAS the recent decision of the Su-
preme Court, to which there is reference
in your editorial a unanimous decision?
We might easily draw the inference from
the reference that it was
The declination of the Supreme Court
| ~ lHteTlefe LOT lue enforcement OF the
Fifteenth Amendment in Alabama was
not a unanimous decision Few far
reaching decisions of that tribunal are
unanimous. Three justices, Harlan,
Brewer and Brown. dissented in the Ala
bama case.
6. why is the system of suffrage as IL
Illustrated in the Fifteenth Amendment i'm
possible OF application with safety to the
vital interests OF the States chiefly con-
cerned?'
Because, to put the unpleasant fact
squarely, the experience of a third OF a
century has shown that the most hopeful
path of elevation for the black race
toward fitness to exercise the suffrage
has been miscegenation.
Weprint our Brooklyn correspondent
concluding remarks:
There is much talked and written in
| these DAYS about the negro and hy every