The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-02-25
Preserve Civilization.

SA>N ANNN%SS
be given time and the right conditions
for development into respectable law
abiding, law-protecting citizens. This
can not be brought about by politics.
Politics, however, through franchise
and wire pulling, can bring about a
condition that makes the negro vote
legal. Should this become general in
towns where the colored population is
the largest, it would mean disaster to
the South and a'racial war. This
country is supposed to be a white
mans country Even the most dar-
ing and unscrupulous politician would
not in his senses assert that the stars
and stripes are meant for more than
to protect colored people under white
rule. Yet, under present conditions
with colored political appointments
raSping against traditions with COM
pulsory education being legiSlated-
reading and writing being the test
that makes the negro a. voter-our
flag does not seem much of protec-
tion. Surely the problems OF the
South are a Chinese puzzle!
With two distinct races in color and
mental development there should be
different laws-one for the negro, one
for the white race. / heard promi-
nent Judge, who has been on the bench
for years in South Carolina, say that
be always meted out much severer
punishment to the white prisoner than
to the colored: that he considered The
white man much more responsible for
his sins than tue negro; that the in
tel!igence Of the negro fell far below
even the lowest class Of white. Yet
politics and the franchise place them
equally in the affairs Of the country.
For very shame's sake. and perhaps to
have something to leg:siate-these
people seem to be indefatigah!e Legis-
lators-bill against child labor, bills
for compulsory education and bills for
the bettering of all conditions in the
South are introduced in the State
Legislatures ana then fall fiat or be-
come imperative because Of struck
out clauses or from the fact that the
negro must be helped the same as,
and by the side Of, the white people.
There is no class of white child that
will sit down by the side Of colored
child in the schools Of the South. They
can play together as children, but the
black child fetches and carries for the
white child and is still the subject as
IN the slave days. The great question
of child labor has for its strongest
point the fact that while the white
child is employed in these mills, the
negro is getting ahead in education.
The negroes knowing that they are
not voting citizens without the knowl
edge Of reading and writing, and be-
ing taught that TO vote is power,
crowd the schools with u seeming
ambition away beyond the whites.
Their ambition does not so beyond the
franchise clause, excepting in rare in
stances where an intelligent half-an-
cestry has overbalanced the Negro
drifting instincts.
Compulsory education which has
become a law in this State, has been
made imperative by striking out the
clause ining or impriSoning parents
who de- not enforce the law. In every
instance the incentive for this condi-
tion of things is to keep the negro be-
low the privileges accorded by the
government. 1t sounds badly to ad-
nit or assert that the South does try
to keep the negro down, but the
Southerners know the negro. They
know his possibilities and impossible
ties. They know his condition is bet
ter when entirely cared for by the
white people than when be does for
himself. They know he can not get
On without the guidance Of the white
people. They know he lacks the
reasoning power that makes an inCelli-
gent, wide world in one accord. Be
cause of this lack OF reasoning power
and the impulse that alone guides his
actions. and with his ideas Of license
misunderstood liberty--the negro is
the menace to Southern civilization rs
we gauge it from the North. The
negro is not held down by the South.
but the negro can not be made into
an independent citizen as a race. He
must now and always be led. The
Southerners know. as we do not, and
in their knowledge Of the negro
character have the best interests OF
the colored race at heart. When
franchises and politics get The negro
on the wrong plane, then the South
erner must do the best he can for the
Southern country, and the result IS
condition that makes problems.
These walking aIsenalS:" this con
slant killing his man in the South:
this ever ready use Of a weapon that
is concealed, are Indirectly the result
of forced contact with lawlesS negroes.
He is a mighty brave man who goes:
at all times, without a weapon. Still
it is not the custom to carry weapons.
Many men say they never carry a
weapon, and none Of TIE better class
OF nlen-the more intelligent class
considers it necessary. Yet. the most
conservative. refined and broadest
thinkers OF this class will tell you in
detail Of the unsettled conditions. and
that there is risk in going without
something for self protection. But. "
they add, 1T is so cowGrdly to 60
armed" The colored people, if they
can Scrape together enough money.
always Garry some kind Of q weapon
razor or a revolver. And you can
never tell WREN you run up against
the sharp edge CT their impulsire I'M
controllabie temper>. Late at night