The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-21
TILLMAN TALKS
OF NEGRO PROBLEM
Scores Administration for
"CoddIing" the Col
Ored.

Benjamin r. Tillman, United States
senator from South Carolina, huge of
frame and loud of voice, withal a most
fascinating conversationalist and the
possessor of a strongly magnetic per-
sonality, held forth on the negro prob
lem to a couple of newspaper men
yesterday, and, though the senator
did not seem aware of it, every ear
in the echoing lobby was cooked in his
direction.
1t would be impossible to mistake
Senator Tillman for an ordinary per-
sonage, even though knowledge of the
man should consist merely in seeing
him walk across the floor. He has but
one eye, but 1t fully makes up for the
deficiency. 1t is a particularly pene-
tratlng eye, shining out from beneath
a bushy black eyebrow. When adj
dressing an Individual Senator Till
man fixes the compelling eye upon a
point midway between the eyes of his
visa-Vis, and close attention to his
remarks is compulsory. He begins to
talk in low voice, that becomes by
degrees more and more resonant until
1t ILLS whatever there may be to fill.
In his concluding sentences Senator
Tillman speaks in the same strident.
penetrating tone to which the United
States senate is accustomed in listen
ing to the famous Southerner. With
his wide brimmed black hat his black
frock suit and his clearly shaver face,
Senator Tillman presents something Of
a-clerical aspect. His manner is Gull
tured, his language carefully chosen,
even when he sWears, and In fact he
realizes the orthodox picture Of the
Southern gentleman to completion.
Senator Tillman is not out after the
negro race with pitchfork, or, in fact,
with any other weapon. He takes
pains to indicate his belief that the
colOred man in the South is very much
all right-in his place. 1t is quite evil
dent, however, that the senator does
not consider that place to be anywhere
In the vicinity Of a voting booth. He
lays down as one of the first and I'M
questionable laws Of the universe that
the white race was created to be and
is superior to the black race-that
any reversal Of this order must ineVi-
tably result in social chaos. and that
the people of the South will never,
under any conceivable condition, con-
sent to be dominated by negroes
'The present revival of hostility be-
tween the races in the South" said
Senator Tillman, lis due entirely to
officious interference on the part Of
carpetbag politicians and other out
siders, who understand nothing of the
dangerous situation they are creating.
1t Is useless to argue that the attitude
of the administration toward the negro
element has been other than danger
Gus In It's results. Some of these re-
suits are to be found in the increased
lnsolence Of the negro to the white
man, his more frequent assumption of
social equality with the white, and the
inevitable punishment of such effron-
terry. So long as the South is left to
handle its negro problem without in
reference from the outside, the whites
in the South will be perfectly capable
of dominating the black element and
keeping 1t in its proper place. The
coddl1ng given this element by the
administration, and the attitude of
men and newspapers whose views rep
resent lack of information on one of
the most important problems confront
ing the people of this country, may
conceivably precipitate a crisis in the
race conflict that lies dormant in the
South. If race war ever starts,
which, may heaven forbid, it will be
due to just such meddling as is view
ed with such bitterness among people
of our color who have to deal with
the black race at first hand.
AS l have explained, there is no
danger of conflict or of any serious
trouble between the races in the
South so long as the negro distinctly
understand, as he must understand for
all time, that he is an inferior being
to the white man, and must forever
occupy subordinate position. l care
not by what process of education or
environment the black may try to rem
der himself the equal of the white
man, he cannot do it. He is a coarser
grained creation. 1t is racially impos-
sible that he can become the social or
Of q
were possible, why, in all the centuries
that are past, has he never demon
strated his fitness for leadership.
There is a place for the negro in
the South. We need his labor. Whole
sale deportation Of the negro, even
were this possible, would be a disas-
ter. 1t would upset the commerce of
the world. But there is one thing alb
solutely certain. The Southerner will
never permit the negro to dominate
him in any direction. He must never
be placed in control of legislation or
placed in any manner Of authority over
white men. When this becomes immi-
nent there will be action
What sort of action?"
1T is not time to face issues like
that until they are met. The negroes
of the South who were disfranchised
| in 1895 on the educational limitation
are Straining every effort to fit them
selves for the ballot by complying
with the educational clause In q short
time the condition existing before 1895
when the blacks controlled some states
by their overwhelming vote. will be re-
ViVed, with the difference that we shall
| have a half educated negro voter in
| stead of totally ignorant one. This
is situation which the South must
and will meet. I expect to see my sor
at the age to enter this fight The
menace will be met by Southerners In
an unmistakable manner"
What do you propose as the remedy
for race hatred in Southern states?''
''As l stated on the floor of the SEN
ate, favor the plan of deportation, OF
perhaps we had better say emigration
to some part Of Africa. 1 do not NEAR
deportation of the whole black eIe-
ment-that is out of the question, bu
| deportation from time to time of E