The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-01
An Albert Lea Citizen Tells Henry
Watterson Some Truths.
He Discusses the Negro Problem With
the Kentucky Editor.
Many Lege! obstacles Thrown In the
Way of Black Man.
From Mondays Daily.

c. +. Farnsworth, a citizen OF ALBERT
Lea, writes the following open letter to
Col. Henry Watterson. This letter was
published in The Albert Lea Tribune of
Friday and it contains so much truth
that it will stand republication in The
EEee Press. As Mr. FarnswOrth says
the negroes have prospered, handicapped
though they have been, and faced legal
obstacles that would have proved dis
eouraging to the white race
Mr. Farnsworth's letter reeds as fol
lows
Hon Henry Watterson, Louisville, Ky:
Colonel a military salute to YOU.
'kave Just read your statements at
Chicago ON April 8, 1903, ON Negro sui
frage Your rhetorical steel .has struck
the iiint and naturally the scintillations
fash 1t looks as though YOU and Till
man Were out feeling of the political
picbet lines of the political forces at the
norzh in preparation for massing your
forces at the next presidential election.
/ saw the same thing previous to the
civil war when the sparks set ire to what
was called king Cotton who was ere
mated from which time corn, has been
king
] have heard the southern bullets whiz
been turned out of my tent at mid
night to the sound of the Rebel yelf'
1that's what we called it(, hursed back
to health some of nay men that survived
Libby-was in the regiment shat cap
tured Booth and Harold-in the escort
OF tine funeral of an assassinated presi-
dent and on duty at the trials of the
a4sasains. know the 'iReeS" fought
like demons, Turks and pirates, all to
support and in defense OF a slave hold
ing aristocracy Inherited and educated
back through centuries to the days of
King James. whom The ancestors of r.
E. Lee supported. / know the freedmen
have been serving as subdued chattel
servants for centuries. Putting these
last two facts together, Sir, is 1T reason
able to, expect these antagonistic condi-
tons To adjust themselves to a pacific,
quiet, American, civilized citizenship in
about tAi-ty-fve years?
From your statements may we not
say. with some truth, that you and Till
man are hosting a political Hbloody
shiIz' nag l like an open combabant. |
never adIGired Vallandingham, Chilly
Brosks, o. Brick" Pomeroy. l am OPP
posed to their mode OF waHefare. Gtaap-
pears like striking below the halt
fighting 'Eunder cover making usie col
wood cannon as at yorktown. i do
admire your frank, open ayowal of your
belief and feelings. If YOU wil permit an
opponent to employ the same weapon
YOU use, your magnaninity will equal
your forensic eloquence.
/ viii question none of your state
ments down TO tie solution OF the prob
Lena There the issue is takea. l do not
believe the statement that the won
derfal progress" made by the freedmen
has been IN general by the aEd OF the
"symaathy and cooperation of the
southern whites" ] deny it as a state
ment unsupported by the history of the
laws made by the southern whites. The
laws yosl maae at the outset, nnder the
governors appointed by Andrew johnson,
show that the Southern whites had no
sympathy for the emancipated slaves
at the close of stAe rebellion. What are
the facts. / refer to the. Alabama laws.
The action of rtise city of Mobile pencil
enactments. to The laws of Mississippi;
to the enaetNsents of Floreia: per capsta,
poll tax, school tax. To taose OF soHlh
Carolina, and last 40 the worst of sil
the enactmentS of louisiana These lawS
.show what kind of feeling and sympathy
she southern whites had for their liberat-
a slaves. Can any oSe see the eXhlbl-
ton of good feeling, sy@pathy and aid to
the freedman in these laws? was TINS
an effort to help the liberated slaves to
get food, education and snake advanceg
| assert with the belief that there iS not
particle of historical evidence to show
that the colored people have been aided IN
the statutes of the white man. AgaAn,
vlU>>4>.-