New-York tribune., 1903-06-09
CHANGE OF VIEW ON NEGRO QUESTION.
Cause of Some Misunderstanding
Must Prevail.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: If the negro question not in it's deeper
relations very serious one II would in some
ways tend TO the risibilities of the people
Certainly there is a vast amount of prejudice mis-
Information, misunderstanding and hysteriCa post
uring over the black man. Just now have
the hearted and impusive Southern men
pouring gold into the lap of a white who
refused 10 make bed for Booker Washington.
Now, il is fact that Southern white people,
q rule respect Mr. Washington and his work.
These same men in their hearts would not respect
a woman who would refuse TO provide for the
comfort Of a dumb brute which might fall under
her care
a short time ago the Rev. DR.. Hills. inspired
perhaps by the general feeling OF hilarious con-
fusion the negro subject. pitched into the Rev.
DR.. Parkhurst-orally / mean-because h said
the wholesale enfranchisement of the blacks after
the war d failure; that the negro like a man
just turned out of the pententary, not i'm
mediately and simultaneously endowed with the
qualities Of good citizenship. Now. it seemed 10
the writer that DIR. Parkhurst spoke good horse
sense in his address at Atlanta, in which the
above remarks. words to that effect, were used
Perhaps however, I am mixed up also this
generally mixed up subject DIR. Hills argues from
what DR.. Parkhurst and others upon the
subject that the negro is losing ground He seems
to feel that because express their honest
convictions the subject they seeking
to injure the negro. There is where there is mis-
understanding again. The truth will hurt no good
cause Dr. Parkhurst, doubt, is sincere
friend OF the but does not believe in ignor-
ing facts.
1t NAV be safely assumed that no reputa bic
people, North South really wish the negro any
harm. The people who would willingly harm him
are no doubt in the minority in influence and
numbers. Certainly there is no disposition to re-
enslave him. In the South, where the negro is
numerous there is some friction. some injustice,
perhaps at times in the treatment of the colcred
man, and also no doubt great deal of feeling on
the part of the whites. which is perfectly natural
| and reasonable under the circumstances. Ore rea-
| son why there is much misunderstanding of the
| position OF the North and the South upon the
negro subject by each other is: We are practi-
| caliy affected by il in very different ways. Here
/ the negroes are few that we do not have the
remotest need fear their social political in
! nueuca Furthermore the Northern negro aver
| ages better as a citizen than the Southern negro
| Again have never had the same relations
| toward the negro as the South has had. We have
! not had our slaves taken from lis after hor~
| rible war and then turned upon us in the shape
| of an irritating and ignorant political force. !
state facts.
The North could do nothing else than fight and
| the noble who suffered and died for the
| Union did an imperishable work. The sober sec
and thought of the nation is apparently coming 10
| the conclusion, however. that giving the fran
| chlse to all negroes was a mstage-a mistake
in its effects upon the suffering white people OF
! the South, and a mistake In its effects upon the
| negro himself. 1t natural that race animoslty
| should ensue and be intensified by such action
| Let us in the North who believe it was a mistake
| TO give the suffrage TO all negroes say so aho not
| impeach our fairness and intelligence as men oy
| refusing acknowledge the truth AS mind sigh'
is always better than foresight it is not serious
| reflection upon the advocates OF the fhteehtr
Amendment of the Constitution TO now dcsno"l
| edge the mistake Liberty was a great advance
| noliticaI powers and privileges with his former
| masters was violate the laws OF prudence ahC
| propriety; attempt violent ana unnatura
| change in social and political conditions whlcf
| was bound 10 do and has done much harm tt
11V @ honest conviction If we Northern Republicans
had occupied the places of the White SoutheIneI
resented as they did the giving TO an utterly ig
norant ex-slave an equal voting pri|lieEe Win M M
I history was the arrayng of these ignorant plsek'
by carpet 6agsers against tnelr White nu man a
! times goes far in his feelings ana uIterahee @
eenn see fa mon g the Subject we certainly went
nd The ana eRfree IN generally produces another
God forbid that the negro shoui4 DC ii.ipo -
aeoki sgch a course would surely return har
vest of trouble. But it is better 10 m rusa M t.i TO m
better of justice in the south 10 90 % yus,g
20 tbs negro than TO resort to too much pFessa5I
and coercion from the North 1t is net PFnaI1 ~ .s
our fight II concerns the whole nation, d y - Is et
hui Is mainly Southern issue and shoua De seo =
tied by The South with the frsneiy assis,ahre
Whatever unless all else shall o al MA th ,u =
races. By that 90 not mean az al aii rhsnge /
relations. 1t is gratifying 10 see thdt q
cnnnf neasIe 10 md our Northern press less hars
- f,s criticisms the South and the negro ma @
henanse we think as Dr. Hills does, that IN
negro is being deserted by his friends Do pat ,e5y M
nerate and tment Of the sunleet t, ~
formerly Obtained and one when VII lass - harm 4
the south and the whole nation rhe me more pag@ "
have of the spirit OF the creates, 1fieha ''e