The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-01-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE

can never live In peace in the same coun-
try unless the negro Is subordinated to
actual slavery, or to a social and political
position that is the equivalent of slavery.
/ am afraid of that condition in our
country and am convinced that 1t can
only be sustained at the expense of seri-
Gus harm to both races l have always
thought that the countries that God gave
to the negro race would be best for their
development into full stature of moral
mental and physical power and RESPONSE
bility which was the divine purpose of
their Creator"
A glance at the above extract reveals
the fact that Senator Morgan has reached
a conclusion which he thinks will solve
this great problem. He has reached this
conclusion after serious inquiry. His the
DRY, briefly stated, is that the negro OF
America must again be subjected to sla-
very or leave the country. We are very
sorry to know that a man holding such
a position in the political and social ar
fairs of our government, a man whom
the nation honors and whose opinions are
respected should hold and publish such
dangerous thoughts.
Senator Morgan would have the days
before the sixties return when human
souls were bought and sold like cattle;
the days of the blood-hounds, thecow,
and the bull-whip. His conclusion would
call down the curse of God upon a nation
whose garments are not yet free from
the sin and damnation of slavery the
curse of two and a half centuries. He
would turn Tuskegee and Hampton into
stockades for the sale of human souls,
and all of the other institutions of color
into markets to which his race would re-
sort for human souls as beasts of burden.
Senator Morgan remembers the days
of slavery, the days when the marriage
nf fol into
consideration by the white slave holder;
husbands were sold from their wives,
mothers from their babes, and every God
given precious tie of kinship was broken
as if it meant no more that scale of a
farmers cattle. Has the senator forgat-
ten? The pension role is a reminder, the
30th day of May is a memorial, the 14th
and 18th amendments are precautions lest
the forgetful should again bring a curse
upon the nation. To attempt his solution
would indeed bring serious harm to both
races. His theory of emigration to the
Philippines or Africa IL carried out
must be by force The negro is at home
in America. He has paid dearly for his
place. He is proving each day his fit
ness for citizenship, and has no incllna-
ton to go elsewhere. When the white
people of the towns and cities do not
care to live next door to colored people
they seek other quarters. II ow would
this work on a larger scale, senator?
The only way to solve the negro prob
lem is to do the right thing by the negro.
He asks no favors: does not seek social
equality; he only desires to be treated as
a citizen. In the first place there should
be no class legislation for his discom-
fort there should be no laws enacted to
protect the innocent and punish the guilty
regardless of race or color. Then such
men should be put in office who have
the manhood to carry them out, This is
the only true solution to the negro prob
lem. Give the negro the same chance
that other citizens have.
G. LEROY BUTLER,
436 w. Thirty-third street
Pastor of st. James Presbyterian Church,
New York City.
December 81, 1902