Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-28
SOUTHERN woMAH's VIEW OF NEGRO.

American people Will do all they can 10
promote fraternity in that direction.
SOUTHERN W0MAN'S VIEW OF NEGRO.
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
has recently expressed his views on the
negro question, to which reference has
been made in these columns, and now a
southern woman, writing to New
York paper from Tillnan's state, has
added her mite to illuminate the sub
and written from friendly and toler-
ant attitude toward the colored people,
they are presented here to enlighten the
people of the north, whom she says are
ignorant of the 'darky and the south
generally" Without quoting in full the
best features of her letter are given
I'VE of the south know how to treat
the negroes. We know their require
naents. They have their own schools
and their own churches and we help
them to get them, and then support
them largely by taxation on our own
nroperty. Some OF them own their
farms and stock, while not few own
houses and lots in our towns and cities.
Others are shiftless and indolent and
reyer vii! have anything, but the same
is also true of some of the other race.
1T is sadly true that the negro as a
,roral proposition is far from perfect,
and here lies much of the trouble. Edu-
cation does not improve him in that
respect for many negroes who have
the best school training are often i'm
moral They have a natural trait OF
living and deceiving in their makeup,
Int we people OF the south know how
tc make allowances for that We may
cultivate and improve them in many
WAYS. but you can't make them over or
change their original Inheritance any
more than you can change their color
So why push them on to occupy places
that are not fitted for ard do not care
for? Let them alone: we are their real
friends, and they are Happy here.
I'VE have a charming country home a
few miles from our thriving little city,
surrounded by several acres of natural
forest trees, with many acres of good
farming lands adjoining. In the midst
of this forest is beautiful spring from
r,f o., a
runs off like thread of silver. The
spring flows at the rate of sixty gal
Ions per minute, and supplies all on the
farm with an abundance of pure water
Just a stones throw from the dwelling
house. and in the cool and shady woods,
dwelIs in q comfortable cabin an old
cid negro. His step is slow. and his
once strong form is bent and feeble; his
ave is now dim and his hair and beard
are snow white He lieves here con-
| tent, at peace with God and man. In
| his cabin is a big old-fashioned fire.
place, with it's blazing legs. He has q
good bed, with plenty to eat and to
wear, with nothing to do but sit in his
chimney corner and dream of the
happy days in Dixie, now gone by
when this old man was young and
strong, and happy and secure in his
masters care, he knew ard cared moth
| ing for the ups and downs of life, nor
did he realize any of The hardships of
! life. He had his duties only; his good
1old master did all the rest. But after
freedom came he must go, he must as
sumo his new cares and duties, must
look after and raise his family. He
took up the burden as best he could
and after thirty-five years of toll and
| struggle in his changed capacity, with
his children all grown un and married
his faithful old wife departed, then he
Turns with a yearnng for his old home
and the life on the old farm, and his
own white folks He wants to go back
home. and when death claims him he
wants to be buried in the old family
graveyard, not with his own color but
with the loved forms OF his old white
friends. He hears of his young master
who, when he left home after the wal
was sitting on the front porch OF the
old farm cottage with his blue-ba
speller on his knee, now a middle-agec
man of affairs, and achieving such sue.