The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-10
NEGROES MUST BEAR A PART.
JUDGE PUGH SAYS THEY CAN
SOLVE RACE PROBLEM.
They Must Accept the situation in which
the Creator Has Placed Then-Etiu.
cation Is Necessary. Especially for
(;irls-ROOseveit's Unwise Action.

there is no man who personally Is more
highly esteemed and none whose opinions on
all matters social as well as legal, command
greater respect than those Of the Hon
j. C. Pugh Of this city. Judge Of the Cir.
cult Court of Appeals, First Circuit of Louis
lana Judge Pugh. who has figured promi-
ncntly of late in the political history Of the
State. is peculiarly we'll qualified to speak
upon the negro question from the fact that
he has lived for many years in parishes and
rural districts where there are dense negro
populations. and from the fact, too, that
he has given the matter much careful study.
His views may be taken as an expression
of the highest intelligence and conserva-
tism of the South on the topic.
At the request Of its representative
Judge Pugh has prepared for THE sun
the following statement
Great disaster has befallen the Southern
people because of the lack of understanding
on the part of the Northern people Of the
true relations existing between the negro
Of the South and his former master and their
descendants.
A great mass of the people of the North
are in sympathy with the South in its
effort to solve the race problem thrust
upon it by the emancipation of the negro
and the extension to him of all the privi-
leges of government, which was without
precedent or parallel in the political history
of the world. 1t seems, however, that
there still exist few political agitators and
some misguided philanthropists who per-
sist in widening the breach between the
races and estranging the whites Of the two
sections.
The racial phase of the negro question
is not sectional but entirely Of a national
character. Race prejudice is active in
every section of the North, where the negro
is practically excluded from all industrial
competition with the whites, and is denied
a residence in some of the densely popu-
lated sections of the country.
"The people Of the North resent an out
rage perpetrated on its white women by
negroes as readily as do the Southern
people. Daily dispatches bring to us
abundant proofs that tho negro is persona
non graia with a great mass Of the people
in a place where he was once regarded as
a martyr.
The race question has not reached an
acute stage. The old slaves still exert a
restraining influence over the younger
ones, and when their influence is no longer
available it is impossible to forecast solu-
ton OF the problem. 1t is to be hoped.
however. that the republic will raise up
new generation of leaders who will possess
sufficient practical craftsmanship to solve
wisely any question relative to the adjust
ment of our political, social and industrial
conditions.
For a number Of years the negro question
has occupied comparatively unimportant
place in the political sit uation of the coun-
try. and. but for the action Of the President
inn thsA raDr RI nIihlif nIQNag
the recrudescence OF sectional feeling would
not have manifested itself at this time.
1T is agreed that the right Of suffrage is
not natural right, nor is it an absolute,
solely from statutes and constitutions,
Participation in. elections says Judse
Cooley is privilege rather than right,
and Is Eranted or denied on grounds OF gen.
Subject to the limitations contained in
the Federal Constitution the power to nix
the qualification of voters is vested ex-
clusively in the States The elective fran
and supervision of the sovereign power OF
the States, subject only to the limitations
contained in the Fifteenth Amendment:
.The fact that any elective franchise
participation in elections does not come in
conflict with the Fifteenth Amendment.
This principle was settled by the Supreme
Court OF the United States in the case OF
THE operation of suffrage qualifications
in the recent constitutions Of the South Is
not limited in language or effects to one
race: and while the legal effect OF such
expedients is practically to admit all white
men to the elective franchise, and exclude
most of the negroes, yet there is nothing
in the language of the law which discrimi-
mates against the negro on account OF his
race.
aAll people are capable OF self-goven-
n
velopment. the vast majority Of the negroes
have but little conception OF the rightful
and intelligent use Of the ballot; and any
actor. on the part OF sectional press. or
to force negro suffrage on the white people
Of the South would be resisted. If necessary,
by revolution.
Mr. Lincoln and his advisers never con-
templated that the indiscriminate use OF the
ballot should be conferred on the ignorant
class of negroes. but that the more in
telligent class should be accorded the right
to participate in elections; II the whites
of the South are allowed by the governing
authorities at Washington to proceed on
the lines indicated in the adoption OF recent
suffrage provisions, the political problem
will speedily he solved to the satisfaction
OF bot h races.
1T is quite probable that Congress by
appropriate legislation might reduce the
representation OF the Southern States on
account of this indirect method OF eTcluaihg
the negro from participation IN eiec.iohs'
but the remedy cannot be reached IN an
effort to nulify the provisions OF suffrage
clauses ingrafted in our constitutions.
The question is wholly OF political
character, and the leading men OF both
political parties in the North are wiling
that the Southern people should have time
to solve the problem by adjusting IL In
such a way as to meet local conditions.
However, should the highest court IN
the land sweep from the constitutions
of he South the suffrage provisions under
which the negro vote Ia practically elimi
mated, the white people would still controi
It's political destiny.
THE elevation Of the negro condltloh
along educational lines is largely an ex.
perimental matter, and the QUESTION nro o.
his capacity TO profit by we'll directed enort
on these lines is purely academic.
That the negro has accomplished Great
deal in very short time goes without,
saying. A great many are able 10 reaa
and write and appreciate the advantages
that are extended them for the betterment
of their condition. Many are shown 10
possess a good degree of intellectual ability.
and the past decade has developed among
them some commanding leaders. II me
Pace is to be developed on intellec'ual
tnd industrial lines, it must lie uhdeI me
direction of such leaders rs Booker l.
CHI