The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-03-13
SENSIBLE WORDS.
Col. J. B. Hebrew In Manufac
turer's Record, Tells The North
to Let the Negro Question Sc
yerely Alone.

Col. J. B. Killebrew, writing for the
Manufacturer s Record on The South
Attitude Toward Negroes, gives
utterance to the following level headed
remarks, which are worthy of the
most careful reading, and which every
man who knows anything about the
negro question knows to be a true
statement of facts:
.sThere is but one solution to the
80 called negro problem, says Col.
Killebrew. Let 1T alone. Let IL
severely alone. Above all, let outsld-
ers keep hands off, as the southern
people do when there are strikes else
where, more of which threaten the
very social structure of this govern
ment. That is much greater prob.
lem than the Southern problem OF
races, and the Northern pepole have
all they can do TO meet the exlgen-
cie3 engendered by most turbulent
population. Every interference from
the outside but complexities the prob
lem of the South. and, indeed, there
could be no problem but for this inter
ference. Booker Washington knows
this to be true, and his policy Is to
make useful citizers of the negroes by
teaching them how to work. he
Knows that without the moral support
of the Southern people his mission Is
bound to prove a failure. Let the
negroes alone. The Southern people,
of all the white races, value their
services most highly. Self-lnterest
would prompt the Southern people to
treat the negroes with justice and give
them opportunities In life, but they
will never submit to have their proper
ty virtually confiscated by putting the
ballot In the hands OF the negroes.
The horrors of reconstruction made
more enduring impression on the
Southern mind and heart than all the
hardships and dangers OF the battle
field.
1.-THE great fundamental truth
should be recognized that a negro Is
not a white man, nor white man
negro. The black race have many
most admirable qualities that fit them
for useful and profitable work and
commend them to the economic world.
They are doclle; they are hardy; they
are hopeful; they are industrious
wnen properly managed; they rarely
indulge in fits of dependency, and
they are good humored and in general
very pleasant and polite in manners.
To one whom they respect they are
true aud loyal. To one who has won
their affection by generous or charlt-
able acts. they will undergo any hard
ships or deprivation to serve him.
But they have the greatest abhor-
renee for a mean, stingy or exacting
employer. To them such an one is
not a white man, but poor white
trash, a term that expresses their
loathing ana contempt. Nor Will
respectable negroes show any respect
for white man vino associates with
them. They would resent the presence
of one at their sociables as much al
most as a white man would, under
similar conditions and circumstances,
resent their presence. These are 1acts
which every employer OF negro LABOR
ers know to be true, but they are 1acts
that the Northern man cannot grasp.
THE South today is by far the most
peaceful, law abiding and Industrious
portion of the United States. Where
there is one malefactor there are ten
thousand quiet, energetic citizens pur-
suing their daily vocation and In
creasing their fortunes. The negroes
of the South, let it be confessed, are
doing their part to advance its pros
perity. Their work on the cotton,
tobacco, rice and sugar plantations ls
one of the greatest factors IN fhe
worlds progress. Let the South
stand by the negro in everything short
of social equality and the abuse OF the
ballot