The independent., 1903-04-23
THE NEGRO AGAIN
Minnesota Correspondent Has Word to
Say In Reply to Mr.. De Hart

equality. Slavery in this country was
sectional and was the bone OF con-
tention for many years The Missouri
compromise and the John Brown raid
were the chief causes Of bringing on
the war of the rebellion. After four
years of bloodshed, deprivation and
high taxes, peace was restored. The
negro was free. The army was dis
banded and the war veterans returned
to their homes each TO follow his
peaceful pursuits.
Now, after the lapse of 40 years and
the experience of a bloody, cruel war,
we in the north and south are still
haunted and perplexed with this race
question. We had slavery ever since
the formation of this government un-
til the time of the emancipation proc
lamation. The children Of Israel served
in Egypt 400 years, and yet | never
heard Of them having the right Of fran
chise, but they wandered in the
wilderness for 40 years in order to
make themselves fit subjects for the
promised land.
Only few years after the war OF
the rebellion there was an amend
ment to the constitution of the United
States, articles 13, IA and Is, making
the negro full-fedged citizen of the
United States. Article Is put him in
the ballot box along with his white
brothers. Some say the negro OF the
south is as capable of voting as many
Of the poor whites. In sense this
may be true. But why add more
ignorance to the ballot box? Had the
negro not been the dupe and tool OF
the republican party, he would not
have been granted the right of fran
chise at that time.
Mr.. De Hart says in 1876 there was
question as to who was elected presi-
dent, Hayes or Tilden. Mr.. De Hart
says nobody was elected by the peo-
pie. Several years after this presi-
Dental election, Hayes and Tilden, a
vote on this question was taken in
the house of representatives at Wash
ington and by large. majority vote
Hayes was voted usurper and was
recorded on the journal of the house.
He says a commission was created.
Yes, a commission 7x8-seven demo-
Gratis and eight republicans. What
righteous act! Louisiana and one Of
the other southern states were de-
clared for Hayes, that never went re-
publican.
Mr.. De Hart says the democrats can
govern the southern states in their
own peculiar way all the time. But
they cannot govern the northern
states. As black as the democrats have
been painted by many of the chief
apostles of the republican party, they
never openly, in broad daylight, in the
face of the priesthood, and an open
Bible, stole a president of the United
States. If> they think this worthy
heritage to leave their children, we
say, Amen.
Mr.. De Hart says there is something
in democratic civilization that does not
find favor in the north; it is the treat
ment of the negro and the tariff ques-
tion. He also says if the democratic
party should come into power again,
would set the whole north against it.
l would like to ask Mr.. De Hart If he
was ever ten miles north of Mason
and Dixons line? He lives down in
the little state of New Jersey where
they manufacture trusts from $4,000
to $4,000 a piece. By their shifty
business they can afford (and do) pay
their state officers more salary than
we pay our state officers in the great
state of Minnesota.
AS to the negro UP north, he has all
the rights and privileges he is entitled
to, and sometimes good deal more.
Then Mr.. De Hart mentions the
tariff and says the democrats want tar
iff for revenue only. This cry about
high protection, claiming it was for
the benefit of the iaboring man is a
lie from the mouth out, and any man
who can keep himself outside of an
insane asylum should know better 1t
is wholly for the rich manufacturer to
make money. There has been more
trouble with the laboring class under
the Mckinley and Dingley tariff law
than ever before. Thousands of poor
men have been made to believe that
high protection was for their benefit
and nothing else. Poor, foolish men;
they need pity.
Mr.. De Hart seems to think more Of
a black skin than any other. For my
part, | prefer my own color and the
race to which belong. The negro has
his freedom and he should be given a
chance to get living; but when you
tolIy about social euuality among the