Richmond planet., 1903-12-12
HON. C. n. PAYNE SPERKS,
Aroused by Scandalous AS
sertions.

ONl
A VOICE FLOM ST. THOMAS.
Criticizes the mes-Democrat-R
Ing DeclaratiOns-An Able
Contribution.
ST. THoM AS. DANISH,
WEST INDIES.
, Editor Richmond PLANET,
Sir:-In the PLANET of Nov. i4th
there appe AIRED review of a diatribe
found in the New Orleans Time s-Demo-
crat of Nov. 3rd. L am greatly graft
fed at the mastery manner in which
you demolished that hatch of prejudice,
malevolence and malicious falsehood.
CAUsTIC CRITICISM.
To my mind the most pusillanimous
portion of that monstrous production is
found in words You quoted from the
Times-Democrat, bich are these:
"Mr. Roosevelt Goes not desire the
votes of those who would close the
doors of hope against the Negro as a
citizen Here again is matter that
requires some explanation before in
oorsement. Does the president know
what the hope of the Negro is? Those
who have unfortunately known the Ne
gro all of their lives think they do, and
they are determined 70 slam shut the
door against some of his hopes and bar
it tightly after it is closed.
The door of bore' for the Negro
means social equality, il termarriage
and even social superiority to the hum
bier class of whites"
Yes, "those who have unfortunately
! know N the Negro all of their lives think
| they do'-and this think they do'' is
! one of the ridiculous aud disgusting
features of the situations; those southern
white men like Tillman, Graves, Nor
gan and men of their ilk of speakers
and writers on the Negro race problem.
as they call it. To set themselves up as
absolute authority upon all questions of
Negro character, are absolutely the most
incompetent class of persons to pnss up
on that important subject that can be
found in the whole United States. for
two reasons: first. because of their ip.
norance upon that subject; and second
because of prejudice against the Negro
as man.
PLAIN REASONS.
The first reason is apparent to every
| thoughtful, observanr Negr~ I'm the
land; those people are ignorant because
| their prejudice prevents them from u.s.
ing such means as would supply them
with correct and Intelligent knowl-
edge of the Negroes real character. as
piIations and aims. For instance, whe,
did Morgan. Tillman, the editor of the
New Orleans Times Democrat or any of
the would-be absolute authorities and
exponents of Negro character and de-
sires, visit any of the tens of thousands
of well-regulated. intelligent Negro
homes that are distributed all over the
South? or when did they visit the thous-
ends OF splendidly organized and ably
taught Negro schools, academies, semi
narles colleges and universities, as we'll
as industrial schools where, in all. more
than two millions of peor le ale being
trained in the most helpful departments
of edu cation in order that they may be.
come in the best sense worthy citizens
OF what would be the greatest govern
ment upon the earth were il not for the
influence of such men as those to whom
we are now making reference?
OTHER QUESTIONS.
And again, when did Messrs Morgan.
ETC., visit the thousands of successfully
conducted business houses, work shops
and farms owned and managed by Ne.
groes? or when did they attend service
conducted by any of the many thous-
ands of intelligent Negro preachers.
who are conducting their churches and
services from time TO time in "a way that
is receiving the highest encomlums of
praise from all faiI-minded people both
North and South, who occasionally 20
among them and know?
To each of the queries above, am
quite confident that a negativ4 ans
wer must be given. Then the oues-
ton arises. how can these people speak
intelligently about the Negro of today?
TO KEEP HIM DOWN.
The answer is plain. They are not
speaking intelligently. Their ipnor.
ance concerning the Negroes real condi-
tion IS only equalled by their diabolical
efforts TO keep him down. and to ulti-
mately crush him TO the esrth. There
is, as we see it, only one general source
from whence the Tillman class gets d.
their information concerning the Negro
as race, and that is from that most ig-
norant. shiftless class that is always in
evidence about railroad depots, steam.
boat landings and other public places,
and who are constantly following and
staggering around, giving expression
10 many things which they themselves
co not really mean, and many times do
not understand fully. Yet these people,
who are anxiously watching for some
thing, catch every word and treasure it
up as the voice Of the real Negro senti-
ment. Then there is another class of
shabby gentry" among the Negroes
who will not 'do hard work." and the
strongest and almost the only evidence
OF their sense or manhood is seen in
their well-laundered snirt and extremely
clean apron. 1t is to this class also that
fha TiIlman and Noxu Orlonno Tir,,o..