Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-06-27
SATURDAY, JUNE q, 1903.
Continued from First Page. }

SOSGIu Uuo IuGGillStu w HUGS.
The white citizen has generations
Of educated and self governing ances-
tors back of him. His own education
begins when he leaves the cradle, aud
continues throughout the entire period
of his minority, Even with long
line of intelligent ancestors back of
him, this great system of education is
continued twenty one years, before he is
considered competent to vote. And
how ridiculous it was, that the negro,
with no education, without the vaguist
idea of government, should with one
bound have been placed on a par with
the white man, who had spent twenty
one years preparing for this event.
The enfranchisemento Of the negro
was contrary to the expectations of
many abolitionists, and probably
would not have taken place at all, had
it not been, that after their emancipa-
ton, new phase of affairs developed
in Southern politics. which caused
considerable anxiety to the people of
the North. Many of the Southern
State legislatures passed what were
known as '.Vagrancy Laws" which to
the people of the North, seemed to en-
croach upon the rights of the Freed
men. In order to cour teract these
laws, 5he right of suffrage was given
to the negroes, not because they were
fitted for it. but so that they could pro-
test themselves against the unjust
legislation of the Southern States
But, as the national authority increas-
ed there was less danger to the negro
from state power, SO that, practically
speaking, there was no longer any
need of that amendment which pro-
tected him. But when once he got
political power in his hands, his nature
asserted itself, and the result has
been so disastorous that the tables
are now turned, and instead of having
to protent the negro, the Southern
States now feel compelled to protect
the white man, against the dangers
and corruption incident to negro dom
nation.
My worthy opponent may say that
there is a class Of whites in Tennessee
and Arkansas who are as ignorant and
therefore as dangerous as the negro.
But these same whites have owned their
homes for generations past, and their
interests are with the state in which
they dwell. Besides the votes of these
whites count for practically nothing at
an election, because they are about
equally DIVIDED between the two politi-
cal parties, while the entire vote of the
ignorant Blacks is given to one party.
Examples of the Negroes lack OF Writ
ue and morality are without number,
for when his untamed passions are
aroused, there is no limit to his law
lessness. One can hardly pick up
a newspaper, without seeming some
terrible example of outrage or other
crime. 1t is horrible enough TO read
about, but let husbands and fathers
place them selves if they will, in the
position of the white men of the South,
SO surrounded by these lawless Blacks
that they fear to leave their own
homes, lest when they return, some
sight of horror Or blood shed, shall
great their eyes. Statistics show that
out of 1000 criminals in this country,
rs. 900 were oolored. Quite showing
for nine million blacks to make against
seventy mi lion whites.
One OF the negroes greatest failings
is his superstition. This is character
istic of the race, and unscrupolus poll
ticans take advantage of this, and, by
working upon his credulity, they gain
almost complete control over him, cor
rupting his ballot and thus undermine
ing the very foundations ofhonest gov
eminent,
Vigorous attempts have been made
to elevate the negro. The white people
of the South, although paying 90 per
cent. of all the money for school pur-
poses, spent in twenty-five years fol-
lowing the war 1925 900, OOOin schools
for negroes. 1t is only in exceptional
cases that he seems aoable of any
but the simplest education, and even
this instead, Of elevating him, opens
new fields for vice. VIM. E. Curtis,
who has made a study, of the negro
sayt: unfortunately there has sprung
up since the emancipation, class un-
known In slave times, who do no work
at all, but live by vice, immortality
and crime. This vicious and degraded
class has committed in one generation
of freedom, more horrible crimes than
were committed in the two centuries
of slavery, The larger percentage
of criminals in New York, are negros
who can read and write We do not
contend that the negro ought not to
be educated, but the great danger lies
in educating his mind faster than his
morals.
1t is a fact that where community
of negroes has been removed from the
influence Of the white man, there has
been g tendency among it's inhabitants
to revert to their native state Of bar
barism, Nor should this fact surprise
us greatly, for nearly all the negro s
progress has been due to the efforts of
the white race, and very little indeed
to his own aspiration or effort.
If the degro is to derive any benefit
from the white man. they must be on