New-York tribune., 1903-02-07
THE SECOND SOUTHERN QUESTION.
Statement Of the White Mans View of the
Negro's Status.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The appointment by the President of Dr..
Crun to the position OF Collector at Charleston
will probably bring crisis what may be called
our second Southern question. The first was the
abolition of slavery; the second is the protection
of the eoored people in their political and civil
rights.
The understanding Of this question is OF great
Importance all the people of the United States,
because it involves the existence Of republican
form of government in each OF the Southern states
well the morality OF a nation which pro-
fesses TO protect all in the enjoyment of their
lawful rights. / anxious to make a statement
Of the facts to which SOutherner would agree
VIII you, therefore permit briefly to review the
history of the treatment Of the coered people by
the white people of the South, so far as their
political and civil rights are concerned from the
end of the down 70 the present time?
First. as the right to vote The whites have
never consented to the exercise Of the right OF
franchise by the colored people During the admin
istration of General Grant they could vote only
under the protection of the military During the
administration of Mr.. Hayes the military were
withdrawn, and since then they have practically
not voted, or if they have, their votes have not
been counted. For the twenty years following
the beginning of Mr.. Hayes's term they were dis
franchised by threats or by fraud, but about five
wears ago the State of Mississippi invoked the
semblance of law to disfranchise them. and
yised its constitution with that purpose in view
Other States quickly followed in the same steps
During all these years the federal government
has continued appoint colored men to federal
Offices The appointments were always distasteful
TO the whites and We're denounced by them, but
yet submitted to. Recently for the first time. 1t is
President that their objection to such appoint
is fSs GR ssS for of the the @ Il e
persecution of federal oficeholders on account Of
oG5ec secend a.e as p to cE rght Since the
ten e sdsp aEss a te o mest ali ses R an IN
them been u the hands Of the White Dsno me-
against the colored people as an inferior race
They have oSoa by a1oad a car and n in
places Public opinion, too has virtually restricted
last few Years even the protection of the law
has frequently been withheld from those who have
fspe nepe ahd sheS Rave @ BEEN killed BY lynch
This is plain OF the aefS wnfn ao
He may offer some explanation % II 3ustncat9h s ot OF
% fairis. therefore. sum up the opinions OF south
white man as 10 the politea ana sooial seatne @
Of the ceiored man OF to-day III 'ae SOURI, IL 'i0
First-IIe should nc: be allowed to vote or TO
ne;a esecondSfIe must be educated in manual labor
6ay 6e wasted eort He IS incapable By reason OF
racial defects Of acquiring II ,...s .. .b
ing him to work 10 be orderly and obedient-in
word 10 make him good servant mechanic OF
Fourth-The establishment of institutions ike
the ha9ps9 20 far as they teac LIBERAL eucation
Fifth~T'he exceptional eolored man who may
should be discouraged. because he win find nothinG
10 do. and will. therefore become dtseonteh'eu anu
"ts tssiyth4Before the law ne should not stand equal
with the white ba mao should b pgmished By lynch law
Ills right of asseinblage and OF Tree speech shehid
not snthfn ss ul,l word his civil social status
should remain substantially the same az ~hen ne
a. fh eepe of the country large realize that
these are substantially the & epIS % Iibne ri nm sboId
spread the truth before them The ~hoie question