The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-25
AnorHER PLAN PaoPosrp.


 1 a superior. as Is the case with whites and negroes, are together there are but | two final solutions of the problem pre- scented. One Is the destruction of the weaker, and the other is absolute sepa- ration He would set apart a territory large enough to give homes to all the negroes of the United States. and in that territory it should be impossible | for the white man to do business or exercise the rights of citizenship" Professor Kirbye is not the first to suggest this Utopian scheme for "set- ting" the race question. At the very beginning there are two obstacles in the way, both of which seem insupera- ble. In the first place. he proposes that "the government could set apart by purchase an area of territory in the Southern and Southwestern part of the country to be known as the Negro State" He says the government could | do this, but could it? The negro popn- lation numbers eight or nine millions of human beings. and that would re- qulre large extent of territory to give them all homes. eTt
 Then, how could the government get possession of this selected region, or by what right could it acquire it? If [ those who now occupy 1t prefer to re- \ main and refuse to sell, Is there any l power in our government to force them to sell? Can the government dispos- sess and deport them in order to found a Negro State? We fail to see how else the land could be acquired, except by force if the owners refuse to sell, | and we know of nothing in our constf- l tuition or form of government to justify the use of such force. Uncle Sam has had many years of experience trying to dispossess the Indians and has not made a brilliant success of the job. | Again, suppose the United States could acquire the necessary territory and get all the present inhabitants out of 1t. how does MT. Kirbye propose to settle it with negroes? Does he | imagine that all the negroes now scat tered throughout the country would | voluntarily leave their present homes and remove to new ones. Many of them would gladly do so. no doubt, but others would not, and there is no law to force them to do so. In short, we know of no moral, legal or constitu- tional right which our government has to acquire the specified territory, or to remove, its present inhabitants, or to force the colored people all to remove to it. These are three obstacles which seem to our mind insurmountable.
 But there is still another point to be considered in this absurd proposition, as we must designate it. Professor Kirbye lays much stress on his idea that no white man should be allowed to become a citizen of this State, or to transact any business there. Where does he find the right to limit the citi- zenship of any State. Territory or de- pendency of the United States to a par ticular race? Much unjust criticism is visited on the South because, as is alleged, negroes are denied the right of citizenship. The allegation is un- true, of course, but it is made, all the | put up the bars against the entire white race, and to turn the job over to the general government, as we understand it.
 For several generations the govern ment of the United States has tried. or professed to be trying to protect our Indian tribes against intrusion from the whites, but has 1t succeeded? Well we think it can very truly be said of it that it has not been anything like a complete success. The white man thinks he has a right to go anywhere and he goes. Solemn treaties are made and prohibitory regulations prescribed
 but the white man goes where he elects to go, and he would do the same in this proposed negro State. The argu- ment of Professor Kirbye that "there would be no danger of interference from the white man, if he could not do business within the State or hold ofice," shows a woful lack of knowl- edge of the American white man. He would be doing business in the new State before breakfast. If there were no other inducement to do so. he would do 1t because of the prohibition against it.
 No, 1t seems to us that this is but one more totally impracticable propo- sition connected with the race question. It will not be settled. in our judgment by deportation or segregation of the l coIored race They are with us and part of our population and citizenship Our laws have made them citizens of the several States and Territories and we know of no legal or moral right to send them out The race question so much talked of is here to stay. The solution of 1t lies with both races. The whites must retain political control of the country. must maintain social su- periority and must give the negro equal and exact justice before the law and in all business transactions. So shall trouble and dissatisfaction be avoided and white and colored live together in peace. We see no other plan.
 JUST WHAT THEY MEAN. It is the veriest nonsense to argue , that Missouri Republicans should not