The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-08-04
THE NEGRO IN POLITICS.

n The Atlanta independent, one y
| the ablest negro papers published II
the south, is giving its race some edi
4 torlal advice calculated to solve the
so-callel negro problem in the only
practical manner in which 1t can b.
/ solved. The Independent declares
that THE slim.lation Of the negso
from the national life as a political
factor is ineYitable." and regards his
total excI,re iop from participation in
the affairs OF the government" as the
| fiat of fate"
The Independent sees that the ne
gros acquired aRGtness to enjoy and
appreciate selgovernment' hes
Overwhelmingly at the basis of Chris
tian civilization, declaring:
1.-THE negro must begin ct the not.
tom ana learn. the radimenls of The
responsibility Of the ballot before he
can comprehend its importance or
aaioy its protection. The negro Is
neither responsible for his ignorance
er his political status. In both cases
he is thQ innocent sictiL ~ circnin-
stances without his cH1rol. EEers
student III history me- acknowledge
that the enfranchisameht af lie negro
without qualification was alol'mieI
tai wrong iniI;cting more permanent
injury upon, The very people congress
was seeking to protect than all he
discriminating legi lation passed. by
The south in an effort to correct the
biundsr. i. The further the negro
removes himself from politics the
more seif-rellanf will he become. Tha
RIGHT TO vote ought to be based upon
Intelligence or property qualifications
Tne citizen ought To be tangat 10
bring something to bis country in his
character either tangible or intanal-
Bile, and ought not to expect his coun-
try to add every thing to him. The
right 10 vote primarily ought 70 have
baen conferred upon US as We acquired
and became competent t.
appreciate the purpose of the ballot.
a. he right OF suffrage should have
been handed us in such way as q
stimulate development and progress
None but those who possess ana pfac.
lice civic virtue should be allowed 2
vote. II we would win and main
tain q. permanent place in the civic re
lations Of our country we must OBJ
tam it by reason Of what is inherent
in the man 1t must come beca lae
Of the stun in The individual Legis-
lation nor the Republican party can
aot confer it. There is no agency with
out the man which can confer 1t; II
must evolute from those possibilities
which now lie dormant in ths indisid-
ual"
The Atlanta Age, another neg'o pa
per of influence, describing in the alb
stract the trouble with the negro race,
says:
There used to be time when .,e |
legro race was judged by Its inteliS
rent, indastricus, virtueus and self-ro
.pactipg N mbers. That is to say, /
hose consFtu:el the race. and were
o regarded by peone Of other races |
But What do ws see now? The crap |
whisksy and beer grzZlers
9th male and female, the women who
lance and carouse ell night and sleeP |
most of TIE day, the men who live by |
hook and crook and who will not worh
or anybody--tnese are the people
who are claiming 10 be the real negro
ace and they are fast becoming so
Young men who drive |
rays or work on buildings or dig in
ne earth or toll by the sweat ri their |
row for an honest living. you are
asghed at by this class, your working |
,,othes and your dinner pals are con
i6ered signs OF disgrace. You wo
nen who fad pleasure IN doing what |
,yer work il falls 10 your lot 70 sal
IRE sneered at and criticized by these |
lew leaders Of the negro race. Theg \
re everywhere and wherever they
ire they are drunk. noisy. fussy AM |
-eady 10 sticl, a knife into each other |
hearts or blow each other3' brains |
5ut. The young rowdies With their |
y stsls aud r1zors and the young yo-
nen with their l1Einess and immoral.
ty are pushing themselves to the
'ront as the negro race, aud they are
% being recognized by the waiios
while people who respect themselves
ire regarded as only a part OF The
ace" ~ ga , ...