The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-11

Augusta, Dec. 10.-Apropos of the
discussion of the race problem agita-
ton following the letter of Senator
Bacon to Congressman Hardwick, Elk
Congressman w. H. Fleming gave out
an interesting interview to-day.
II am not in active politics." he said,
land do not desire to be-but every
good citizen ought to take an interest
in public affairs.
THE race question at the South GER
tainly does present a problem-a diff
ficult problem. Its proper solution must
come from far-sighted wisdom, not
from binding passion nor misleading
sentiment. Better than optimism and
better than pessimism is facing the
truth, be it for better or for worse.
I'm seeking the solution of any diff
f1cult problem, the first step should be
to eliminate the impossible schemes
proposed, and then concentrate on
sible.
I'VE often hear the epigrammatic
dictum that there are but three pos
sible solutions of our race problem.
deportation, humiliation or assimila-
ton Involving miscegenation). l ven
ture to assert that all three of those
so-called possibilities are impossibilities
two of them certainly are. Not one
of the three presents a working hypo-
thesis. Physical facts prevent deporta-
ton. Physical facts backed by our
religion, our civilization, our very
selves, forbid humiliation. Physical
facts stressed by an ineradicable race
pride bars the way against assimila-
ton. Let US face these truths. The
negroes are going to stay in the South.
and so are the whites.
1.-THE plainly sensible thing to do is
to devise the best modus vivendi or
working basis by which the greatest
good can be accomplished for ourselves
and our posterity.
Very First Essential.
'"The first, the absolutely essential
factor in such plan, so far as hui
man ken can now forsee, is white su-
PR macy-a supremacy arising from
natural superiority, but based on jus
tice to the negro.
Those demagogues whose stock in
trade is hating the Niger may gain
some temporary advantage for them
selves, but they will achieve nothing
permanent for the good of the state
or nation. Injustice and oppression
will not solve any of the problems
of the ages. God did not so ordain
His universe.
Proud of our race we refuse to
amalgamate with the negro, never
theless, the negro Is a human being,
and within the brotherhood of man,
and under the 'fatherhood of Cod
Moreover he is an American citi-
zen and protected as such by guar
antees of the constitution, that are
as irreparable, had almost said, as
the bill of rights itself.
No Repeal of Amendments.
Nothing could be more useless than
for the South to permit itself to be
deceived by those who would wage a
wordy warfare for the repeal of the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
to the constitution. That is another
one of the impossible solutions which
should be promptly rejected by all
level-headed men who seek the truth.
We had just as well bay the moon.
AS against such blind folly, we may
always expect a solid North, East
and West, and a South in worse po-
litical isolation than it is to-day.
Nor If such thing as repeating
these amendments were possible, would
it be wise or desirable even for the
South. While 1t is true that no two
races as distinct as the Anglo-Saxon