The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-04-02

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Some there were who were fanatical
enough to believe that as matters
stood at the south they we're in some
respects superior to the whites. 1t
was believed that, at any rate. they
we're devoted to the Republican party
and 10 the union. Time has shown
that they are not particularly mindful
of either
No doubt if the blacks at the south
had fulfilled expectations the attitude
lof the government and people toward
the natives Of the Philippines would
have been different We accepted the
Filipino as a subject rather than as an
eqnal, because We had learned by ex.
perience at home that our own blacks
were not Of the stun that freemen are
made of.
The men who dominated the recon.
structicn period and by main streng h
elevafed the negro as a race to a DO
siticn for which he was never fitted
would be amazed, if living today. to
see him disfranchised IN many of the
states where he is most numerous
without so much as making protest.
Probably such a disillusionment ma, |
tional in its scope, never was witness
ed anywhere on earth before. 1t Is
not necessary to recount the hopes
that We're centered IN the freedman by
the enthusiasts who made him a c,tl-
zen. He was expected to take care OF
himself and Of the political party
which, in the face of protests and
warnings, had clothed him with poIiti.
cal rights He did neither He aid
nothing for himself and little for his
party.
Considering these things. It is neces-
sary TO ask why il Is that in spite of
this submissiveness there las grown
up all over ahe country. in the n-rth as
well as in the south, a hostility to the
colored race which in numerous in.
stances denies TO ii the Profession Of
the laws We not only disfranchise
the negro and in effect reduce him to
the position Of a subject. but when
angry We treat him in some respects
like a wild animal or a mad dog and
IN cooler moments we undertake TO .
Justify our violence by pleading exas-
and prejudice.
Some OF the most ferocious mob a. ,
acks upon negroes, signfyiug by their
ury the deep seated and long nourish.
ID wrath Of the whites, have taken :
lace In towns at the north where a
generation ago the blacks were wei.
omed with sympathy and where fifty
ears ago the anti.slavey agitation u
ad made practically the entire popu-
alton strongly predisposed in their
avor Can IL be that intimate ac
uaintance with the race serves only
Intensity the natural antipathy OF
he white man and TO reproduce in
ommunit'es once negrophile all the
ra' Of the negrophobists?
There is much in all this for blacks
) well as whites TO consider with
leh reason and patience as they can I
ing 70 the study of the problem. One
ing Is certain and that Is tha. we are
aking no progress IN the solution Of 4
e race question as il was bequeathed
ms by the reconstructionls s. We 4
we mere than undone all that they .
their blindness. fanatlcism and =
ngeance attempted to- 10 We have
reenslaved the negro but we
We Invaded rights conferred upon
IA By the same authority that gave A
n freedom and guaranteed It. We -
ye a subject race at home, and be.
use We have a subject race at home n
have lately acquired subject races -
road which 1, is manifestly our pur. -
Sc TO retain in subsection
We may read II we viii IN the
lords cf ancient republics what hap
ned as a result Of this policy. II Is
olemn and a tragic story.
m the present temper Of the people
wanld not be strange h the preiu-
e now manifested toward tue race
uli in me course o. time develop ~
b relation TO others. The old ideas vie
~.