The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-04

one plank in the Southern Democratic
platform to which all Southern Demo-
Gratis agree is white supremacy, and
In this there is no opportunity for
equality of political association, the
progenitor of social equality.
While have been somewhat lengthy
in my reply, the whole discussion may
be summed up in the single sentence,
shall we above all other things, stand
for white supremacy. If there are any
who will endeavor to conciliate Geor-
gians in their opposition to the Re-
publican party and to persuade them
that their interest lies in the advance
ment of that party in the state, the
issue to be determined will be a very
narrow one If not confused or dis
guised. 1t is simply this: Does the
Republican party believe In and adj
vocate white supremacy, and Is 1t OPP
posed to negro rule and to negro office
holding In the South? If yes, then
the Democratic party in the South will
ground its arms so far as concerns
that issue. But IL no. then the argu-
ment with us is closed, because II the
Republican party is opposed to white
supremacy in the South and does ia
vor negro rule and negro officeholding,
there are no considerations which
should be sufficient to induce the white
hut One Answer.
OF course. there can be but one an
swer to these questions by any can
did Republican who does not seek to
evade or becloud the issue. For In
the practice Of social equality by many
prominent in its ranks, In the ridicule
and teers now freely directed at the
protests of the South against the prac-
tice by certain persons OF social equal
ity, in the forcing of negro officehold-
ers on the South people, and In the
utterance of the last Chicago platform,
there is no room for possible doubt as
to the attitude of the Republican party
on the negro question. 1t is probable,
now that the election is past, that
the Indignation and resentment of the
South may cause an abatement of the
zeal with which negroes have been
heretofore put In office. For this we
will, of course, be duly appreciative,
but nothing short of the recognition
by the dominant party of white SUI
premacy and the avowed remuneration
of negro rule and negro office-holding
will justify the relaxation of their vigil
lance by the white men of the South;
for so long as the principle of negro
rule and negro office-holding is recog
nized, there is no security as to the
time when the active practice of each
may be resumed
A Law to Ourselves.
The fact is not to be ignored that
we are a peculiar people and that in
consequence we must be a law unto
ourselves. This is not as we wish, but
we are subject to conditions beyond
our control. We are peculiar In the
fact that we face conditions such as
confront no other people, such as have
confronted no other people since the
dawn OF history. Where the negro is
in small numbers his presence from
a political or even a social standpoint
is comparatively unimportant. But It
is different when he comprises a large
proportion OF the population. The men
who says there Is no negro problem
I'm the South either is uncandid or he
is not thoughtful.
In 1865 the negroes in the United
States numbered 100000 In 1905 they
Will number more than 10. 000, 900. There
are those who may read these lines
who will live to see them number more
than 2O,000,OO0. And there are children
now born who will In their day see
more than 3O.000,OO0 of them here. How
I'm view OF these facts, can Il be said
by any one, after thoughtful consider
alton, that there is no negro prob
lam.
The Negro, Tremendous Problem.
The mere presence OF the negro in
the South necessarily presents a tre-
mendous Droblem-how two peoples I'M
nearly equal numbers, the extremes OF
the human race can live together and
yet separate and In peace. But that
problem has been intensified an hun
dred fold by the Acknowledgement Of
the negro.
In fact this feature 80 overshadous
all others that II may be said now at
least, to constitute the negro problem.
II the people Of the North are sincere
In the oft expressed desire 10 leave
the people Of the South 20 deal with
the negro problem, their first step
should be 20 repeal the Fifteenth
Amendment. That would leave each
state free 20 deal with the question ms
II saw NJ. until n is repealed. the
South IL not left free 10 deal with ~.
The Southern states with that amend
ment repealed would undoubtedly dis
| franchise the negro, and the necessity
for the solidarity ~ the south would
Immediately disappear,
Wouid ~ Dress fnlustfcs.
J TO require the Southern states ~