The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-25
Negro Rule in the South From the
Point Of View of Political,
Science and Ethical
Principle.
Principle.

From the point of view of sound
political science the imposition of univer-
sal negro suffrage upon tho Southern COM
munities, In some of which the negroes
were in large majority, was one of tho
"blunder-crimes" of the century. There
Is something natural in the subordination
of an inferior race to n superior race,
even to the point of the enslavement of
the inferior race, but there is nothing
natural in the opposite. 1t is entirely
unnatural, ruinous and utterly dernoraliz-
ing and barbarizing to both races. 1t is
difficult to believe that the creation of
such relation between the blacks and
whites of the South was ut all within
the intentions of the trainers of the Re-
construction acts. They were irritatcd
because these communities would not ac-
cord civil equality to the freedmen, would
not accept the proposed Fourteenth
Amendment. and had passed acts which
created a new species of slavery or
quasi slavery of the blacks They thought
they were placed between the aiterna-
tive of continuing military government in
the South indefinitely or giving the negro
the political power with which to main.
tain his civil rights.
Opposition to military government in
time of peace was an ingrained printi-
pie of the American people, and ;ncre
was a large part of the people of the
North, nearly all adhering to the Repub-
lican party, who believed that manhood
suffrage was the true principle of Il
sound political science. And 1t was
thought that the only way OF creating
States in the South which would sns-
tain the Republican party was by giving
the negro the suffrage 1t is not surpris-
ing, then, that they adopted the course
which they did. There was a third alter
native, as has already been pointed OUT,
viz. the placing of these communities
.trl <,tt,
keeping them there until the spirit of
loyalty to the nation WIS established ard
the principle of civil equality among all
citizens was made thoroughly secure. But,
as has been said, the idea that these
communities were States" of the Union,
notwithstanding their rebellion against
the United States and their attempted
secession from the Union, seemed to pro-
hbit the following OF this course, the
only true and sound course. And so these
unhappy communities were given over,
as sham States" of the Union, to the
rule OF the ignorant and vicious part OF
their population, to be sustained therein.
by the military power OF the nation, under
the excuse that that part alone was
loyal.
A period of darkness now settled down
upon these unhappy communities blacksr.
and more hopeless than the Wn;st IN.
l8perlencse of the war. The conduct OF
as tho creators OF the new South
was so tyrannic, corrupt, mean and vu-
gar as to repel the historian from at
tempting any detailed account OF their
kdonss, and Incline him to the vaguest
outline. Moreoys'. 1t is most difficult to
hX upon reliable facts In this period or
confusion and political night, illuminated
only by theslurid CLEANS of passion and
hatred 1T is best for tho North, hest
for the south, hest for the whole country,
mistake of the North and this terrible
Degradation of tho South should be dealt
with briefly and imparsoaaly, ana thai
| lessons ofswarnlng s..onld be drawn from
these experiences, Instead Of multiplying
crimlntaions and determinations in regard
Ito them. l56 s1B 81