The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-08-25
THE CONvOCATlON OF NEGROES
AT nARPEKS FERRY.

Harper's Ferry is once more brought
to the attention Of the country. Only
a few days ago, certain misguided ne.
groes, largely from Northern states
Maryland was the only Southern state
with any representation there at all,
and 1t is so situated geographically
that it has largely lost its Southern
identity-met there to expatiate upon
the negroes alleged grievances and to
formulate plans which seek to give
them equal social and political privi-
leges. We are indeed glad that the
negroes of the South took no part in
1.-THE sensible and most intelligent
class Of the negroes in the South re-
alize that they are among their best
friends and that their condition Is far
better of here than it would be in
the North. They know that every Ia
Dor union north of the Ohio river has
closed its doors to them and that
blood shed and strikes and other do
nestle troubles follow wherever any
considerable number Of the negroes
are employed. In the South every
vocation is open to them and in many
instances they are the preferred Ia
borers. They know, that in this Sec
tiOn, wherever a negro has applied
himself industriously to the prosecu-
tion of bis work that he has accumu-
lated property and that he uses this
property with all the rights and priv.
ilegeS Of the white man. We have a
large number of negro real estate
owners in this county and the same
holds good with every other county in
Mississippi and, indeed, throughout
the South, and their Nothern breth-
rem would do we'll to study the real
here before raising a hue
and cry about social and political
equality, the discussion Of which only
gives a few Northern negroes a little
notoriety and in the end works disas-
ter to the negro Of the South. That
great Mississippian, ]. z. George, said
what God has put asunder let no
man join together" and we believe
that the negro property owners of the
South and the better class of negroes
here share that sentiment.
The agitation of the negro question
by Republican politicians north has
ceased and the better element
up there has learned more of the ne
gro and has about come to the con-
that it is the South'S problem
and that she should be allowed to ham
die it in her own way.
The Harper'S Ferry convention re-
allied this and eDdeavored to prod
their erstwhile political friends with
the following resolution:
The failure Of the Republican par
ty In congress at the session just clos.
ed to redeem its pledge of 1904 with
reference to suffrage conditions at the
seems a plain, deliberate
breach Of promise, and stamps that |
party guilty OF obtaining votes under |
false pretenSeS."
With the Republicans DESERVING
him, what is the negro to do? We
should advise them to eschew politics |
They, Of their own brain and efforts, |
nave never wrought any good to them
selves by mixing in politics and they
never will. The Republican party re-
llizeS that they are failures political
y. If these preachers and so-called
eaderS. who met at Harper's Ferry, |
would expend the same time and en-
'rgy trying to improve the moral con-
litiOn of their race and in trying to
each them to have some aim in life,
o take some thought of the morrow,
hey would be engaged in a work
where the labOrers are few and one
hat would tend to promote the hap
,inesS and prosperity of their G
No good will come of the Harper's
'erry convention.