The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-01-18

rascal is turned loose. Many lawyers
from the north are practicing in the
south, and when they are republicans
every opportunity is seized by the
democrats to convince their constitu-
ency that the republican party favers
negro rule. Some states provide by
law that each voter shall pay certain
tax before he can legally deposit his
vote, whether this be in the interest
of party or not it applies to both
races but the colored voter cares more
for other thing than for his ballot and
when elections occur is not qualified
except when politicians need votes
to help out and will pay the small
tax. The vote then is for the boss
and is no evidence of interest in pub
lie affairs.
South and east of Tennessee the
Doctor is sure there is no intimidation
at the polls. Every negro has an
equal right and privilege with the
white voter. At the presidential
elections their colored leaders try hard
to make them feel the obligation they
are under to the party who gave them
freedom. Then a larger per cent
register and vote than at other cleo
tions. In this connection the Doctor
(who is himself democrat) confessed
his conviction that if federal and state
elections were held on separate dates
the republican party would have a
majority OF the federal votes in the
southern states. This exactly agrees
with an opinion expressed in an edi
torial in a late number of the Denison
Review. He believes many of the
dominant race they are republican in
national, democratic only in local
matters. Answering our inquiry as
to the negroes opportunity for labor
and education he said they are equal
to the white mans. In all manner
of skilled labor they are as readily
employed and are on equal terms with
the white man except they are not
permitted to eat at the same table.
The great mass of freed men are COM
potent only for common labor are too
shiftless to work unless compelled by
their own needs and then will not do
an honest job if they can avoid it. In
the matter of schools they are also
on par with the white race but the
lower class do not improve their adj
vantages neither do they elsewhere
whatever their race or color. Besides
their public schools, religious denomi
nations are doing nobly educating
freedmen in high schools and colleges.
These are becoming quite numerous,
constantly increasing number are
going into them and large per cent
who go out become useful and capable
citizens. Some get abnormal expan-
sion of the brain and by their exhibit
tions of folly prejudice even tn .ir
benefactors against educating their
race. On the whole thinks the Booker
Washington scheme of industrial edu-
cation best, then those with ambition
to go higher can do so. 1t was
charged that the north does not deal
justly by the south, not so much will
fully as by being misled by manu-
featured reports. The New York
Mail and Express was singled out as
the greatest sinner. 1t keeps in the
south an army of disreputable sensa-
ton writing reporters who send up
whole paragraphs in which there is
little or no truth, these are copied
largely into other papers and given to
the world as facts.
Here in the southeast part of our
republic are conditions truly appall-
ing. Hundreds of thousands Of colored
people in the first and second genera
tions from slave-born parentage men,
tally and morally unqualified for cit
izenship. They believe they are being
wronged, are organizing and arming
themselves to secure their fanclec
rights. They are being now held by
the counsels of the best of their owr
people and the mob rule of the dom
inant race. They cannot hold or
always. At best they are only build
ing higher the banks of the constantly
rising stream destined to break over
to deluge and devastate.
! Nor is this the only dark spot in oul