The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-28
THE RACE

The Greensboro Telegram, comment
ing on the Atlanta riots. makes refer
ence 10 the contention of some people
that the only solution of the race qCes-
ton in the south is u deport the ne
groes, and cites Thomas Dixon and
John Temple Graves is the chief advo-
Gates Of this plan, and Il proceeds To
that the majority OF TIE people.
liz the truth were known, do not know
what they think. The Telegram Is
mighty right. The majority OF the
do not know what they think
ON this question. No II has yet suG-
lgested a solution OF the problem which
strikes them as the correct one We
do not believe a majority Of The white
Of the south favor the deporta-
Irjon Of the negro. If they did it would
mot help matters, for such e plan would
be entirely impracticable. 1t would De
IL perfect impossibility to deport and
.Icolonize the negroes en- masse.
II may be possible, but 1t is not
Iprobable. that in the course of time
+ he negroes Of the south will, 10 such
In large extent, seek homes in the north
Iorn and western states that their num-
her in the old slaye-holding states
will be greatIv reduced and the serious
of the situation he thereby les
|sered. Were this 10 occur what IS
lcalled the rice problem would simply
he b~roadenad and extended to those
Iparts of the country where it IS 0
lnOw felt. Already in some OF the
northern states this question is causing
u~neasiness, where a few years ago the
white PEOPLE did not understand the
meaning of the term and thought 1t a
Iouestion that they could easily settle
they in the position of the white
IpeOple of the south; but We do not
think the gradual exodus Of the negro
from the south will ever occur to sucn
an extent as to really relieve the
situation here. If it does it will be
Imany wears before the changed cOndi-
Ition is peroeptible.
We confess We are one of the many
referred to by The Telegram as not
knowing what We think on the Ques-
ltion, and there are many much wiser
than we and who have given the
isubiect much greater study who do not
know what they think about the matter
!or what proposition 10 advocate as the
1.-THE best solution of the problem.
The only thing we can g for the
southern people to do is to wait and
Isee what the future will develop, in the
meantime making the negro understand
THAT he must keep his place in our
Ipolitical and social systems, at the
same time treating him with fairness
land Justice on all occasions and with
kindness and consideration sc long as
he behaves himself, but forcing him to
obey the law and to be self-supporting.
Nothing more can be done now, TO
matter what developments the future
may have in store.
Such affairs as that in Atlanta do not
tend t O solve the problem. In fact,
they have just the reverse effect.
They make the question more difficult
and its solution more uncertain Ihey
teach the negroes, though, that such
crimes as some of their race committed
lin that city will be fearfully punished
unfortunately on many innocent ones
of their race as: we'll as on the guilty.
That it should be so is deplorable, but
lit is a fact that cannot he denied, and
it will continue to be S 20 just as long as
those crimes are committed.