The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-07-10

|
"elt-evidcnt truth. Let those who in
dulge in such theories go To the sudan
ana pass week at Omdurmau. Tnat
place marks in commerce. in letters
ana IN art III science and architcc-
/ turc. the highest point of deycIopnent
yet reached by any African race. As
already suggested. the difference. be
tween cmurdman and London about
measures the difference between the
black and the white
Equality results not from law but
exists because things are in essentials
dlIkc; ana political system which
works admirably when applied to no
mogcnouS equals results only i'll chaos
Wnen Senerailzcd into d nostlum to be
administered universally. 1t has been
| markedly 50 of late with us"
Let me return to the question from
| NhIch | have digreSS"d. namely. the
dIsfranchisement by the South of the
llllterate negro and the proposed re
duCtlon Of Southern representation.
! The COnStitutiOnality of these acts
| has been attacked. That is a question
Tor the courts. and we are content to
leave 1t to the decision of the courts
but the question of reduction of
! southern representation as a result Of
! these dlSfr3nchisng acts is largely a
| question of public policy. appropriate
for discussion in the forum Of public
! opinion. Why should our representa-
| ton in Congress and the Electoral
! Acknowledgement of the ignorant ne
! gro? Under our present plan and fun
| dalnentally representation IS and
should be based upon population and
not upon votes. When all adults vote
| there are. upon an average. four non
voters to every voter. These non-vOt-
crS are as much subject to the law as
! these voters. Their lives. their liberty,
| their property the products of their
| brain and muscle are as much subject
| to its operation as his For these
| reasons these non-vOters are rightfully
| given representation. both in the max
| ing an execution of Federal laws. We
| have disfranchised the negro, but we
| have nOt-nclthcr can WC-abOliSh
/ him or his family.
| They still exist They are still
Wealthprodueers ana wealth-holders-
| Why, then. should these negro non
voters not have the same representa-
ton in the making and execution of
national laws as is given to other non
voters? 1t is not a wrong to the
North. if a given number of people i'll
the South. though q less number of
them are voters, are given the same
Representations as a like number OF
people in the North. That is self
evident. 1t is equally self-evident. on
the other hand. that it would unbal-
ance it's Federal relations and work
grieVlouS wrong to the South if
given number Of people in the North
/
tation in Congress and the Electoral
College as the same number OF people
in the South. In short, if it was
wrong to diSfranchiSe these negroes,
would not the remedy proposed be Il
greater wrong? | do not know what
may be the final outcome of this is
sue. | believe common sense and jus
tice will prevail. and that in the end
all parts of the country Will acQuicSCe
in the action of the South in climi-
hi It,AJ.. lln
and best possible solution of t1e per
picking problem. But if the worst
comes to the worst if the North is de
termincd to consider this question
from the standpoint of political ad-
vantage to itself, and We must choose
between reduction of representation
and unreStrained negro suffrage the
South will not hesitate in making its
choice; men do not hesitate III making
choice between life and death, even
though life be conditioned upon OPP
prcssive terms. The negro industrial
situation presents problem that may
as a result of unWiSe interference be
como troublesome. Up to the present
time the negro has confined his actiV-
tiles chiefly to doing domestic ard
menial service in the North and farn
work in the South. For these Occu-
pations he is fitted both by nature and
lon" training. and in their pursuit
there has been up to the present time
but little friction between him and his
white cO-labOrorS. y new destiny is
now projected for him. His energies
are not only to be stimulated in these
old lines but also directed into new
channels. We hear much these days
about the negro industrial education
as the solution Of the negro problem.
Under this regime the negro IS not
only to be taught and trained In nab
its of industry. thrift and economy.
and made thereby better servants, Ia
borers and farmers. but they are also
to be taught in the technique and prac-
tice of the mechanic and induStrlal
arts and become mechanics and aru-
sans. skilled in the use and manlpula-
tion of tools and machinery. His edu-
cation along these former lines IS, in
nv Judgment. unqualfiedly commend
able. and the benefits. both to him ana
tho coIntry Will be incalCulable.
would not by any means suggest
his exclusion from educational oppor-
tunities along these latter lines but L
,.acocniZe the existence of a raclal sen
timent or prejudice, if YOU please. IN
some sections of this country. likely TO
becOme as uncomprOmiSing upon the
cubiect of labor contact with TINS race
aS if is in another section uncompfo-
missing upon the subject OF poHllcdi
contact with him. and for reasons not
cnndamentalIv different; and ] would
s11oeest the inquiry whether unless his
draining for COmpellIloa III cel tdlh
lines of employment shall take INTO
consideration tneSe dC't''i anu
sentiments in endeaVOrlng to mligate
one assumed unfaVorable coholtloh' ,
he may not be hurled against ahother
condition fraught with no good TO
him and much possible disturbance
and danger. both to society and indus
trv. / do not mean to say that mere
i, ahsoIutply no present or prospect
i've opening in this country loi negro
skilled labor. I do not mean to say
that the door of opportunity IN TINS
direction should be closed to nun On
1in3itad number of negro skilled labor