The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-05

feel that the future of the negro race affects the future of the south and that both, self-interest and humanity, require them to lend all the aid they can 10 this people in the throes of burdensome effort.
 Much to Discourage.
 "Of course there is much to discourage in the bewildered and helpless condition of SO many ignorant negroes who know ing no useful trade but agriculture, are attracted to southern cities and md there no occupation to which they are adapted. Equally discouraging in another way is the state of q bright young colored man who finds himself with merely literary education with no professional occupation and with an inability to overcome hls re- pugnance to what he allows himself to believe is the humiliation of manual labor.
 "It Is said that only the picked ones of the race are educated at Hampton and Tuskegee. and, therefore. We may not infer from their character as deNeloped by these institutions and thoir quahhca- ,Ions for success what would be the re- suit of extension of industrial education to those of their race who are less quail aed than they were to receive the benefit of such education. It seems 10 me that this Is a most pessmistlc view to take
 "Rut. say the pessimlsts what Of the political future of the negro? ana tnls brings me to the consideration or tle third great war ainendment-the hl- teenth-which forbade that any state should deprive the negro of his vote on account Of his color or previous condition of servitude When We regard the ms tory of the forty years through when inc negro of this country has been obliged ia which l have nl- readv aIluded to, material and eduea- tional is wonderful. Consider the condi- tion of things immediately after the war. Here were a brave, warlike and master fuf people, who had been used to social condition fin which the negro occupied servile status, brought by law to the prospects of strong political control, with poor. ignorant, bewlldered irresponsible people, who but yesterday were their property.
 Bound to Cause Disturbance.
 ..Declarations of equality and popular rights and universal suffrage oner put a feathers weight against the inevitable impulse of human nature. It was lm- possible that with the elements l have stated there should not have been dls- turbance and fraud and violence and in- justice and illegality and oppression.
 ~The negro's vote. after long strug- gle. the history of which shall not recall, was made to count for nothing Then the leaders of the south fin many states came to realize the dreadful demoraliza- tion of all society if law was to be fiouted and fraud was to constitute the basis of the government So they east about to make the law square with tne existing condition by property and educational qualification which should exclude the negro The very desire to avoid the fraudulent and violent methods which were wont to overcome the colored vote in the south itself indicates turn for the better. It is impossible to frame law which will. on It's face, stand the test of the fifteenth amendment and which will not ultimately operate, no matter what the qualification or present effect to per- init certain class of the negroes to cx ercise the ballot. 1t is true that some state constitutions or laws with the so- called grandfather clause may operate temporarily to exclude him. but as they expire in effect the limitations on adult male suffrage must become nothing more than educational or property qualihca- tions applicable to white and negro alike.
 Secures No Benefit to Them.
 When class of persons is so gnor- ant and subject to oppression and misleading that they are merely political children. not having tho mental status of manhood, then it can hardly be said