The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-20
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
POSTAGE PREPAID.
Friday, April 20, 1906.
NONE OF THE SOUTH'S BUSINESS

NONE oG lille ooOIIl IJS
We are in receipt Of a letter from
Rev. Thomas Dixon. Jr.. in regard 70
the growing evil at the north of ANAL
gamation of whites and negroes. The
following paragraphs occur in this
letter:
The time has come for the south to-
boldly demand the repeal of all laws
permitting the marriage of negroes TO-
whites. Maine and Nebraska have
placed themselves in line with south-l
ern sentiment on this issue.
The increasing corruption Of our
race in the north by the physical con-
tact of more than a million negroes isl
something appalling.
Will you not use your power IN
moulding the opinion of the nation in
this vital issue?
Accompanying the letter are clip
pings from several New York news
papers giving accounts of the horrible
conditions existing in New York and
other northern cities as to intermar-
riage and social intercourse between
men and women of the two races. We
do not publish these extracts because.
we can see no good to be done by so
doing.
The Messenger declines for two rea-
sons to take any part in Mr.. Dixon's
crusade against intermarriage OF
whites and negroes in the northern
states.
in the first place, it could WELD
no power or influence in such a
contest. Nothing it could say would
have any effect in checking those per-
sons of the northern states whose
i~nclinations are toward m~iscegenationl
and social equality or in securing the!
enactment of laws against intermar-I
riage.
IN the second place it is mona of
our business. If the white people o.
New York, or Boston. or Chicago, or
any other northern city or state want
to intermarry with negroes and tol
throw down the barrier of social lines
between the two races we say let them
do so. 1t is no case for interference
in any way by the people of the south.
To be consistent the people at the
south must take no part in any con-
test at the north or the race question.
Ever since the emancipation of the
negroes the cry of the southern people
has been against interference from tn"
north of their management of their
own affairs, especially as regards the
negro and his status in society and
politics. Their complaint has been
that they have been greatly hampered
in settling these vexed questions by
the unwarrented interference of the
people of the north; that if let alone
they could handle the situation to the
best interest of both races and to their
satisfaction-the entire separation OF
the races socially. Now if the people
of the south take up this question as
affecting the north they must abandon
their position that such questions
should be settled by the people con-
cerned without outside interference.
The white people of the north know
as we'll what relations they want with
the negroes as do the people Of the
south for themselves, and they are as
able to protect their race against
negro Entertainments, if they SO desire.
If they wish present conditions to con-
tinue and the intermingling of the
races to increase it is their right and
privilege to have it so, and it is no
outsiders province to gainSay it.
The south has it's hands full
largely due to interference from the
north-in settling her race question.
She has no time, nor should she have
the inclination, to NEEDLE in the local
affairs of the northern states.
If Mr.. Dixon wants to start a cru
sade in the northern states for legisla-
ton on the race question he should
seek the support of the newspapers of
that section-not TURF to the south
for his backing. If his object is TO
save the south from a danger with
which he thinks she is threatened
through conditions at the north, he
could better have served his people, 10y
staying among them and using MS
talents and influence in preparing for
the fight against this northern wave
OF immortality and negro aggression
which he seems to fear will roll south
ward.