Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-25

outset the work was greatly hampered
by the mistaken zeal Of enthusiasts who
failed 70 understand the conditions, and
who sought to make the negro the social
and political equal OF his former master
by single act Of legislation. The fu-
tility Of such procedure has long been
recognized, but the evil that followed It's
unwise application has not yet been re-
covered from. The true friends Of the
negro have long since given over the
platform and policy OF the radicals Of the
middle eos and the negro himself has
learned how fallacious were the promises
then made him. Where he has recognized
the serious business of life, he has made
a good citizen, and wherever he has the
proper environment he has done credit to
himself. Equality before the law is his
right, and is freely conceded him, but
social equality is as impossible and as
undesirable now as IL was in the days
"beto' de wah."
More than ever the south needs steady
and reliable supply OF cheap labor, help
that can be had for field and factory at
prices below what are paid for the same
labor in other parts OF the world.
peculiar condition exists there, and the
development of the cotton raising states
during the last score Of years has en-
phasIzed this need II has also brought
about state of affairs to which even
slavery was to be preferred. While the
negroes of the south under slavery condi-
lions we're bought and sold as chattels.
they were treated property, and an
owner exhibited only ordinary prudence
when he gave his chattel that protection
which would At him for good service. Men,
rlr,A q, hn
fields, but they had no inhuman tasks as
signed them, and were usually provided
with comfortable quarters and healthy
food. During the winter months or be-
tween crops. they had more or less leisure
time, and. except for the fact that they
were in no sense their own masters, en-
ioyed life. Now they have the inexpres-
sible boon OF personal and political liberty
and as a class are required to hustle all
the year round for enough to keep soul
and body together, with no provision for
old age or sickness II would take a Le-
gree plantation to even approach the con-
ditions that prevail in the industries Of
the south at this time, and the negroes
who have been called upon to assume a
place in the industrial world elsewhere are
at an equal disadvantage. On the old
plantation, except in rare instances Of
emergency. work was ended when the sun
went down; today In the cotton mills the
wheels fly night and day, and men, women
and children toll among them, ceaselessly,
for the pittance that serves to keep a
miserable spark OF life in their frail bodies.
Field labor is difficult to obtain, for the
reason that the negro's natural IMPROVE
dence units him in a large degree for
work he does not have to do, and the
things that lure him from the fields at the
times when he is most needed there are
many and generally needed. The mas
ter who has become an employer
in the south has had a difficult
problem before him continually in the new
relation. II is the world-old question OF
how to get people to do that which is good
for them to do without compulsion in some
form. II the negro prefers to loaf the
summer through, the master has no way of
compelling him to work. The cotton and
cane may need the attention that he ought
to give His credit at the store may be
exhausted, and his wants may be imme-
date and pressing. but he heeds only his
inclination to idle away his time, and no
one can say him nay. This is the boon of
liberty, as the negro of the south looks upon
1t. His industrious brother of the same color
strives earnestly to improve his own con-
dition, and succeeds, even though handi-
capped by drawbacks enough to discourage
any but the most hopeful. From the
achievements of the Industrious negro II
is argued that even the most hopelessly
indolent may in time be led 70 work out
their own salvation.
The Dixon play has not sounded a new