The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-11-16

great step toawruS the dcVolopmcnt
of our almost unlimited resources,
but ii also had It's own bearing upon
the direct practical solution Of what
is called our race problem. 1t was
my conviction that we had been dis
cussing theories too long-that the
! time had come for practical work. 1
shall, therefore,, before addressing
myself somewhat briefly to the sub
jcct of immigration alone, beg your
indulgence in considering one aspect
Of the subject upon which immigra-
tion has most important bearing. I
wish to say that | approach even n
slight references to the race question
with great hcsitancy. In my opinion
too much has already been said, too
many theories have been advanced. In
all Of these theories, with their var
ious solutions, nothing has been yet
proposed which caused our people to
feel that the proper remedy has been
tuunn. ~ cAisting condition met.
We OF TIC >ruth, my friends, need
not fear to let the truth and the
whole truth be known. Without
precedent in the history Of the world
to be guided by, nearly always mis-
understood and misjudgcd, the people
Of the South have for more than for
ty years sought to reconcile differ
ences which were bound to arise be-
tween two races living upon the same
soil. These races differ widely in
intelligence and moral responsible
ity, one being distinctly inferior to
the other. Only until a few years
ago the inferior race was in servi-
tudc to the superior, and with no
previous preparation whatever was
given equal civil and political rights
under the Constitution. Under such
, adverse circumstances it is my hon.
cSt opinion that no other people upon
this earth could have succeeded as
, well as the Southern people have done
! in meeting existing conditions, and
this fact alone should not only give
lis courage and hope f>1' The, future,
, but should cntillc us to the trust and
confidence Of the world.
! Assistance from tho North.
= Sectional feeling in this country,
, fortunately for the North and the
' South, is passing away and our pco-
: pie, knowing each other better, un-
, dcrstand each other better. Problems
= which were once peculiarly Southern
= are becoming national, and problems
, | h;<I Il al fn
the North are finding their way into
the South. We Americans are more
, and more mutually carrying "'the
= white man s burdcn.'
In order to bear those burdens and
, to solve these problems we must fully
= understand their nature, and the only
5 way TO understand is TO sec them as
, they actually exist. A proper dag
nosis is necessary before We can ap.
: ply proper and effective remedies;
, every bad symptom as well as every
l good symptom must be revealed. The
r day for the South to be misrcpresent-
ed and maligned is past; the day for
= the South to demand and receive that
, justice which in her due has come.
Nearly every proposed solution re-
latcs primarily to what concerns the
, negro. The question has been, what
shall we do with him, and what &C.
ton, Legislative or otherwise, shall
we take in regard to him9 We have
even been seeking to make somo
change in our political and econo-
) mic system, which will affect the ne
, gro alone, and which will, at the Same
time, aid in solving our problem.
Thus far no such solution has been
t found. I am satisfied were there
, such solution, which, besides being
+ practical, is capable Of being put into
= immediate effect, that it would have
= been evolved long ago by the people
, of the South. While I believe that
the race problem can and will event.
! ually be solved, still I do not think
that conditions which are the result
1t. Of years, might more properly say
, Of centuries, can be changed in day
I by the adoption Of any rule or the
Y enactment Of any special legislation.