The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-07-18
An Unwise And HurtfuI Agitation

The anti Negro discussion now on
in some quarters is to be deplored by
every thoughtful person. The de-
nunoiation of any people. anywhere,
after the wholesale manner OF some
politicians, is cheap business always,
and little short of criminal under
some conditions 1t is not to be
questioned, that the race problem is
a grave one, and is to become probably
more so with time. But the race
problem in America is not coterminus
with the Negro race. 1t is problem
involving all the races inhabiting
America. And when we go beyond
our own country, and enter the do
main of international politics, the
problem enlarges to take in all the
nations Of the earth.
The question to be settled is whether
different nations can live in friendly
| relations with each other and, despite
racial instincts, racial rrejudices and
racial interests, deal justly with each
| other? No one race in America or in
the whole world is on trial; all races
are the predominant race most of all.
Thave said that the race question
is broader than the Negro question.
In the North, notably in the great
centers, such as New York City, Bos-
ton and Chicago, the strain on Ameri-
can institutions is terrific, and often
the best American element is SUBJ
merged BY waves Of foreign influence.
And this is spreading into the rural
districts in many places, especially in
New England. 1t will spread more
and more all over America, in the
South as we'll as in the North.
1t may be affirmed, think, with
all confidence, that the wholesale
enfrsnchisement of any race of un-
seasoned people is mistake. Under
certain conditions it may be crime.
believe the Acknowledgement of the
Negroes as it was done was more than
blunder; it was crime against q
weak, unframed race, and high
crime against civilization. It put
the Negroes under burdens they were
not prepared to bear. Il put them
in conflict with the Saxon race, with
inevitable strife and failure. It made
a paradise for demagogues. II de.
bauched the ballot box with an enor-
nous purchasable vote.
This mistake, in q less fragrant
way, is repeated, in kind, by the en-
franchisment of immigrants from all
lands, wholesale, without any regard
to their knowledge Of American insti
tutions, or their fitness to become,
at the ballot box, the arbiters Of the
destinies of our country. I Hold that
it is no hardship on anybody to be
required to know enough to vote
intelligently before voting at all. It
is political sanity and q kindness to
Eall concerned.
But the South had Negro suffrage
forced on it, and that, too, in the
worst possible way, and at the most
inopportune time. To my thinking,
the highest achievement of the South.
ern people was not carrying their con-
tentions on the points of their bayo-
nets four years in the face Of more
than four times their numbers
Southern courage did not reach the
acme Of glory when Pickett's and
Heth's division, in battered gray, as
sailed the heights at Gettysburg.
It was when, disarmed, the rem
nant of the armies of the Con-
federacy returned home to meet
the fiery torrents Of vindiotiveness,
which sought to overwhelm all that
was dear, by enfranchising people
wholly unfit to rule the land. It was
q gigantic struggle for civilization
itself, for everything worth anything
to any race. went through it all,
the four years of war, Gettysburg, the
Pickett charge, reconstruction and all.
The sublimest achievement Of the
Southern people was their rescue Of
their civilization from this Cyclone Of
fanaticism, mixed with every base
passion. In saving ourselves we
saved the Negroes, our country and
all. TO this hour cannot think Of
the base use to which the unoffending
Negroes were put without feelings Of
the profoundest indignation.
But the conditions in the South
were met. Mississippi took the lead
BY making constitution which prac-
tioally put suffrage on an educational
foundation. This constitution has
been upheld By the supreme court Of
the nation The political aspects 81
tho Negro problem have bean settled.
The Negro is not . political menace
II Mississippi now and never will be-
again. There are other phases to BE-
dealt with, but they must be oonsId.