Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-13

right that white men have as far as the
fifteenth amendment expressly forbids the
enactment Of any law which snail dis
eliminate in voting on account OF race or
color" Large numbers OF these negroes
are disenfranehised at this time, but these
laws are only temporary and work no cure
and In the near future enough negroes Will
be able to vote to make Inevitable the
struggle for mastery between the races
.. Worse Trouble Feared.
The conditions are growing more and
more aggravated every day. Race an
tagonism increases in intensity. Are things
to drift, dire difficulties multiply on every
hand, and blood shall flow like water; the
craftsmanship of our time inadequate to
cope with this question just as the states
catastrophe Of civil war? That war was
fought to settle the race question, but
forty years after its termination we hnd
their aspects than they were in 1861. II Is
not possible for me to believe that the
who are responsible for the conditions ex-
listing will be allowed to pursue their policy
Of absolute recognition OF race equality
much further. The question Is not local
or sectional one. except so far the
negroes are nearly all at the south, while
at the north there are comparatively few
being done to have this great and vital
question brought before the country In
some practical and sensible way.
vile tragedy is ample evidence that the
people of the country are beginning TO feel
this question, and IT is absolutely useless
for doctrinares and politicians to under
take to pooh-pooh the question and dismiss
am ready to go to battle under the slogan,
America for the Americans and this Is
white mans country and white men must
govern II"
Reply by Senator Patterson.
Senator Patterson followed. announcing
his belief that the president had the legal
right to take the action he had but he be-
lieved the wisdom or propriety OF that ac-
ton might be open to question. He had no
doubt the president was moved by the high
est motives and said that the assertion
by Senator Tillman, that the president was
moved by race prejudice was unjust. He
said the Booker Washington luncheon dis
proved such an assertion. Mr.. Patterson
gave his reason for speaking that he did
not by his silence wish TO be held TO en-
doFse the sentiments on the race question
just expressed.
The senate in the next session, he said,
would have but two democratic senators
from the north and It was his belief that
short time in the future would see the
political dividing line completely drawn be-
tween the north and south.
Il was such speeches as had just been
delivered. he said. that would hasten this
condition. Mr.. TllmAn, he said was not
alone in advocacy OF repeating the four
teenth and fifteenth amendments. Cover
nors Vardaman OF Mississippi, and Hoke
Smith Of Georgia had made the same dec
larations. The repeal OF the constitutional
provisions would result IN practical re-
turn TO peonage for the negro
Mr.. Patterson concluded his speech by
saying that he had spoken with little eff
feot II he had failed TO demonstrate that
he was not assailing the people OF the
South. On the contrary, he declared mis-
J whole purpose TO be to set forth that the