The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1907-05-17

and most important reformation OF modern times
do not know whether Governor Nardaman IS
tine Man" or not, 10 give "a hopeful impulse to
this movement. which must begin with the peo-
pie and grow and expand until it reaches the
leaders" and drifts them into the current. I
know Mr. Williams is not the Man because
be spends SIX days in the week enumerating the
obstacles i'm the way. and protesting against the
people Of Mississippi even asking for the repeal
OF the obnoxious amendments
He says he viii not try. and seems to regard as
a political idiot any man who viii make such an
attempt although Senator Tillman who has re-
Gently been lecturiug on this subject in several
Northern States says that he received the most
enthusiastic responses from immense audiences
in New York Massachusetts and Illinois He
declares emphatically that the people OF the
North are beginning TO get their eyes open on
this question
The mechanical classes i'm the North natur-
ally hostile to the negro. because they do not in
tend that he shall compete with them in the
trades. The agricultural people. who constitute
/ the great bulk of voters. have nothing whatever
10 do with the negro. they viii not touch him.
A negro ON the farm anywhere in the North or
West would be almost as great "a curiosity an
orange or magnolia grove in that latitude.
They care nothing about the fifteenth amend
meut. II it suits as it suits them, bat they are
not fools neither are they criminals. They are
I bone Of our bone and blood Of our blood. They
are amenable to reason and the appeals OF JUS
tice They have not been directly talked TO about
the material interest and momentous concern we
have in this legislative reformation which could
not possibly do them any harm.
/ Mr.. Williams credits me with claiming that
now is the hour to repeal the fifteenth amend
ment I say no such thing. On the contrary,
admit that it may not be done in ten twenty
five or fifty years. l say there is only thing
absolutely certain about it" and that Is that il
viii never be done by men like himself who are
constantly preaching against any effort in that
direction / do say. however, most emphatieally,
/ that now is the hour to move forward and
meet the congenial sentiment in favor that
is daily growing among our friends at the North.
/ do insist that the South should begin now
4 to respectfully, solemnly and earnestly present
and maintain a solid front in protesting against
/ this unfortunate and unnatural legislation. We
should appeal to them in the name Of common
/ sense, common justice and common decency un-
til, like the unjust Judge spoken of in the scrip
ture. they may hear as for our Importantly.
MI Williams unfortunately, has permitted
+ himself to be lured away from the broad high
way OF practical statesmanship by the phosphor-
/ escent gIimmer Of an ignis fatuus. Ultimate
federal owership of railroads in the United States
Is dream the i'OlitiC'ti
philosophy of no one but Mr.. Williams.
/ There is not the faintest shadow of probability
that any such proposition win be engrafted upon
platform of principles by any political party in
+ this country within the lifetime of Mr.. Williams
( or Governor Vardaman. He might just well
/ be making speeches against the annexation of
I Canada TO the United States.
1t is not presumed that these distinguished
gentlemen need any advice from me. neverthe-
/ less, humble private citizen take the lib
erty OF suggesting that if they cannot find some.
thing to discuss that more Immediately concerns
or directly touches the vital and material inter
/ ests OF Mississippi than ultimate ownership. -
much valuable time might be economical by both
/ of them remaining quietly At home and permit
ting the people 10 attend to their individual af-
/ rairs.
/ With 100000 more negroes than white people
in Mississippi with $4,000 more negro men than
white men Of voting age in the State. the exist
euce OF the fifteenth amendment to the constitu-
ton Of the United States is not dream it is a
hideous reality. pressing urgently upon the ap-
prehension of every thoughtful Southern man.