The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-09-03
Wise Counsel.
Richmond New s-Leader-

From two widely separated points
in the North where the negro problem
is disturbing the people owing to the
menace the influx of negroes has de-
veloped towards the social and polit-
ical order, to-wit: Philadelphia and
Chicago. we have evidences that the
more respectable class of negroes Is
coming to it's senses. AS the result
of the Springfield, ILL.,, riot there have
been held meetings OF the negro civic
rights league of Philadelphia and the
negro law and order league of Chicago.
As we understand it these two OTgani-
cations are composed in large part
of the most substantial and law-abid-
ing negro citizens of the two cities.
At the meeting of each the topic OF
discussion was the Springfield out
break. the causes therefor and the
ways and means ofpreventing similar
demonstrations.
A great deal of Illumination and
hot air and absolutely absurd not to
say seditiOus utterance characterized
both gatherings But by "a happy
coincidence, when it came down to
the rAidium of the policy advocated
in both, it was agreed that the pro-
lection of the negro from Outbnrsts
of white vengeance rested in cOmbina-
ton among the negroes themselves
which would bring to Justice the
perpetrators of the crime which as
rule has started every race riot this
country has known both North and
South. One of the speakers OF the
Philadel phia organization took the
ground that the main duty OF the
negro of intelligence and who had
the aspirations to become reputable
citizen-the main duty to his race
was to ally himself with the authOri-
ties in suppressing the tendency ofhls
people of the lower and more brutal
stratum, to the atrOciOus crime to
which we have alluded.
He pointed out that the woe of the
negro, so far as violence against him
was concerned was due in great meas
ure to the fact that the whole race
was Judged by the transgressions of
the few. Par parenthesis this is true
of the North, but not of the South.
That aside, however.
The speaker struck the keynote of
what is essential to the immunity OF
the individual negro from summary
justice in the mater of lynching. even
the Chicago organization gave echo
to or in it's final conclusion attuned
itself to the sentiment expressed in
the finalitv Of the Philadelphia league.
Said q leading negro preacher OF the
former city in an appeal which sum-
mOned the meeting and the meeting
endorsed: "Our people are Judged
by the worst element Of our race, and
unless we rise and condemn and fight
against this lawless element we shall
be rightly Judged" That was an
utterance that went to the quick of
the trouble 1t is comprehensive of
what this newspaper has frequently
presented, and that is the disposition
of the negroes as a whole to protect
their criminals, their" fends. Through
their societies, and it is not going
too far to say in some instances
their churches, against the ends of
Justice.
We still adhere to our proposition
that the only solution in it's broader
aspects of the negro problem is race
separation. But until the time shall
come when the movement is prac-
ticable the peace, prosperity and hap
piness of the negro. and protection
of him in respect of both life and
property lie in the pursuance of the
policy advocated by the two or
CARNATIONS we have cited. Let the
negro leaders the country over take
this to heart. The two organizations
in question are on the right track
and whereas, as we have frequently
heretofore indicated. there need be
no fear of such wholesale assaults
upon negro population in old South
ern communities as has characterized
Il number of Northern cities recently
it might be we'll for those of influence
| with the Southern negro to mark
we'll the deductions of the Chicago
and Philadelphia leagues. By so
doing and by inculcating the doctrine
these have laid down even better re-
latiOns between the whites and the
negroes of the South might be
brought about, albeit we would
reiterate that there is no cause for
apprehension that any old Southern
community would 90 to the axcesses
of the Springfield, ILL.,, demonstration
against the race
That fierce mosquito is sight!
IT'S shocking on hislways to think.
He sleeps all day and spends the
night
In song, while waiting for a drink!
Wilmington Star.