New-York tribune., 1908-12-08


in slavery they would have viewed the instl,
tuition exactly as the Southerners viewed IL, and
would have fought 20 defend II because as sd
cred as the institution OF private property itself
It is sufficient say, as think we all now
realize. that the institution of slavery was a
bad thing and that II is g good thing 70 nave
got rid of It. It doesn't help in the slightest
degree IN the present day 10 stir up the emoers
sof The controversy of the past by attempting 70
fix blame on one part Of the country or the
other in respect 20 an institution whlch mas
gore. and happily gone, on the one pahd: OF
ton which we stfll have with US on the otheF-
These consequences we are 10 recognize as
condition and fact, and pronlen Io1 "
recrinination with respect 10 whose fauit 'hey
may involve.
WAR HERoIsM OF BOTH SIDES.
Over the question of the extension Of slavery
She Civil War came, and that contest deVelopeo ta
a hero.srn on both sides. in the people from the
North and the people from the Soulh, tIial t
evoked the admiration of ali Americans @ Lot
hui when slavery was abolished by the war the
exc.sioR OF the cancer left wound that mus
necessarily be a long time in healing Near-y
1--WE million slaves were freed. but per ceHl "a
them could read write; a much smaller per
centage were skilled laborers They We're put
as children n meeting the stern respohs4
of life as free men They had to be ABSORBED
into and adjusted 10 our civilization as such-
II was & radical change full Of discourageInehI
and obstacles. Their rights were declared pS
the war amendments, the Thirteenth fpui
teenth and Fifteenth. The one established their ti
freedom.
right TO pursue happiness and hold their prop
ertv and the third their right not TO be ais
criminated against In their potlcaI % %
account Of their color or previous cohcl'ioi u
servitude. .-., ,,,u.,-
lam not going 10 rehearse the painful history
e. o@ reconstruction OF what followed II come
ST once 70 the present condition Of things stated
from q constitutional and political standpoint
And that IS That in all the southern states IL
fs r7ossible by election laws prescribing proper
qualifications for suffrage which square WIN
the Fifteenth Amendment, and when sha4l ps
he@rE E-HaTl
unite races TO prevent entirely the possibility
of a domination Of Southern state, county OF
ste, white black 1t is further true tIlsI t.te
sooner such laws when adopted are appleu WIN
exact equality and justice 10 the two races Ihe
better for the moral tone Of tue state ana coIn
rnunity concerned. Negroes should be given an
opportunity equally with whites by educaIoh
and thrift 10 meet the requirements OF ehglbllty
1bich he stare legislatures IN their wisdom shall
ley down in order 10 secure the sate exercise OF
the electoral franchise. The negro shouIo ask ASK
nothing other than an equal chance 10 quarry
himself for the franchise, and when that IS
granted by law. and not denied by executive dis
criu1ination. he has nothing TO complain o.
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT,
The proposal TO repeal the Fifteenth Amend
laent is utterly impracticabe and should be rele-
gated TO the limbo Of forgotten issues II IS
very certain that any party founded on the
proposition would utterly fail in national can
vass and that the hope IS futile. What we are
considering is something practical, something
tnat means attainable progress. 1t seems 10 me
q common ground upon which we can all stand
in respect 10 the race question in the South and
fts political bearing that takes away any JUST
flcaton for maintaining the continued sololty OF
the South TO prevent the so-called negro dom
nation The fear that in some way or other
social equality between the races shaI De en-
forced by law brought about by political
measures really has no foundation except in the
Imagination OF those who fear such a result.
The federal government has nothing to do with
social equality. The war amendments 90 not
declare in favor Of social equality; all that the
IL
ity Of opportunity before the law and in the
pursuit Of happiness. and in the enjoyment Of
life. liberty and property Social equality is
something that grows cut Of voluntary conces-
sions by the Individuals forming society
With the elimination of the race question can
say that there are removed all the reasons
why the people OF the South are reluctant TO
give UP their political solidity and divide them
selves on party lines in accordance with their
economic and political views? No. There are
other reasons, perhaps only reasons of Senti-
rnent, but with the Southern people, who are
considerations Of sentiment are frequently quite
as strong those Of some political or economic
character. In the first place IT is now nearly
forty years since the South acquired its po-
ltical solidarity and the intensity Of feeling by
which Il was maintained and the ostracism and
social prescription imposed on these white south
e-ners who did not sympathze with the neces-
sity for such solidarity could not but make last
ing impression and create permanent basis
that would naturally outlast the reason for its
original existence.
THE TRIALS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
The trials Of the reconstruction period, the
publican party al naturally during the forty
years implanted deep feeling in the South
ern Democratic breast thai a mere change OF
the conditions under which this feeling
genered could not at once remove it The South
ern people are homogeneous people: they pre-
serve their traditions; they Of the purest
American stock, and the faith Of the father is
handed down TO the son, even after the cause
Of # has ceased. almost a. a sacred legacy
Again, for a long time succeeding the war the
South continued poor. its development much
slower than that Of the rest OF the country.
Prosperity seemed TO be Northern prosperity
not Southern. and in such q time the trials Of
life Of the present only aCCentuated the greater
trials of the past, and "reminiscences Of the
dreadful suferings and privations Of the war
were present on every hand, and feelings that
the controversy had given rise TO remained with
an intensity that hardly seemed TO be dlmTned
by passing time.
IN any community. however fixed its thoughts
habits. and many circumstances have blessed
Us with their influence IN this matter
The growth Of the South since 1890 has been
marvellous The ufaCturing capital IN 1880.
was $3.50 GOO 600: IN 1890 S660000Q0O; in 1900,
sI150.00G0O9. and IN 1905. S2,1oo000,0O0; while
the value Of the manufactures increased from
sz5O00O 600 IN 1880 to se00.00O000 in 1880, 70
sl45GOOROO0 in 1900 and 10 $4,000, 100000 In
1908 The farm products IN 1880 We're $500
OOC 600: in 1896. ST7O.000 600: in 1900, Sl,210.-
100000. and IN 1908. 2.20o0oo,O0o. The exports
from the South in 1880 We're S25o9oe,poo; IN
1890. 1906 coo 600: in 1909, $4S40000OO, and IN
1908. s64s.00000O.
TFACTURES EXCEED AGRICULTURE
In this marvellous growth the manufactures Of
the South now exceed the agricultural products,
character OF her industries The South has be
come rich. and only the surface Of her wealth