The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-11-17
SEPARATION OF RACES.
New Orleans Times-Democrat.


The decision of the United States
supreme court in the case of Berea
College, Kentucky. will be received
with great satisfaction in this section.
as giving judicial sanction and back
ing TO the legislatures of the South
ern states which have passed laws
tending to segregate and keep apart
the white. and negro races. This is
the distinctive feature of the South
ern plan of settling the race question
to give the negro all the rights and
privileges to which he is entitled, but
at the same time to keep the two
races separate and apart, to render
impossible any social intercourse. and
10 put an end to any idea of social
equality.
This has been the basis of all re-
cent legislation on the subject. There
nave been score of laws In every
Southern state in this direction, and
having this object in view. The sue
cess OF this plan of settling the ne
gro question is recognized by all. and
has very materially changed the north
ern view on the question. There is
peace between the races; and the ne
groes are better off, increasing in
prosperity far faster than they could
have done under the old syHem.
When they insisted upon the same ac-
commodations as the whites. The
great mass of the northern people
now recognize with Charles Francis
Adams that the northern plan. tried
during the period of reconstruction,
or forcing the negroes on the whites
is wrong and destined to failure: and
that the southern plan of keepine the
races apart is best, preventing fric-
ton and trouble
But there are a few negronhiJes
who have kept up the agitation, seek
ing to stir up the negroes and to
cause bitterness and il1-feeliug he
tween the races. Every act affecting
the negroes has been attacked and
carried before the courts 10 the high
est tribunal in the land, The United
States supreme court. A favorite
practice has been to bleed the ne
sroes. those at least who seek social
equal1ty and raise enough money
from them to hire a lawyer and fight
the case. In every instance that Hti-
cation mas resulted in failure. The
Jim Grow car law, the laws separat.
ing the negroes in the cars, street
lines. hotels, saloons, stations. etc.
nave all been attacked and the ST.
preme court has decided in every
case that the states have the cousti-
tutional right to regulate railroads
hotels, companies and corporations
generally, That the negro has No con-
stituttonal right to force himself on
the whites, and can be assigned to
separate cars or quarters. The court
mas even gone so far a. to recognize
tnat the legislation is not aimed at
the negro to humiliate him, but that
1nAre a pnnd m. ~
legislation, as it will tend 70 prevent
racial friction and trouble.
As We have said, every law affect
ing the relations of the races has
been attacked-and attacked in vain
by the negrophiles. The supreme
court could find nothing in their con
tenton, aimed only to stir I'D strife.
The Berea college case carried the
separation or the races to the last
point, and drew from the negrophile
press a vigorous protest.
This decision will probably end
litigation of this character. 1t Ger.
tainly ought to do so. Some briefIess
lawyers may try to make a living out
OF the negroes by proposing similar
suits; but it is going to be more diff
cult to do so in view of the frequent
failures, and the very clearly express
ed determination of the supreme court
not to interfere with state legislation
on this subject.
We can not say that the decision
in the Berea College case sets the
question of southern legislation as to
the negro at rest, because previous
decisions of the supreme court had
been to the same effect, and this lat
est ruling is only cenfirnatory of
them. 1t is, however, so strong and
broad. shows so clearly the Law, is
so well backed by public opinion, that
1t will prove distinct announcement
to the south TO continue its plan of
settling the race question by keeping
the races apart and separate There
has been great deal Of legislation
on this subject, and there remains for
tunately very little to be done TO get
rid forever of the idea of social equal
ity between whites and blacks.