Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-08
HoW THEr LOVE TIE NEsRn

800
While democrats bidding for votes
in the coming election are loudly
proclaiming solicitude for the negro
and offering lip sympathy for his
wrongs, a discordant note is bound to
break out here and there every little
while, disclosing the real attitude of
the democratic leaders. When we
want TO know how the democrats
love the negro, We do not want to read
platform declarations, but to go to the
Tillmans and the Vardamans and other
distinguished southerners who repre-
sent the backbone of the democratic
party.
An interview given out by Former
Governor Vardaman of Mississippi at
st. Louis on his way to Denver, should
be an eye-opener for white voters in
the north as well as for every black
voter north and south. 81 would
rather the democratic party went
down to defeat forever and be remem-
bered only for its great work in the
past" declares the Mississippian,
than that there should be inserted
in the Denver platform one word to
catch a negro vote, or that Bryan
should be elected by the votes of ven
eered savages.' AS If this were not
enough, Governor Vardaman contin-
ues:
The most dangerous Trims which can be
done. risky both for the democratic party
and for the nation, is currying favor with
the negro vote.
This is a most serious possibility for
the south. The negro is our great prob
lem. The new breed Of educated negro is
no more to be trusted with government
than were blacks Of before the war. 1t
was after thirty years OF education that
crimes against white women began. Prac-
tically every white man left home in the
war, and the faithful negroes, like noble
Newfoundland dogs. guarded the house
holds and the women and children.
Today, should there be a war demand
ing the services of southern men in any
lumber, every adult negro would have to
be killed before the whites could dare
leave to fight for their country.
Every crime against a white woman
and here Is the cause of my stand in this
matter-every crime of that character Is
an expression of the secret ambition Of
every black to become the social and polit-
ical equal of the white.
Now stop and think what false hopes
1t will stir in the breast of every negro
in the south, and how 1t will strike apa-
thy and resentment in the soul Of every
white in the south, for the democratic
party to declare for political equality for
the blacks.
The question of permitting the negro
to participate in the government of the
country Is not a matter Of education or
property requirements. II every negro in
the United States was a university grad
uate, 1 would oppose their voting. The
negro graduates would not be so capable
Of understanding the principles of demo
cratic government as illiterate whites.
This TRADE reflects the inner feel
ing Of the southern democrat more
than any smoothed-over appeal of Mr..
Bryan to negro intelligence. Governor
Vardaman was the candidate of the
Bryan following in Mississippi for
senator against John Sharp Williams
representing the conservatives, and 1t
is not likely that he will be read out
Of the party by Mr.. Bryan. If the
democrats of the south could have their
way, not a black man would be per-
mitted to vote under any conditions
whatever, whether educated or Hitter
ate, and il Governor Vardaman had
his way negro children would be de
prived of schooling for fear they
might secure the education that would
entitle them to vote.