The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-24

a good will. The one needs labor. the
other financial help, Judgment. ana
lessons of self-restraint. As fast a.
the negro is able TO get and hold, ne
finds some white man who Will sell
him the land. though II 10 yet the ex-
ception rather than the rule Tor MN
to desire or to be financially aple 70
buy land. II In aome Southern states
they try to fasten him to the soil by
labor laws, you may be sure the ever
increasing demand for his labor and
the conseuuencent desire OF the ad-
jacent landowner for his services are
his protection. The status of land
lord and tenant IL no unwilling reia-
tionship. The census report VIII tell
of his wonderful development and ac-
quisitions of property that could not
have come from an unwilling relation.
II a Iandiard has bought him out" at
the beginning of the year, 1t Is be-
cause the neEro has lived beyond his
ability to pay his previous landlord,
but Is still able to make the new land
lord think he has the capacity ana VIII
work. He can move at the end OF the
year. and only when he elects 70 move
within the year does he have trouble
with labor contracts and false pretense
laws. He usually performs the con-
tract undertaking at the beginning OF
the wear: and II he does not, the land
lord does not usually prosecute uhfess
he has taken up much in advance
ments" or has made several contracts
for the same period.
Though there is spirit OF trust ana
condolences between the negro and the
whites at the South. yet 1t must be
confessed that II is. too much from the
business basis, rather than from the
religious and moral. This Indifference
between the two races does not
amount 10 any general distrust or nat
red. Yet some of our good men be-
Iieve IL ito have come from a spirit OF
"disreRard' by those who did not
mot regard them; that "this Interior
ence" caused the better white men TO
stand a1oof from teaching the negro
leaving TO those who did not sumcient-
ly know his primary needs.
From the religious, moral and mem
tai point OF view / admit the white
man at the South has much to do to
help the negro; from me STANDPOINT
Of humanity, he is generally kind TO
the negro, helping in his troubles, re-
lIeving in his distress, giving him
medical attention in sickness, = and,
when necessary, burying his dead;
from the view point of business my
people have builded homes ana cities,
cleared forests and cultivated nelds,
erected and operated factories, FOUND
ries, mines and railroads and In 1t
Ali we rave the negro the chance to
show fitness and to earn living.
If you should ever send TO our ports
the Immigrant 1t would introduce an
inferior race to come In contact CON
trast, and competition with the negro
stimulating a laudable contest between
them to take and hold the opportuni-
ties presented each. This more equal
would
move the sharp contrast of CONDITION,
fitness and capabilities that now exist
between the white and tho blacks.
Would not this diminish the pre-
tudice" of the white man against the
black man? From this contest would
come another effect quite as impor-
tant: the negro could the better
measure himself and learn his own
needs and worth. Then seeing and
knowing himself as he is. would not
his "prejudice" against the white race
be largely dissipated?
l believe the white man at the South
understands the negro best and Is MS
truest friend; and l believe the negro
must come to understand the South
ern man is his truest friend The
South must know that in proportion
as she deals justly In her relations
TO the negro. so will the world come
to agree with her; just as she fails
in her duty to him. so will her OPP
nortunities steal away. BY a provi-
dence that neither can fully appreciate
they have been placed in a relation OF
inter-dependence that they cannot soon
escape, ard their misunderstandings
and arrangements. their hopes and
faiths their Citations in business. and
their differences in political and
social life can best for both races
be worked out among themselves. And
by the help of God they VIII do II with
heart and hand and Drawn. Commerce
and prod activity will do more than
philanthropy. industry and frugality
more than charity; labor and honesty
more than law.
The problems OF the South. Mr..
President. are what they are In the
North and west.
If the fortunate be favored. II can
but inspire an unrest. If not q disre-
gard or contempt. In the minds OF the
lower classes. goading to the effort TO
get at. any cost into the class OF the
privileged. The effect Is a lowering
OF standards of right among all classes.
making for o decadence OF authority
and an excessive individualism, eaus-
ing unfortunate conditions In the
natisn. not more in one section than
.enother.