The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-08-29
WORLD CHAMPION
ARRIVES IN CITY


the cane in the slavery days. But
we have with US at least 5000, 900
persons OF Negro descent, as a COM
ponent part of our body polite. for
there were in 1900 in the United
States and its dependencies, $50, ,7Ss
colored people, who are the children
and children's children of the
| slaves brought from Africa to Amer
lea. They are native born citizens of
this country, and are not altogether
as black as painted.
The task of educating these mil
lions Of colored people has met with
commendable success. considering
that only forty-five years ago their
parents and grandparents were in
slavery and were barred by law from
educational advantages.
Prohibited Education.
It was the general policy of the
sixteen slave holding states OF the
south, to prohibit by fines, imprIson-
ment and whipping. the giving OF in
struction to the blacks, mulatoes or TO
the descendents OF African parentage,
and this prohibition was extended in
most OF the slave states 10 free per-
sons of color" as well as to slaves,
! Do not forget that our American
slave system followed the beaten
path of history, and thus furnis\ ed
the strongest argument for Its own
undoing. The Ignorance OF the slave
Is always the best safeguard of the
system Of slavery. The slaves were
prohibited from preaching or receIv-
Ing religious instruction, except by
written permit. and when at least
"hve white men OF good reputation
were present at such gatherings"
The fact that more than 5000, 900
children of Anglo-African parentage
are now in regular attendance in the
public schools of the late slave hold
ing states OF the South, should be
regarded as the strongest argument.
that the race problem in the United
States Is in satisfactory
Process of Solution.
In regard to Christianity. our
colored population makes a, good show
ing. BY the census OF 1900, they had
church membership of. 2,673,977.
They had more than $4,000 church
edifices, halls, etc, with seating ca
pacity for 6.sO0.oOO people. Their to-
tai value of church property was
$26,626, 900.
They had amassed since their
emancipation more than $500, 900 900
of taxable property.
BY birth, language, habits. educa-
ton and religion they are a part OF
the warp and woof of American
life, and what are our Democratic
friends going to do with this race
problem. 1t may be safe to Judge
the
Future by the Past.
and coming events cast their shad-
ows before" sometimes.
The 18th. 14th and 18th amend
ments of the constitution OF the Uni
ted States (1S6S, 1858 and 1870
gives the Negroes the right OF suf-
frage.
In the light of the goth century II
is not at all likely that these amend
ments Will ever be repealed. We
have In our midst new race of
people entitled to permanent home
within the eminent domain of the
United States.
Now in regard to the civil rights
OF Negroes that belong to the states,
and have
Resulted In Discrimination
In the former slave states:
Whites and Negroes are separated
in school. railway trains, jails. hos
pitals and graveyards by law; and bs
custom in hotels theaters, lectures,
libraries and churches. and often In
street cars and elevators Besides
there is tendency TO limit all eco
nomic and social intercourse to the
barest amount necessary among
neighbors.
InteI1narriagc Is Forbidden.
More than one-half the Southern
states have established disfranchIslng
acts. and by giving you a digest Of
the eight points now in force to bar
the Negro voters in the South, you
will be able TO determine whether to
vote with the progressive people, or
go down to defeat with a retrograd-
ing, obstructlng, negative party.
You will see by the disfranchisIng
acts passed and now in force that the
object aimed at is to disfranchise no
white voter, but to disfranchIse as
many Negroes as possible which may
be very slick political trick. Yet
/ us hSipidDAt WINE ClllLens ana voters
We declare 1t to he unfair to our col
ored voters; and this state and ma
ton will not stand very much more.
foOlishness along this line.
The first act OF the legislature is
on illiteracy:
The voter must be
Able 20 Read and Write
| CThis discriminates against the adult
Negro voters who never had school
Ing. and because the Negro public
school system in many parts of the
South IS much poorer than that OF
the whites,)
Second. The property clause:
The voters must own not less than
| 5000 worth Of taxable property and
pay taxes on It. (This OF course dis
criminiates against a poverty stricken
race OF freed men, and who ali suf-
fer In economic competition by rea-
son OF their color and training.)
Third. Occupation:
A voter must
Have n Regular Occupation.
This is designed to cut out Negro Ia
borers, and is a source OF discrimina-
ton. because OF the difficulty of prov
ing its truth.)
Fourth. Poll tax:
A vOfer T1uaf have Maid Hfa rnm