The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-02-26
Keep It Out
of Congress.


The United States congress is no
place for a discussion of the negro
problem, for the country has had
enough experience with that body to
know that no such infammable topic
can be treated wisely in that atInOs-
phere of hot partisan controversy.
1t does't belong there and no progress
IS made toward it's solution by Juggling
1t into debate. What is said i'm such de-
hate is without real value and nearly
parts Of the country to arouse passion
and resentment on both sides Of the
issue, to that extent postponing the
good day when the whole body OF the
American people can calmly consider
the question and treat it, as it must be
IN the end, without trace Of section
al or partisan prejudice. Each year
shows the North and South to be
steadily approaching the same point of
view on this over-shadowing issue,
for when all the honest ignorance
and misconceptions which have gath
cred about the subject during more
than a century have been removed,
and it stands for treatment on its &C
tual merits, it is sure the Caucasian
race, dominating. this republic, will
solve the problem as right and justice
and humanity shall dictate and that
that solution will stay put
What is said here is suggested by
the fierce and foolish little row rails
ed in congress the other day when the
Issue Of the separation of whites and
negroes in the street cars of the Dis
trict of Columbia was under discus
sion. No good came of the contro-
versy, in which New York, Michigan,
Kansas, Texas and Alabama We're all
mixed up in an indecisive dog fight,
and while the republicans won by a
party vote, Mr.. Burleson. OF Texas,
WAS nearer right than any of them
when he said that if a secret ballot
souid have been taken on the amend
nent TO separate the races in the
btreet cars, there would not have
been five votes against it on the re:
puclkcan SlQS OF The mousse
Having committed themselves to
IN absurd theory OF the negro imme-
lately after the war, the republicans
must for consistencys sake stick TO
It TOW. but the majority OF them, in
the light OF subsequent knowledge,
are thoroughly sick OF it. and Mr.
Burleson told the truth about them.
But, for all that, the debate was in
bad temper, and the Memphis Com
merIal-Appeal is right when it says:
1t Is both unwise and impo1itic to
raise a trivial discussion of the race
issue in congress. Impromptu debate
upon this question is both out of place
and dangerous, bringing to the surface
more Of prejudice and bitterness than
of sound wisdom and reflection The
question is loaded with passion and
with sectional antagonisms and is not
TO be lightly approached, otherwise il
will emit sparks calculated TO starr a
confiagrattOn not easily SmOthered.
State legislatures if they see fit may
discuss it and its relations to specific
Incidents; but when ii comes before
congress 1t becomes OF far too grave a
nature for any discussion, save one
that will determine il as q whole ques-
ton. Biting at 1t as 1t affects the con-
Yenience Of the people is not for con-
sreS5 10 engage in. When that body
takes re up, prudence, wisdom and
patriotism should counsel treatment
having in view not merely a small
matter of convenience and preference,
but what Is to the betterment of the
negro himself, coupled with what the
white race owes to itself and to civili-
zatton in its dealings with the negro.