Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-03-11
Our Depondenclea

Our Depen1ences.
The government Of our dependen-
cies in Porto Rico and the Philip
pines are progressing as favorably
as could he desired. The prosperity
Of Porto Rico continues unabated. |
The business conditions in the Phil
lppines are not all that we could
wish them to be, but with the pas /
sage OF the new tariff bill permitting
free trade between the United States !
and the Archipelago, with such limi-
tatlons IN sugar and tobacco as shall (
prevent injury to the domestic in /
terests on those products, we cab
count on an Improvement in business
conditions in the Philippines and the
development of q mutually profitable
trade between this country and the
Islands.
Position Towards the South.
| look forward with hope to in
creasing the already good feeling be-
tween the South and the other sec
lions of the country. My chief pur-
pose is not to effect a change in the
electoral vote Of the Southern States.
That is a secondary consideration.
What I look forward to is an in
crease in the tolerance of political
views Of all kinds and their advo-
cacy throughout the South, and the
existence Of a respectable political
opposition in every State; even more
than this, to an increased feeling on
the part Of all the people in the
South that this Government is their
Government, and that its officers in
! their States are their officers.
The South and the Negro.
The consideration of this question
cannot, however, be complete and
full without reference to the negro
race, its progress and its present
condition. The 18th Amendment Sc
cured them freedom; the 18th
Amendment due process of law, pro-
lection of property and the pursuit
of happiness; and the 18th Amend
ment attempted to secure the negro
against any deprivation Of the priv
ilege to vote, because he was a ne
gro. The 18th and 18th Amendments
have been generally enforced and
have secured the objects for which
they were intended. While the 18th
Amendment has not been generally
observed in the past, it ought to be
observed and the tendency Of South
ern legislation today is toward the
enactment of electoral qualifications
which shall square with that. amend
ment. Of course the mere adoption
of a constitutional law is only one
step in the right direction. It must
be fairly and justly enforced as well
In time both will come. Hence it is
clear to all that the domination of
r an ignorant, irresponsible element
can be prevented by constitutional
5 laws which shall exclude from voting
f both negroes and whites not having
education or other qualification
thought to be necessary for a prope:
electorate. The danger Of the con
: troll Of an ignorant electorate has
therefore passed. With this change
: the interest which many Of the Sou
e thern white citizens take in the wei
S fare Of the negroes has increased
It The colored men must base thei
l. hope on the results Of their own in
Re dustry, self-restraint, thrift and bns
= mess success, as well as upon tn,
aid and comfort and sympathy whic
they may receive from their whit
a neighbors Of the South. There wa
le a time when Northerners who SYN
e tathized with the negro in his neces
y, sary struggle for better condition
l. sought to give him the suffrage IS
le protection, and to enforce its exe1
else against the prevailing sentimer
re Of the South. The movement prove
It to be a failure. What remains j
so the 18th Amendment to the Const
L. tuition and the right to have statute
IN Of States specifying qualifications f
I'd electors subjected to the test of con
pliance with that amendment. Til
a. is a great protection to the negro
Of It never will be repealed, and
m never ought to be repealed. If it hs
he not been passed, it might be dificu
ry now to adopt it; but with it in %,
as fundamental law, the policy Of Sout
,ss ern legislation must and will tend
n obey it, and so long as the statut
nd Of the States meet the test Of tn
nd amendment and are not otherwi
he in conflict with the constitution al
We laws Of the United States, it is n
es- the disposition or within the pr
on tvince of the Federal Government
,es interfere with the regulation by So
as thern States of their domestic affai.
re There is in the South a stronger fe'
ing than ever among the intelligel
a w~ell-to-do and influential element
favor of the industrial education
ks the negro and the encouragement
De. the race to make themselves usef
lat members of the community. The p
gress which the negro has made
the last fifty years from SLAYER
led when it's statistics are reviewed,
nm marvellous. and it furnishes eve