Goldsboro weekly argus., 1909-03-11

and their advocacy throughout the
able political opposition in every
state; even more than this, to an in
creased feeling on the part of all the
people in tie South that this govern
ment is their government and that its
officers IN their states ara theic OIL
GERS.
The consideration of this question
cannot, however, be complsra and full
| without reference to the negro race
| it's progress and its present condi-
ton. The thirteenth amendment Sc
cured them freedom; the fourteenth
amendment due process of law, pro-
lection Of their property and the pur-
suit Of happiness, and the fifteenth
amendment attempted to secure the
negro against any deprivation of the
privilege to vote, because he was &,
negro. The thirteenth and fourteenth
amendments have been generally en-
| forced and nave secured the objects
for which they were intended.
| While the fifteenth amendment has
not been generally observed in the
past it ought to be observed, and the
tendency OF Southern legislation to-
! day is towards the enactment of cleo
square with that
toral qualifications which shall
square with that amendment.
OF course. the more adoption Of a
constitutional law is only one step in
the right direction. 1t must be fairly
and justly enforced as well. In time
both will come. Hence, it is clear to
all that the domination Of an ignorant,
irresponsible element can be prevent
ed by constitutional laws which shall
exclude from voting both negroes and
whites not having education or other
qualifications thought to be necessarv
for a proper electorate.
Tie danger of the control of an ig-
norant cIecGrate has therefore passed
With this change, the interest of many
of the southern white citizens taken
in the welfare of the negroes has in
creased. The colored men must base
| ther hope on the results of their own
!
success, as well as upon the aid and
comfort and sympathy which they
may receive from their white neigh
bors Of the South.
There was a time when Northerners
who sympa.hized with the negro in
ditions sought to give him the suffrage
as protection, and to enforce the ex-
ercise against the prevailing senti-
ment Of the South. The movement
proved to be a failure. What remains
is the fifteenth amendment to the con
utes of states specifying qualif1ca-
tions for electors subjected to the tes1
of compliance with that amendment
This is a great protection to the ne
gro. 1t never will be repealed and il
never ought to be repealed.
If it had not been passed, it nigh
, be difficult now to adopt it; but will
i; it in our Fundamental law the polio!
} Of Southern legislation must and will
tend to obey it, and SO long as tn
II
2 -lent, and ere not otherwise in con
: hict with the constitution and law
= of the United States. it is not the dis
position. nor within the province O
$ the Federal government to interfer
: with the regulation by Southern state
e of their domestic affairs.
t There is in the South a stronge
d feeling than ever among the intell
: gent well-to-do and influential elemer
Il in favor of the encouragement of til
e race to make themselves useful mer
/ lers of the community.
g The progress which the negro h:
y made in the last fifty years from sla;
J =. VIXEN MS statistics are reviewe
L IS marvellous, and it furnishes cve-
4 reason 20 hope that in the next tive.
tE-fve years a still greater improv,
: ment ii his condition as product;,
3 tie shop, and in other occupation
n may come.
l. The negroes are now American
G. Their ancestors came here years as
te against their will, and this is the
E. only country and their only flag. Tn,
le have shown themselves anxious
live for it and to die for it. Encou
tering the race feeling against thel
Of subjected at times to cruel injusti
to growing out OF It, they may we'll ha
r our profound sympathy. We q
ne charged with the sacred duty of ma
ing their path az smooth and easy
we can. Any recognition of their d
s. tinguiShed men, any number, Is pro
en- erly taken as an encouragement a
of an appreciation Of their progress, a.
OF this Just policy must be preserved.
tie But it may well admit of dou
C. whether In the case OF any race