The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-11-02

wrought in the minds of Englishman
concerning the South and it's attitude
in regard to the negro and the white
Deople in this great and important
section Of the United States. The
charge has been going on for more
than thirty years. There is also some
wholesome change in the North rela-
tive to the Southern whites, and par
ticularly in the great West. Men who
are truly we'll informed in both Great
Britain and the NORTH nav learned
much of the negro question and have
become more considerate of the
South in connection herewith. The
British people are better Informed
than the New Englanders relative to
Southern people and the question in
volved in their dealings with slavery
and the negro. You will not find ia
telligent whites who would remand
the negroes to a condition of slavery
if within their power, but they would
~disfranchise them. I do not recall
that | have met a Southern born
white who would go back to the old
conditions under any plea OF condi-
tons. They have had more than
enough of negro slavery and all the
that it involved. ! don't
recall that | ave ever conversed with
an intelligent ~Southerner who was
willing to continue negro Suffrage.
Not only this, but I believe that the
North today would aid in h same
way if frank and willing to do what
is right and essential. They know up
there what a great mistake was made
when the ballot was given to ignorant,
preiudiced, incapable, negroes. Man
Of the organs have conceded this as
the years that have gone by to
return. This is not all. The truth is
that some of the organs of thought
and instruction do not refuse to write
Ilainly and to admit that a great mis-
take was made. Not only is this so,
but the North is SO we'll satisfied that
4 great mistake was made when the
tallOt was bestowed that 1t is admitted
freely, and when they find the stupen-
dous illiteracy and corruption that
cr0Wds the ballot-box, that now
many of it's most thoughtful and con-
siderate writer's and politicians are
profoundly disturbed lest liberties Of
the Northern people themselves may
be seriously involved in the power of
an i~norant ballot. Many years ago,
prior to 1878, the Constitution was so
trampled under foot that a clause
may be stretched and twisted and
turned so that out of the
may be drawn to give the negroes the
twenty millions of dollars that they
might be partly educated so as to en-
able them to vote intelligent1y. Mind
YOU this was more than thirty years
ago.
l wish to say that my observation
has not justified the conclusion drawn
by some-that a knowledge of the
three RS qualified to vote Intelligent
", even though the vote is cast for
the Republican ticket. h purest,
best man in a community may be Op-
posed by a pronounced rascal and yet
he rascal may be preferred and
lifted into place. The negroes AVE
generally voted for Republicans how
cEcr unworthy and unsafe. Let me
S." n all candOr and airness that
-.'1~ white voters it is too much
" rHle or custom, to make mere
fr''" allegiance and not character
a. re test in casting the vote. The
, and cry is, let go for our party
g." &:tate that we may gain some
Tor our own promotion and adj
g. Let honor and purity and
% to the dogs if it be necessary