The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-01-25

btfore the enlightened spirit Of this
age. ~,
4 6!-These Jim Grow" laws are a
product o. that same spirit which
burns negroes. Tney cannot stand.
where they will not burn Triggers. "
That spirit should be kept as !ar south
as possible. The Republican party
should give no assistance in trans.
porting that spirit northward. It would
b. dark blotch on the escutchem, OF
the Republican party when 1t sane
tons any Of the "JIm Grow" dlscr!m-
lrattons o: the south.
THE arguments by wlleh the
Of such a law are urged are
not well founded in fact. The only
arguments that have been SO far pre-
scented BY the Wheeling Intelligencer
are two. Viz. That the Democrats
gained. many votes by having put a
"Jim Grow" plank in their late State
platform, and that 1t ID not safe. IN
some OF the southern counties Of West
Virginia, for a white woman to ride
in a car where tne negroes are. Now
such statement Is a l!btl on the
black people. There is no danger to
the whites from the blacks. There
may be danger. and no doubt Is, to the
blacks from the whites. Does the
Democratic party want 10 advocate
sutn a law on the ground that the
whites OF West Virginia are so cruel
to the blacks that they will inflict in.
Jury 10 them, II the blacks are permit.
ted to ride IN the same car with them?
If they want to publish to the world
that that is the character OF the white
Democrats OF the southern part OF
West Virginia. let them do It without
the assistance OF single Republican
vote. The world will then know that
the southern part Of West Virginia Is
a good place for northern man TO
stay away from.
S.-This ".Iim Grow" law imposes
unnecessary expense upon railroads
and all public carriers. To furnish
extra coaches anil waiting rooms. and
all stations Is monstrous burden.
AMI II is an unjust burden to saddle
upon the railroads. unless the State
bears the expense. which it ought. In
nil Justice 10. the railroads, TO 10.
But then II would not be so popular
in this case. Many representatives
would not vote for IT, If they had to
90 home and reckon with their con-
stituents for saddling this enormous
burden on the tax payers. But II the
tax payers DO not want to bear 1t
what do they want to impose 1t on
the RAILROADS for? But where would
be, the justice In taxing the negroes
to iNflict such m lndignlty upon them,
selves? ~
a.-suen laws come with very
poor grace from men who have placed
in very close relations to
thu. blacks as the color OF nmch Of
the black population Of the south will
indicate. Let these white Democrats
Snow spotless character before any
white Republican comes to the aid Of
the Democratic party to enact such n
pixie Of unjust legislation.
1O.-Such laws are botn nnAmerican
and unchristian. They tend to keep
up a race war. No race that Is dis
criminatel against can be kent M
der eaceably long. without conflict.
Such laws are especially unGraciohs
toward the black race, when II Is con-
sldered that these people were the
only people in the south who were
loyal to orr government during the
war. Without their friendship our
could not have succeeded
In the conflict. Moreover many OF cur
soldiers would nave been delivered by
them 10 the tender merciGs Of Amber.
and It's lespotic tyrnnts. Bit
there was no case where the black
man betrayed union soldier. Now
will the Republican party return rheir
fidelity by this discriminating humilln'
tion? To do so Is contrary 10 the splf-
II Of DIR National traditions.
1.-THE writer has been twice n
citizen OF West Virginia. He would
feel humilIated to have the State
lose Ms prestige. appeal to the noo'
pie Of West Virginia. who can he
moved by noble emotions. to resist
this attempt to blotch The fair name
OF that young State. by such an I'M
American AMI mchrlstian statute. Let
the glory OF such statute all 30 to
Oklahoma whose Democratic govern.
or and legislature both were so ar.
dent to display their contempt for the
negro race, that they agreed that n
"Jim Crow" Inv must be the first stat
llte the new State passed. Tllis, in 4
few yenrs will he written In history,
r,l If fla