Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-06

to be observed, and the tendency OF
southern legislation today is toward
the enactment Of electoral qualifica-
lions which shall square with that
amendment. Of course, the mere
adoption of 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 an ignorant irresponsible element
can be prevented by constitutional
laws which shall exclude from voting
both negroes and whites not having
education or other qualifications
thought to be necessary for a proper
electorate. The danger OF the con-
therefore passed. With this change,
the interest which many of the south
ern white citizens take in the welfare
Of the negroes has increased. The
colored men must base their hope on
the results Of their own industry, self
restraint, thrift and business success,
as we'll as upon the aid and comfort
and sympathy which, they may receive
from their white neighbors of the
south. There was time when north
erners who sympathized with the ne
gro in his necessary struggle for bet
ter conditions sought to give to him
the suffrage as a protection, and 20
enforce its exercise against the pre-
vailing sentiment of the south. The
movement proved to be failure.
What remains is the 18th amendment
to the constitution and the right to
have statutes of states specifying quail
ifications for electors subjected to the
test of compliance with that amend
ment That Is a great protection to
the negro. 1t never will be repealed.
and it never ought to be repealed. If
it had not been passed, it might De
difficult now to adopt it; but with it
in our fundamental law, the policy of
southern legislation must and will
tend to obey it, and so long as the
statutes of the states meet the test
Of this amendment and are not other
wise in conflict with the constitution
and laws Of the United States, 1t Is
not the disposition or within the
province of the federal government
to interfere with the regulation by
southern states of their domestic af-
fairs. There Is in the south strong
er feeling than ever among the in
telligent, well-to-do and influential ele
ment in favor of the industrial educa-
ton of the negro and the encourage
ment Of the race to make themselves
useful members Of the community
The progress which the negro has
made in the last fifty years from slav-
cry, when its statistics are reviewed
lis marvellous, and it furnishes every
10 hnno 40 in %
ty-five years a still greater improva-
nlent in his condition as a productive
member of society, on the farm, and
in the shop and in other occupations.
may come. The negroes are now
Americans. Their ancestors came
here years ago against their will, and
this is their only country and their
only flag. They have shown them
selves anxious to live for it and to die
for it. Encountering the race feeling
against them, subjected at times ic
cruel injustice growing out of it, they
may we'll have our profound sympathy
and aid in the struggle they are max
ing. We are charged with the sacred
duty of making their path as smooth
and easy as we can. Any recognition
of their distinguished men, and ap.
pointment to Office from among their
number, is properly taken as an en-
couragement, and an appreciation of
their progress, and this just policy
shall be pursued.
But 1t may we'll admit of doubt
whether, in the case of any race, an
appointment of one of their number to
a local Office in community in which
the race feeling is SO wide spread and
acute as to interfere with the ease
and facility with which the local gov
eminent business can be done by the
appointee, is of sufficient benefit bv
way of encouragement to the race to
outweigh the recurrence and increase
of race feeling which such an appoint
ment Is likely to engender. Therefore
the executive, in recognizing the nc
gro race by appointments must exer
else careful discretion not thereby
to do it more harm than good. On the
other hand we must be careful not to
encourage the mere pretense Of race
feeling manufactured in the interests
of individual political ambition.
Personally 1 haye not the slightest
race prejudice or feeling, and recogni-
ton of it's existence only awakens ir
| my neart deeper sympathy Tor those
who have to bear it or suffer from 1t
and I question the wisdom of policy
which is likely to increaso It, Mean
1 time, if nothing is done to prevent it
a better feeling between the negroes
and the whites in the south will con-
tinue to grow, and more and more OF
thu white people will come to realize
that the future Of the south is to be
much benefited by the Industrial ant
intellectual progress of the negro. The
exercise of political franchises by those
of his race who are intelligent anG
we'll to- do will be acquiesced in, an(
the right to vote will be withheld only
from the ignorant and irresponsible Of
both races.
The Labor Question.
There is one other matter to which
, shall refer. 1t was made the subject o,
great controversy during the election
) and calls for at least a passing refer
ence now. My distinguished predeces.
sor has given much attention to the
cause of labor, with whose struggle
for better things he has shown the sin
cerest sympathy. At his instance
Congress has passed the bill fixing thu
: liability of interstate carriers to thei
employees for injury sustained in tn,