Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-11
j. @. Middiebro0k & Sons Agents, Burlington. VT

both will come Hence 1t is clear to
all that the domination of an ignorant.
irresponsible element can be prevent
ed by constitutional lave which shall
exclude from voting both negroes and
whites not having education or other
qualifications thought to be necessary
for u proper electorate. The danger
Of the control of an ignorant electorate
has 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 col
ored men must base their hope on the
results of their own industry, self re-
straint, 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 a 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 to en-
force its exercise against the prevail
ing sentiment of the south. The move
ment proved to be failure. What re-
mains is the fifteenth amendment to
the constitution and the right to have
statutes Of states specifying qualifica-
tons for electors subjected to the test
Of compliance with that amendment.
This is Il great protection to the negro.
| 1t never will be repealed, and 1t never
ought to be repealed. If it had not
T. ,t.ry,
to adopt 1t. but with 1t in our funda-
mental law the policy OF southern leg
!slation must and will tend to obey It,,
and so long as the statutes Of the
states meet the test of this amend
mert and are not otherwise In con-
fict with the constitution and laws Of
the United States it * not the disDosi.
ton or within the province of the fed
eral government to interfere with the
regulation by southern states of their
domestic affairs
Negro io Now American"
There is in the south n stronger feel
ing than ever among the intelligent,
we'll to do and influential element In
favor Of the Industrial education Of
tho negro and the encouragement Of
the race to make themselves useful
members Of the community. The
progress which the neSro has made IN
the last fifty years from slavery, when
its statistics are reviewed. is marvel
Gus. and 1t furnishes every reason to
hope that In the next twenty-five years
n still greater Improvement in his con-
dition as productive member Of So
ciety. on the farm and IN the shop and
in other occupations, may come. The
negroes nre now Americans. Their
ancestors came here years ago against
their will. and this Ia their only coun-
try and their only flag. They have
shown themselves anxious to live for
It and to die for 1t. Encountcrlng tho
race feeling against them. subjected
at times to cruel injustice growing out
Of It. they may we'll have our profound
sympathy and aid In the struggle they
are making. We are charged with tho
sacred duty of making their path AZ
smooth and easy as we can. Any
recognition of their distinguished men,
any appointment to office from among
their number. is properly taken as an
encouragement and an appreciation Of
their progress, and this just policy
shall be pursued.
Tho Appointment Of Nesross.
But 1t may we'll admit Of doubt
whether In case Of any race an mp
pointment Of one Of their number to
local Office IN a community In which
the race feeling Is so widespread md
acute as to interfere with the ease and
facility with which the locnl govern
ment business can be done by the a.
pointec Ia Of sufficient benefit by wn?
OF encouragement to the race to out
weigh the recurrence and increase Of
race feeling which such nm appoint
ment is likely to engcnder. Therefore
the executive In recognizing the negro
race by appointments muSt exercise a
careful discretion not thereby to do II
moro harm than good, On the other
hand, we must be careful not IT, en-
courage the mere pretense Of race feel
ing manufactured In tho interest Of In
dividual political ambition.