Evening journal., 1909-07-30

tenlOn 70 Wnat appears 10 me TO be an
amazing occurrence in the politics of this
State
A Democrat Of the negro hating variety
is claiming to be elected to City Council.
Of Wilmington, by negro votes-a majority
Of less than five, all OF which is composed
OF negro votes.
A Democratic prosecutor old enough and
doubtless, well informed enough to know
something OF the history of the politics Of
this State and OF the county generally.
posing as a political saint. has been de-
ploring the danger, TO the State. in what
he calls an Outrage on the ballot" al
legged to have been committed by the negro
voters of the Fourth district. of the Sec
ond ward The affectation Of virtuous
honor by this prosecutor and his listening
Democratic compatriots during the de-
velopment Of the alleged proof Of fraud in
the election Of Mr.. Rash, was, perhaps
a fine piece Of acting but one utterly de-
void Of the virtue Of the character 1t as
sumed.
The suggestion want to make, and en-
phasize, is one which 1 think vii appeal to
the memory and judgment of every intel
ligent, justice loving reader Of THE
EVENING JOURNAL. It Is this. The
danger Of any possible disruption OF the
government Of this State or Nation thro'
fraud at the polls has been met, the bat
tie fought out and the victory for the
right won with the, party of this Demo-
cratic contestant and his attorney on the
wrong and defeated side of the contro-
versy. Whatever other issue may have
been involved In the struggle, or alleged to
have been involved therein. the freedom Of
the negro was the prime issue. The union
Of states could not have been sustained
otherwise. That part of it has come to be
regarded as ordered of God. With the aid
Of the negro bearing arms slavery was
abolished and the union saved.
This history is not too ancient to be
recalled in considering the status Of the
negro in national and local politics. There
are still a good many men alive 10 whom
occurrences of fifty years ago were per-
sonal experiences; to whom the later forty
years struggle for the rescue of this state
from fraudulent Democratic domination,
with the aid Of negroe voters, IS a memory
too painfully vivid TO be ignored, despite
this fervid appeal, of this Democratic
prosecutor for pure politics and honest
elections When. referring to the district
in controversy. did Democratic election Of
ncers hold an honest election in that dis
trictY When and where II ever, did Dem
ocratic election officers, when in control
permit an honest poll, and make an hon
est return Of a poll of negro votes? or,
Of white Republican votes, for that mat
ter?
In saying these things ! am not at
tempting to excuse or defend fraud al
elections anywhere, but II you will permit
/ me to say so, attempting in decent
moderate way. to express supreme con-
tempt for a rarty that breaches a gospel
] Of pure politics. and honest elections, and
practices all the arts OF political outrage,
not occasionally. but continually, directing
/ the force Of its attack upon a race that
It ensaved and degraded both physically
and mentally race I'm which It attempted
to crush out all human aspiration, denied
Il the human attribute OF soul that con-
tinues its prosecutions OF that race in con-
tempt of the court Of last appeal in hui
man affairs: against the judgment Of an
enlightened civilization the world over
and against the dictum of religion that
procla'ms as its cardinal principle th'
fatherhood OF God and universal brother
hood Of mankind
Pardon me for apparently lifting thii
discussion above the level of ordinary po
litical speech. regard the evils Of ou
politics as the fruit of our own EVIL do
ings. The negro has learned his polite
from his white neighbors. The Democrats
party is gathering the fruit Of seed it ha
sown. Fraud begets fraud just as surel,
as opposition begets opposition; that part.
has taught the negro that it is his i'm
placable and unyieldlng foe What can
1 expect from the negro but implacabl
hatred and hnyielding opposition? That i
in accord with all history. The inclination
to resist injury and the power to resen
wrong are gifts Of the Creator Of men
and the right to use them unimpeachable
That is the negroes position In politics. II
is not here OF his own volition; is not wha
he IS from choice--is either the favorit
} Of a benehcent Providence, or the victim
of a terrible judgment Of the Create
against a creature. Which is IL? There ar
some few people at least who hold IN
first Of these propositions to be true. Tha
il the hand Of God was ever manifest II
the direction Of human history it is mani
fest in the coming to and progress of tn
negro race in this country Why here an
practically no where else among ciylize
peopleg II the apparent inference Of al
this be true-if this continent is to be tn
God chosen field Of the negro's develop
ment from barbarism TO civilization. fror
slavery to freedom, who dares say nay t
the Divine purpose? What vii Opposition
avail the opposerg
In view of all this. what is the purpos
of the Democratic contest OF the electio
in the Fourth district Of the Second ward
It's not the unseating OF Republican can
didt ttes-elect, but the making Of a grand
stand play to discredit the negro in polite
the State over-theopening and disclosing
Of the nature and purpose OF the comm
State campaign. The using Of these neg
roes Of the Second ward for a presen
purpose. is not proof OF a change Of tn
Democratic heart toward the race. 1t doe
not mean that but the renewal of relent
less war against negro suffrage.
II the Republican party deserts tn
negro in the fight, then will it cease 10 b
the Republican party Of great achieve
ment and glorious memories.
interested Observer.
Wilmington, July o.