Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-05

"~~>~>~SN@s
we are dong there rebounds to on.
credit as nation.
look forward with hope TO in
Crrasing the already good feeling ne
tween the South aud the other sec
items OF the coHntrv. My CHIEF pur
pose il not TO effect a change in the
electoral vote OF the Southern states
That il secondary consideration
What | hook forward to Is an IN
crease IN the tolerance y! political
views OF all kinds and their adVp'
cNc, tnroiehout the South. and tn"
existence q a respectable politi"a, op,
position in every state: even NOR"
than this. to an increased leeiing
ON the part Of all the people in the
South thai this government Is their
government. and that its officers In
their states are their officers,
The Negro Question.
The consideration OF this question
cannot, however. be complete and full
without reference to the ncgro race.
its progress and It's present condition.
The 18th, Amendment secured them
freedom: tho ll,h Amendment due
process OF law. protect ON OF property
the 18Th Amendment attempted to
secure the negro against ANY de
piyation of the privilege To vote. be-
cause he WAS - negro. tn" 18TH am
l4th Amendment have been general
~ enforced and hav" secured the Oh
joCts Tor which hey were intended.
While the 18th Amendment has not
been generally observed in the past
IL ought To b" observed, and the ten
dency OF Sontncrn legislation toiay Is
toward the cnactmcni Of electoral
Qualifications which shall square with
that amendment. or course, inc
mere adopt ion OF constitutlOn Ia"
is only one step in the rant d rec'ioh
II mist be fairly and justly enforced
as well In time both Will come.
Hence if Is clear to all that the domi-
nation OF an ignorant. irresponsible
element can be prevented by constr
tutiunal laws which shall "Xciuu'
from voting both negroes ana whltes
not having education ar other 1nalin
cations thought to be necessary Tor u
proper electorate. The danger OF the
control OF an ignorant electorate has
therefore passed. With this change.
the interest which many or the
Southern whit" citizens take in the
welfare of The negroes has increased.
The colored men must base their nope
ON the results OF their own industry.
sejt-rcstraint. thrift and business sue
cess as we'll as upon the aid ana
comfort and sympathy which they
may receive from their white neieh-
Mrs of the South There YVES time
when N0rtherncrS who sympath,zeu
with the negro in his necessary strus-
Gle for better conditions sought TO
give to him the suffrage al pro
; lection. ami to enforce its exercise
against the prevailing sentiment OF
tho 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 qualifications for
electors subjected to the test OF com
p,iance with that amendment. THIS Us
a great pro; lection TO the negro. IL
never will be repealed, and H. never
ought to re repealed. If it had not
been Dagspd, it might be difficult now
To aIopt it: i'It with II in our funda-
mental law the policy Of Southern
LEGISLATION must and will tend to obey
II md so long as the statutes OF tn"
States meet the test OF this amend
mert and are not otherwise in con-
f;ct with the constitution and laws
of the United States. II is not the
disposition or within the province O!
the Fedora, Government 10 interfere
with the regulation by Southern States
! Of their domestic affairs There Is In
! the South stronger feeling than
;,.ta If
and influential clement in favor of tn"
! industrial education OF the negro ana
! The encouragement of the race to
! make themselves useful members OF
the community. The progress when
! the negro has made in the last hftv
! wears from slavery. when its statistics
are reviewed is marvellous. and 1t fur-
rishes every reason to hope that in
, the next twenty-five years q sun
greater Improvement in his CONDITION
| as a productive member Of society. on
the farm. and in the shop and in ether
occupations. may come. The negroes
ar, now Americans Their ancestors
! came here wears ago against their
will. and this is their only country
and their only flag They have
/ shown themselves anxious to live 'or
i, and to die for il. Encountering the
race feeling against them. subjected
a; times 10 cruel Injustice growing
out Of it. they may well have or pro-
found sympathy and aid in the strug
Gle they are making. We are charg
ed with the sacred dut- Of making
Their path az smooth and easy as We
can ANY recognij ION Of their distin
srished men. am appointment to OF
fec from among their number. Is
nroncrly taken as an encouragement
and an appreciation vi their pro
gross. and this just policy shall %