The Washington bee., 1910-02-19

material benefit or permanent adj
vantage to him as race.
| Probably had Mr.. Lincoln's idea
of limited or gradual Negro suffrage
prevailed, the various chapters of
disfranchissment, which the legisla-
lures of the states have written in
to the history of the Republic would
have had different reading.
The persistent contention of party
leaders. who would have nothing
but complete control and unquestion-
ed political domination, precipitated
an era which in very many ways has
no parallel in the annals of any
country.
Thus, it is to the maIodorous in
fiuences of this era, more perhaps
than to any other cause that the Ne
gro owes the subsequent period of
discrimination and political elimina-
tion.
Reconstruction in one essential
feature reversed the usual order of
building and laid its foundation at
the top and this misfortune is the
source whence has come much that
has hindered substantial progress and
development
The Negro was brought in the
twinkling Of an eye from the mid
night of a cruel bondage into the
blessed MONDAY of perfect freedom
ignorant, naked and irresponsible,
he was expected TO assume every
function of citizenship. After many
years of a diet upon which a moral
and intellectual growth was impos-
sible, he was ushered into the ban
quet hall Of equal rights.
It is scarcely strange that he
should proceed to gorge himself
with all kinds of political dainties
and lay the foundation of a chronic
indigestion which refuses to yield
to the most skilful treatment and
which holds out stubbornly against
the most careful nursing.
The great crime of reconstruc-
ton was forced assumption of an un-
! tenable political status and the over
leaping of those early years which
should have been given to tuteIage
and discipline.
With the CELEBRITY which rivals the
shifting scenes of a moving picture
show, the master saw his slaves
transformed into local, state and
national officials and with this spec
tacle was born a spirit of bitter re-
elimination and antagonism.
The Negro as a chattel and beast
of burden is a very different thing
from the Negro standing erect and
struggling manfuI,y to achieve i
place of honor in the Republic.
The world is already informed OF
the desperate expedients to which
resort has been had to accomplish
the elimination of the Negro as a
political factor. A very frenzy OF
of effort has distinguished different
localities and has carried with it en-
actments which could scarcely be
| justified by any system of ethics,
neither defended by any process OF
law.
The impartial historian will record
many interesting events since the
war period and Americans yet un-
born, as they turn page after page
will be not more impressed with the
| growing prestige of the Republic
than by the indomitable courage
with which thousands of black mer
have faced violent death for daring
to insist upon their rights as citi'
zens.
1t were needless to dwell upon the
fragrant acts of wrong and outrage
which so horribly distinguish this
period; the dust of age may fade the
scarlet page, but death alone can for
bid the mounting of this fearful dra-
ma on the stage of memory.
! A result of this condition herewith
suggested has been to build up among
| Negroes themselves two schools Of
thought and to a considerable exten
of action.
! Each thoroughly equipped with un
compromising, competent and ag
| gressive leadership; its philosophy
we'll defined and quite generally un
derstood; its following growing il