The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-10-19


dent which could have forced the
North to cooperate in their deporta-
ton project. If we want the North to
take the Negro out of politics or out
of the country, We must give the
North motive for so doing; and we
shall give her this motive when we
put sqlarely up to her the alterna-
tive Of shouldering her share of the
negro population-not sooner.
But manifestly. from the tone of
the Southern press, and the ret pur-
port of most of the Southern talk,
the South does not want to be rid of
the negroe. Witness your editorial
So why discuss ways and means?
There is never a way until there is
a will, you know, to do anything.
You assume that 'Eit might puzzle
me to prescribe method of practi-
cal operation for my distribution
scheme; tho had you read any OF my
frequent contributions to the South
ern press on the subject, you would
know that | have outlined a very
clearly defined plan Of action for the
gradual but certain working out of my
idea. 1t were idle to discuss it, since
you announce with such an air of
tinality that "the negro is in the
South to stay"
He certainly is, if the Southern
white man wills it so; just as surely
as he would go, if the Southern white
man willed it. You and | know that
there is no such persuasive force in
the country for the negro, as a deter
mined Southern white man. l think
we may discuss with this, the disin-
genuous talk of certain Southerners
about where the negro "prefers'' to
live, and how much better he loves
US than he does our Northern kim
dred!'
Booker Washington is also an advo-
cate Of the negro's remaining in the
South, | believe; and while you and
Booker probably entertain quite diff
ferent ideas about the ultimate out
come, you are both working toward
the same end-Booker's end mind
you, not yours! You are simply play
ing into the Negroes hand, and if his
dream Of negro empire in the South
is ever realized, you Will have only
yourselves to blame.
No, Mr.. Watson, there is no con-
fusion in my mind as to what should
be done about the negro in the South
nor how IL should be done; neither
am / at loss to see what and who
are blocking the game The only
thing that puzzles me, is, that South
erners Of such unquestioned intelli-
gence as yourself should expect the
outside world to believe anything
you say about the negro per Sc, in
the face OF your magazine contradic-
items. [ recall geeing not many
months ago a protesting plant of
yours printed in the New York
World, that the World was not more
sympathetic editorially with the
South's negro plight But how can
you expect the World, or any other
Intelligent Northerner to sympathize
with a people who lay down as a ma
jor premise: THE negro is natural
liar and thief; he has no gratitude
and not much principle; his lusts are
Unborn and his superstitions part of
him; idleness, ignorance, sensuality,
and loathsome disease are working
his destruction, etc. etc, and then
conclude with: But he suits the soil
and the climate, and he suits US fair
ly well''! (Wasn't it Ruskin who
said: Tell me what you like, and
I'll tell you what you ,are"?)
You praise the negro as laborer
in one breath, and next you affirm,