The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-17

The race question. the most delicate ard intri-
cate which confronts this country has no place
in the consideration of the resolution now be-
fore Congress providing for the election of Unit
ed States senators by the direct vote of the peo-
pie. but since It has been injected by those to
whom hypocrisy has been imputed, 1t is well that
Senator Borah has given the other side of the
argument.
1t is not for Northern members of the Senate
to assume a e-righteous- tn an-thou attitude
on the race question. whether they believe what
they say or not. and arise as the champion OF
the negro in this country. To believe that any
politician who his seat threatened by the
adoption of the popular election resolution has
any sincere interest in the welfare or advance
ment of the negro in this country is to display
infantile guile. The question has been OBJ
truded into the debate purely and solely with a
view of dsveTtfng attention front the real issue
frightening Southern men from the measure and
to make hypocritical play to the black man
and the public at large.
Such men as Senator Root Senator Depew and
Senator Lodge may well stand in fear of the pop
ular election law because 1t means their perma
nent removal from the public arena They may
know vast deal Of politics and the workings OF
Legislatures which elect senators, but when
they discuss the race question they do it In a
knowledge of real conditions, or a wilful inten
ton of disappearing.
The greatest thought is being given to the
race problem. and the greatest assistance Is be-
ing given black men in the South, where they
are found in largest numbers. Statistics and
other facts will show that, while the North has
pretended to accept the negro as a social equal
1t has been entirely hypocritical and insincere
in this attitude. In the South the negro is taken
for his real worth, he actually exists In the
South the interested and right-thinking white
man wrestles with racial conditions and not
racial theories. If the negro has been deprived
Of the right to vote because of educational and
property qualifications, an incentive and the
means have been given Kim to become educated
and to be industrious, and come up TO the prop
erty requirements
That there is racial distinction in the South
no one will deny. That there Is racial preiu-
dice is. untrue. Investigation cannot but show
that Southern white men have done more for
the development and advancement of the negro
since the close OF the War Between the States
than Northerners. The South has the moral
courage to freely and frankly express Its atti.
tude toward the negro and to draw lines where
they should be Drawn: whereas the North lacks
that manly attribute and pretends to cloak its
well-defined prejudice behind nominal accent
anoe of the black man. The latter has been de- |
luded and cozened only to discover real condi.
lions and real feelings later.
The bloody shirt is not to be waved at trfs
late day and near the iftieth anniversary OF the
restoration OF peace In this country and oppo-
nents of the popular election Law must be indeed
hard pressed for reasons for objection when they
assume mantle of guardianship and preesp,or.
ship,