The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-07-28

the hands of the negroes, that there
was no instance Of the negro having
betrayed his trust or having taken
advantage of his opportunities to m
wade the rights OF those under his
care. He could pay no greater COM
pliment to any class OF people than in
saying what he said about the treat
ment of the women of the south by the
negroes during the rebellion. And yet,
before he concluded he arraigned the
negro OF the south as unfit for recog-
milton or self government because
they had no respect for the rights
of mothers and daughters. We Won
der how it could be that when the
i egro was so dependable and so wilt
ing to protect the virtue OF woman
hood in the south during the war, that
they should groWi so Indispensable
in this regard as soon as the war was
over.
Senator Vardaman had nothing to
say about the chivalry of the white
gentlemen of the south in their treat
ment of the negro women. 1t will be
long time before the cOlored man
of the south will be entitled to such
an Indictment for want of respect for
the white woman as should lie against
the white men Of the south who were
responsible for the treatment visited
upon the colored women. VII
We are willing to concede that the
problem WHICH confronts the south is
a great one. We do not look to see,
for Ing time at least, a settlement
of the race question upon the theory
of social and political equality.
The southern people do not dislike
the negro as long as he occupies the
position of servant. We do not be-
lieve that the white people of the
south would consent to the colored
people being taken away but, While
this is true, there is registered in the
minds Of every southern white man
the purpose to resent the Negroes en-
ioying any political rights, even if
the shotgun shall be called into use
to prevent it.
Senator Vardaman looked upon the
stuffing of the ballot box as one OF
the crimes of the age, but frankly
admitted that this was resorted to IN
the south to defeat the Negroes voting
and having his vote counted He ad-
mitted that the laws passed in the
south containing the grandfather
clause" and other laws intended to
prohibit the negro from voting were
mere eXpedients and not sound as le-
gal propositions. but he says it shows
the determination of the white men
not to submit to the domination OF the
negroes. He does not offer solution
of the question; in fact it is problem
which does not readily offer solu-
ton. Some say that education and
christianity will solve it, but these
remedies are long way OH ana not
apparently available.
What the senator did in his address
on Sunday was to present the situa-
ton confronting the people of the
south filled with untold difficulties,
but lie did not tell us how these diff
culties are to be remedied
TO tell the truth, northern people
can reasonably sympathize- with the
people of the south, not with one race
alone, but with both, because they
have problem which is difficult OF
| solution.
Senator Vardaman is a man OF com
manding appearance and an orator
of the highest order. His address was
replete With classical and pOetical
quotations and from literary stand
point was perfect gem. We are glad
he came and delivered his message
and hope our people will treat him
seriously in what he said and will for
themselves study the question with
view of helping to proper solution
OF the same.