Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-03-31
pie make for themselves rs well as 70.
tire cOlored people.


ton OF the Southern Democrats. wno
failed and refused to follow the leader
ship of President Woodrow Wilson in
his recommendation that indepenu.
ence be granted to these same Filiri.
no.. The position of both OF the politi
cal parties and their representatives
in this matter is indie fensible upon
the basis of equal and exact justice
to all men.
10 prove that restrictions upon
black suffrage is based upon necessity
and not upon prejudice, we have only
to cite the fact that the restrictions
arc only imposed where. without these
restrictions. the Government would be
in danger OF passing under the control
OF the blacks. 1t is only in those South
orn States where the blacks are mos:
numerous that the whites have, as
matter OF selfpreservation, imposed
restrictions. They may have been
spurred on to this by recollection OF
their experience under carpet bag Gov
crnment when few designing white
MGR used black suffrage to exploit help
less whites. as they would today n
they could (note the use now made of
colored delegates in Republican nat
fonal conventions.) But such an expert
ence is not necessary to justify the dis
elimination made in a few States in
the matter of suffrage. Any one who
will look ut the subject without preju-
dice will know that white supremacy
promotes the highest welfare of both
races.
Certainly. the distinguished Nebras-
kan knows that restrictions upon
black suffrage is made in States with
a predominating number of white pop
ulation and electorate. This Is true in
Virginia. North Carolina Arkansas
and many other southern States. He
continues:
a frank and candid recognition OF
conditions as they exist will promote
harmony between the two races. Re
publican politicians who have played
upon race prejudice and who, in order
to obtain colored votes have advocated
the South as they would not deal with
1t i'll the North under similar condi-
tions. are the prime cause of race
ant"gonism: next to these come those
leaders OF the colored race who, in
stead OF trying to help their own peo-
pie, aggravate the situation by encour
aging the blacks to put social and poll
'i2nl equality above the cultivation of
cha, acter
Certainly, Mr.. Bryan knows that
social equality constitutes no part of
the alleged southern problem. Colored
people are unanimous in their opposi-
ton to social equality" 1t is break
ing down our social fabric in the
Southland and in the Northland.
We have gotten so we cannot
tell (which from tother." 1t en-
harnesses our conductors on the trains.
They are asking white Negroes to
take seats with Write folks, much to
the formers disgust. who prefer trav-
cling with their own people. 1t has
given us rainbow" race, while the
white folks are confined exclusively
to one color. A white Negro, legally
known as mulatto does not know
whether to go in or to stay out when
he goes into public places He could
sit with the white folks were it not
| for the fact that he fears some other
citizen of color who knows him might
proceed to familiarize himself with
and dismay.
! But Hon. William Jennings Bryan
! is Il Nebraskan and perhaps he does
no. know these Things. He continues:
Whether for better or for worse
the whites and the blacks are here
and must live together. unless some
| other solution of the problems can be
found. While they live together, they
should exchange services and cooper
atn for the promotion of the common
welfare. This is only possible upon The
basis of friendship. and friendship is
possible only on the basis of honesty
ann frank understanding
No right-thinking person will take
Issue with this conclusion. He con-
cludes as follows:
Where the percentage of blacks is
small compared with the total popu la
| ton there will he no restriction OH
| franchise based upon color; neither
will there be segregation in schools
| or Upon the railroad trains. Whetn er
the percentage of blacks is large. rules
will be made to meet conditions as
they exist
| repeat, in conclusion, that my
views upon the race question do not de
PEND upon my present residence in the
South they were formed long before
ever thought of living in the South
/ They were expressed as occasion re-
Gull ed end so far as / know, do not
differ from the views of other white
men who have had occasion to express
themselves on the fundamental prin-
ciD!es involved when those principles
/