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THE MOVEMENT TO
REPUBLICANS THE SOUTH
WHITE MEN MUST STAND TOGETHER.
Senator Bacon’s Presentation of the Issue That
Faces the Southern People.
SENATOR A. 0. BACON.
Macon, Nov. 28. —Hon. Thomas
Vi’. Hardwick, Sandersville, Ga.: My
Dear Mr. Hardwick —I am in receipt
of your very kind letter of the 26th
instant and appreciate the request you
make therein for an expression by me
relative to some phases of our pres
ent political situation.
That there are agencies and influ
ences at work, the design and purpose
of which are to Republicanize the
South, is easily discernible in recent
newspaper communications and other
utterances, and as well in the an
nouncements made of intended efforts
to this end in this state in the near
future.
It cannot for a moment be thought
possible that the effort can succeed in
Georgia; but unless the scheme and its
disastrous consequences, if successful,
are understood and realized, it is pos
sible that the effort may succeed in
part—sufficiently so to produce a di
vision among our people. Such division
would destroy the present peaceful po
litical conditions resulting from a solid,
unified white man’s party, and pro
duce the untold evils which would be
found in a political struggle, with the
majority of the white men on one
side and all of the negroes and a mi
nority of the white men on the other
side. If nothing more is practicable,
to accomplish this division would be a
most joyous achievement for the Re
publican party, to which the solid
white man's party at the South is a
grievous offense.
Republicans After the South.
The overwhelming defeat of the
Democratic party in the recent presi
dential election, and the triumph of
a solid North seems to be regarded
by the victors as presenting a fav
orable opportunity for receiving the
submission of the Southern people and
their praise as well for the measures
and policies of the Republican party.
v\ hen the spaniel is chastised he is
all the more ready to lick and fawn
upon the hand that struck him, as it
J s in ,he next instant extended to him
in a conciliatory caress. And thus In
the assumption that a like spirit will
be found in the men of the South it
Is manifestly intended, in what is evi
dently regarded as the hour of our hu
miliation, to secure through honied
words and the promised prospect of
political favors, the surrender of at
laest a part of our people.
Hie Possibility of Republicanism.
Aside from the consideration of self
respect which Is Involved, the possibil
ity of the accomplishment of this un
dertaking is dependent on whether the
people of the South shall, In the pres
ence of such effort, clearly recognize
jjnd appreciate the results which must
follow from the ascendancy among
them of the principles of the Republi
can Party in relation to those matters
"hhh most closely affect their social
order, their civilization and their ma
terial prosperity.
11 there are such recognition and
appreciation of the Inevitable results
the success of such effort is Impossi
ble, however strong may be the influ
ences thereto, or however great may
he the rewards offered for the aban
donment °f the heroic and untiring
etruggie 0 f a generation. Under ordi
nary social conditions, where the di
'tsions between political parties are
only upon the lines of economic ques
iHins. or upon the policies and meth
ods of governmental administration,
toe ascendancy of one party or the
other is a matter of comparatively
fhght Importance to the people. Un
der such conditions the safety of their
'ltal interests Is not endangered by
’he success of one party or by the
overthrow of the other.
" bite Supremacy the Issne.
This is not true, however, where con
ditions are such as those In which the
•mi them people are placed. These
conditions were not of our making,
and we are in no wise responsible
’" r 'heir existence to-day. Forced
dpon us as those conditions were by
he enactment and adoption of the
iiiteenth amendment, the vital, the su
pterne Issue for the Southern people Is
rd must be white supremacy. A par
> which denies the principle and prac
'" white supremacy and which
" as to overthrow white supremacy Is
* ''“"y whose domination in our state
ci local governments would certainly
mean ruin for the South. It is well
!"* nien of this day to under
■""nd and th , B fnc , tha , , hey
'■> appreciate and properly value the
juggle which was made thirty year*
jo to throw off the negro domination
'' *o establish the white supremacy
' has since been maintained,
i'epubllcnaa Forced Negro Rule.
They should know and realise that It
Democratic party of the South
‘ a achieved and now maintains
*ntt* supremacy, and that It was the
Republican which forced negro
‘ * upon the South And what la
Immediate importance, t hey
would know that It ta the Republican
***** hy Mg oAataU iMUfgttusg
and practices, now denies and combats
the principles of white supremacy
among us. The principle is the vital
one with us, and no one who in any
manner or degree fails to recognize
and affirm its importance and correct
ness should be allowed to evade the
issue or deceive us, it matters not
with what honied words, or in what
ever guise, he may come. It is not a
question to be disposed of with am
biguous phrases, or with the splitting
of hairs, or by professions which are
inconsistent with acknowledge prac
tices. Those who practice social equal
ity cannot excuse themselves to us by
saying that in theory they are opposed
to social equality.
What the Democratic Party Stands
lor.
The Democratic party in the South
makes no uncertain or equivocal ut
terance in regard thereto. It is at all
times and under all circumstances and
everywhere within our borders unqual
ifiedly in favor of and insistent both
in theory and practice upon white su
premacy. The Democrats of the South
recognize this as vital to their every
important social and material inter
est, and to maintain it in their state
and local affairs they will, if neces
sary, sacrifice every other political
consideration and interest. Therefore,
it is. that for every man who believes
in the vital importance of white su
premacy in Georgia, his place is In
the Democratic party. He should not
be seduced into an abandonment of
it by the promises of rewards from
those who preach or practice political
and social e-quality, nor should the man
of to-day turn from it because of
weariness in the struggle which his
father has handed down to him. The
issue of white supremacy is as vital
to-day as it was then his father main
tained it under circumstances vastly
more difficult and trying than those of
to-day.
The Reason for White Supremacy.
The Intensity of this demand for the
maintenance of white supremacy is not
due to hostility and unfriendliness by
the whites toward the negroes. That
no such feeling exists is conclusively
proven by the fact that during nearly
forty years of freedom, with all the
world open to them, only an inappre
ciable fraction of the negroes have by
any Inducements been lured away from
the Southern states. But with the
kindest feelings towards the negroes,
and in numberless instances of person
al affection for Individuals of the race,
as is found in the personal experiences
of almost every white man In the
South, It is recognized that negro rule
would be a calamity which would In
volve in ruin the negro no less than
the white man; and I use the term “ne
gro rule” as equivalent to mongrel
rule, the latter being if anything the
worse of the two.
Democracy Means Prosperity.
During the past thirty-four years
it has been through the supremacy of
the Democratic party in the South
and through its unyielding mainte
nance of which rule, that our civiliza
tion has been preserved, and that
there has been made possible our great
material progress and our marvelous
increases of wealth. And it is the as
surance and confidence which the
business world has that the whites
of the South will continue through the
Democratic party to maintain their
political supremacy, which causes it
to retain hundreds of millions of dol
lars of Investments which its capital
ists already have here; and It is the
confidence in the continuance of that
FOR TWENTY YEARS.
Not an Unusual Instance.
“I used Pyramid Pile Cure and have
not had anv trouble since. I have been
a sufferer with piles for twenty years.
I think it Is the best remedy on earth
for plies. Hoping this may help others
to use this remedy,” Mrs. J. D. Teller,
R. F. D., 20. Sparta, Mich.
It Is a singular fact that although
many women suffer from piles, or
hemorrhoids, they frequently do not
have proper treatment because of a
delicacy women have In mentioning
such a subject. Especially is this the
case with those who have no husband
or brother In whom they can confide;
and a physician is seldom consulted
until the pain and agony Incident to
piles becomes unbearable.
Thousands of women have suffered
even longer than did Mrs. Teller, al
ways experiencing slight or temporary
relief. If any, from the various reme
dies used and linully settling down to
the conviction that a cure In their
cuses was Impossible. Pyramid Pile
Cure has come us a boon to all such,
as It seldom, If ever falls to effect a
permanent cure. It is sold by druggists
for fifty cents a package, or will be
mailed by the makers to any address,
upon receipt of price. Absolute se
crecy Is guaranteed, and no name is
ever used without the consent of the
writer.
It is suggested that those Interested
write to Pyramid Drug (to., Marshall.
Mich., for tholr llttla book describing
•he causes and curs of pi tea, as it is
sent free tor the easing.
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY. DECEMBER 4. 1904
RECEIVED CAEEERS
ON MTH BIRTHDAY
Mrs. Pliebo Amelia Pratt Observes
90th Anniversary of Her Birth at
Her Home in Chelsea. Muss.
MRS. PRATT.
Says She Is in Excellent Health and
Feels as Vigorous as a Girl. Due
to the Vse of Duffy’s Pure
Malt Whiskey.
Mrs. Phebe Amelia Pratt, widow of
William Pratt, yesterday celebrated
her ninetieth birthday anniversary at
her home, 366 Broadway, Chelsea. A
reception was held from 2 to 6, during
which the old lady received numerous
callers and was th- 'ipient of many
presents. She wa: isted in receiv
ing by Mr. and Mr . George Pratt, of
Stoughton; Mr. and Mrs. Charles H.
Pratt, of Chelsea; Mrs. Eugene Pratt,
two of her grandchildren, Chester
and William Pratt, of Chelsea, and
Ida and Mabel Pratt, of Stoughton.
The reception was planned by her
relatives and the members of the First
Baptist Church of Chelsea, of which
she is a member.
During the summer Mrs. Pratt
wrote:
‘‘Gentlemen:—l am now almost 91
years of age and am in excellent
health, owing to the use of Duffy's
Malt Whiskey. Catarrh of the throat
troubled me for four years, and I tried
many remedies, without any benefit,
until a friend induced me to try Duf
fy’s Malt Whiskey.
My general condition was very poor
also until I used Duffy's, but I am
very glad to state that since using this
grand medicine the catarrh has left
me, my general health is better than
it has been for years, and I know
that it has prolonged my life. I most
certainly would not be without it.”
This letter of Mrs. Pratt was taken
at random from among thousands re
ceived from men and women who
gratefuly thank Duffy’s Pure Malt
Whiskey for their wonderful freedom
from disease and for their marvelous
old age. More are published in a
booklet, which you may have free by
writing.
Duffy's Pure Malt Whiskey is a. gen
tle, soothing, tonic-stimulant, which
replaces the weakened, diseased tis
sues, tones up the nerves, strengthens
the heart, makes digestion and nutri
tion perfect. It purifies the blood
and regulates the circulation so every
organ is made to do its work perfect
ly and fully, keeping the whole sys
tem in vigorous health and lengthen
ing the days far beyond the century.
Every testimonial is published in good
faith and guaranteed.
I.lke all good things, Duffy’s Pure
Malt Whiskey is imitated by unscru
pulous dealers. Accept nothing but
the genuine, which is guaranteed ab
solutely pure and without fusel oil.
It’s sold by reliable druggists and gro
cers everywhere; SI.OO a bottle. You
will know it by the “Old Chemist”
trade-mark on the label. Duffy Malt
Whiskey Cos., Rochester, N. Y.
which will cause them to continue to
eagerly seek here other investments.
Wlint Would Happen.
On the other hand, let it be known
to the business world that, by a poli
tical revolution, white supremacy as
represented in the Democratic party
has been overthrown In. Georgia, and
that the Republican party with its
black cohorts had grasped the reine
of power in the state, and capital and
investment w r ould as promptly flee
our borders as darkness follows the
disapperance of the sun. We have
orderly and honest and economical
government in Georgia. If so let the
truth be proclaimed that it is be
cause the Democratic party of the
State is in pow 7 er and embraces with
in its membership those who repre
sent the educated intelligence, the
virtue . and the property of the
state, all united in the maintenance
of* white supremacy.
A Peril to Investments.
We have a marvelous and a rapidly
Increasing material prosperity, the
product of the diligent and peaceful in
dustry of our people. And this in
creasing wealth. Is, in Its production
through all our varied industries, rrtade
practicable because the white people
of the state, acting through the Demo
cratic party, by ' the maintenance of
good and honest government, make it
certain that investments are rfate in
Georgia, and that every man is pro
tected in the fruits of his labor either
of his head or his hand; and further
that the value of no man's property
is to be practically confiscated either
through the burden and waste, or the
plundering of dishonest and incapable
government.
It is because of the fact that the
Democratic party, through white su
premacy, maintains in Georgia honest,
Capable and economical government
with protection to person and property,
that the people of Georgia, both white
and colored are, speaking generally,
peaceful, contented, prosperous and
happy. And It is a fact, equally In
capable of successful denial, that if the
.Democratic party were to lose power
in Georgia, and if the Republican party
should, with those who would neces
sarily compose its majority, gain con
trol of the state, we would have In
Georgia neither honest, nor economical,
nor capable government, nor would
there be among our people, white or
block, either peace, or contentment, or
prosperity or happiness.
Democracy the South's Sail at lon.
It Is well to note present conditions
and to recur to the struggles of the
past, in order that we may recall the
remembrance of* the utter ruin and
desolation from which the Democratic
party saved the Houth, and that we
may realize the abyss of social degra
dation and material desolation and
governmental ruin In which we would
be to-day plunged, If It had not been
for the work of the undivided white
men of the state organized aa the
Democratic party which has saved us
from all these calamities In the past,
and were It not now for the same
work through the aarne organisation
which guards and protects us from
these calamities at the prwent time.
There never was In all history a
blacker nor a wore Infamous crime at
tempted age I net c|vHtMttor> then the
♦ffei* srfcto* the KegoMtauz pertjr
made in the years succeeding the Civil
War to overthrow the rule and power
of the Intelligence and virtue of the
South, and to place them under the
enforced domination of the utterly Ig
norant and debased In their midst. It
was a crime against society and civili
zation unsurpassed, unequaled and un
precedented in all the ages to endeavor
by legislative enactment to take mil
lions of black men, the lowest and
most Inferior in blood and development
of the human race. Ignorant and ut
terly wanting In each and every moral
and mental equipment for governing
themselves or others, and to place
them in governmental power and con
trol of the white people of the South—
a people of education, culture and re
finement—a people who not only by
their own character, attainments and
achievements, but toy the attainments
and achievements of an ancestry of a
thousand years, justly ranked as a not
inferior part of the foremost and most
illustrious race of all the earth.
Rescued From Africanization.
And as there was never a greater
crime attempted against civilization,
so there was never a greater service
rendered to civilization than In the
work of the united white men of the
South which defeated the infamous at
tempt. And so in the years which are
to come will Impartial history write it
down. If there were nothing else of
which to 'boast, if this were the sole
achievement of the Democratic party
in the South, this great work which
it accomplished in rescuing the South
from a fate worse than anarchy, would
earn for it and entitle it to the un
dying gratitude and appreciation of all
those in the world who value and prize
civilization and all of its attendant
blessings. And there are none who
should be more grateful to the Demo
cratic party for this than the Repub
lican party of the North, because the
Democratic party in thus saving the
civilization of the South, at the same
time also saved the Republican party
from "the deep damnation” which
would have been adjudged against
them through all the ages, if they had
succeeded in the effort which they
made to convert this whole Southland
into the desolation of another Haiti.
A Menace to the Southern People.
Nor is this simply ancient history
with which the men of this day have
no practical interest. For while the
immediate effort to Africanize the
South was thus defeated Vnany years
ago, the end is not yet. The Fifteenth
Amendment, which was for this pur
pose added to the constitution, pre
sents a continuing menace to our civ
ilization and our social order, which
can only be guarded against In the
future as it has been in the past by
the union of all white men in the
maintenance of white supremacy as
superior to all other public questions.
Our people In the presence of this
menace have been thus united for
nearly forty years, and I doubt not
they will so remain if they continue
to realize the gravity of the issues
which make such union essential to
safety. I speak generally, for there
are some few white men in the state
who do not stand politically with their
fellows. I doubt not the majority of
these white Republicans in their
hearts favor white supremacy, and
that they would regret to see its over
throw; and yet no man can escape
his own personal responsibility in such
a vital matter, for there can be no
question that if a sufficient number of
white men could be secured in Geor
gia by the Republican party to add
to the negro vote and make a ma
jority, the Republican party would
again toe in power in the state, and
white supremacy would be over
thrown. We would again have piebald
conventions and piebald legislatures
and a repetition ol’ the scenes of cor
ruption and the debauchery of the re
construction days.
Flaying With Fire.
However honest their purposes, these
men are playing with fire, and they
are doing so with impunity to the pub
lic interests, only because there are
enough white men In the state who
see their political duty In pursuing the
opposite course, and thus prevent a
conflagration as the result of this ac
tion. And the fact is not to he ques
tioned that those who have thus align
ed themselves with the Republican
party are indebted to the rule of the
white Democratic party In Georgia,
for the present and past security of
their persons, and of their property,
as well as for the peace of their homes
and the prosperity and success of their
business enterprises.
It cannot be successfully disputed
that the Republican party favors ne
gro rule in the South—certainly to the
extent that It seeks to establish It In
some instances, and is willing for it
to be established in all instanoes —In
the South.
Enfranchisement Means Domina
tion.
The enfranchisement of the negro
could not have been other than a de
sign to establish negro domination In
the states of the South. When the
enfranchising laws were passed It was
known that in some of the states the
negro far outnumbered the whites.
There can be no doubt it was the in
tention and expectation to establish
negro rule in each of those states. In
most of the other Southern states the
negroes so nearly approached the
whites In number, that with the many
whites then disfranchised by the same
laws, and with the aid of the carpet
baggers and the military, there was
every reason to anticipate that negro
rule would be established In each of
them. That design was in fact ac
complished and negro government was
set up In each one of the reconstruct
ed Southern states, and in each one
of them there was an era of lawless
ness and plunder and corruption and
dishonesty such as has never been
known under any professedly civilized
government in modern times. Al
though those governments were over
thrown and white supremacy estab
lished in the Southern states, the Re
publican party, while In control of the
federal government has. to the extent
of the opportunity thus offered, en
deavored to Impose and fasten negro
rule upgn us—and at no period has this
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effort been more marked and deter
mined than at present.
Negroes In Important Offices.
The two most important offices In
Georgia under the Executive Depart
ment of the Federal Government are
the Collector of the Port at Savannah
and the Collector of Internal Rev
enure In the state, each of these of
fices Is held by a negra.
The most important office in an ex
ecutive department In Washington
held by any one appointed from
Georgia is that of Register of the
Treasury, and the office is held by a
negro.
In a recent Issue of the Augusta
Chronicle I saw the following state
ment of the number of negro federal
officeholders in three cities: Savan
nah, 42; Atlanta, 94; New Orleans, 108.
Doubtless they are represented in the
offices in the other cities in the South
in similar proportion. And so evidences
without number could be given that
the Republican party seeks to put the
negro In positions of authority over
the white man, and the so doing Is
the practical essence of the overthrow
of white supremacy and the establish
ment of negro rule.
The Cram Case and Others.
The case of Crum in the Charleston
Custom House Is too notorious to re
quire comment. The same is true of the
Indlanola postofflee in Mississippi,
where the postofflee was closed for
months In order to force a white com
munity to take a negro woman as
postmaster. The Indlanola case had
a counterpart In Hogansvllle in this
state, where in order to compel a re
spectable and refined white com
munity to mail their letters in the
HogansviUe post office, and thus to
do business with an offensive and
objectionable negro postmaster, all the
railway postoffices were instructed to
receive no leters on cars when pass
ing HogansviUe. In each of these
instances absolutely violating the law
in order to force upon white people
A negro as an officeholder. And these
acts of the Executive Department,
and hundreds of others which could
be mentioned, forcing negro office
holders on the white people of the
South, have recently had the emphatic
endorsement and approval of the Re
publican party In the declaration In the
Republican platform In favor of reduc
ing the representation of the
Southern states in Congress un
less the negroes are allowed, pro
vided they have the numerical majori
ty in any states, to take the dominion
and control of such states. Such a
proposition could have no other
purpose and design than to establish
negro rule over white people In the
South.
Negro OHlrehnliling la Negro Rule.
It Is true that there are many
white Federal officeholders In the
South, but most of them are In charge
of postofflees where It would be im
practicable for one reason or another
to place negroes. It Is also true that
in all the Republican administrations
there have been special Instances
where in response to urgent appeals
whites have been appointed In the
place of negroes. But a modification
of the practice of negro officehoiding
does not deny the principle of negro
rule, and it is only a question of
time when the practice may be made
again well nigh universal. And the
practice of negro officeholding is
negro rule. In this connection the
possibility is not to be overlooked
that the bestowal of office upon a few
favored white men may be adroitly
and skillfully used as a consideration
by which our people may be con
ciliated into an abandonment of their
opposition to the party practicing
negro rule.
But although much remains unsaid,
time and space will not permit me to
further elaborate the proposition that
the Republican party Is not the place
for one who favors white supremacy,
and who opposes negro ofllceholding
and negro rule.
Those who desire to divide the
whites say that there Is no negro
question and that therefore the whites
ran safely divide .The negro question
Is not actively In evidence In our local
policies simply because the whites are
united.
Division of White I'artr Means Ills-
A division among the white people
means the negro with one part of the
whites, fighting the other part of the
white*, or the two divisions of the
whites fighting between themselves for
the control of the negro vote. In eith
er case disaster must follow. Equal
ity In political association tends, how
ever slowly, nevertheless certainly, to
social equality; and social equality
leads In th* end inevitably to mines
gens lion and amalgamation.
While there are many Mmukj*, the
one plank in the Southern Democratic
platform to which all Southern Demo
crats agree is white supremacy, and
in this there is no opportunity for
equality of political association, the
progenitor of social equality.
While I have been somewhat lengthy
in my reply, the whole discussion may
be summed up in the single sentence,
shall we above all other things, stand
for white supremacy. If there are any
who will endeavor to conciliate Geor
gians in their opposition to the Re
publican pnrty and to persuade them
that their Interest lies in the advance
ment of that party in the state, the
issue to be determined will be a very
narrow one if not confused or dis
guised. It is simply this: Does the
Republican party believe In and ad
vocate white supremacy, and is it op
posed to negro rule and to negro office
holding In the South? If yes, then
the Democratic party in the South will
ground Its arms so far as concerns
that issue. But if no, then the argu
ment with us is closed, because If the
Republican party Is opposed to whlto
supremacy in the South and does fa
vor negro rule and negro officehoiding.
there are no considerations which
should be sufficient to Induce the white
men of Georgia to support that party.
Hut On* Answer.
Of course, there can be but one an
swer to these questions by any can
did Republican who does not seek to
evade or becloud the Issue. For In
the practice of social equality by many
prominent in Its ranks, In the ridicule
and Jeers now freely directed at the
protests of the South against the prac
tice by certain persons of social equal
ity, in the forcing of negro officehold
ers on the South people, and In the
utterance of the last Chicago platform,
there is no room for possible doubt as
to the attitude of the Republican party
on the negro question. It is probable,
now that the election is past, that
the Indignation and resentment of the
South may cause an abatement of the
zeal with which negroes have been
heretofore put in office. For this we
will, of course, be duly appreciative,
but nothing short of the recognition
by the dominant party of white su
premacy and the avowed renunciation
of negro rule and negro office-holding
will Justify the relaxation of their vigi
lance by the white men of the South;
for so long as the principle of negro
rule and negro office-holding Is recog
nized, there is no security as to the
time when the active practice of each
may be resumed.
A Law to Ourselves.
The fact is not to be ignored that
we are a peculiar people and that in
consequence we must be a law unto
ourselves. This is not as we wish, but
we are subject to conditions beyond
our control. We are peculiar in the
fact that we face conditions such as
confront no other people, such as have
confronted no other people since the
dawn of history. Where the negro is
In small numbers hie presence from
a political or even a social standpoint
is comparatively unimportant. But it
is different when he comprises a large
proportion of the population. The men
who says there is no nogro problem
In the South either is uncandld or he
is not thoughtful.
In 1865 the negroes in the United
States numbered 4,000,000. In 1905 they
will number more than 10,000,000. There
are those who may read these lines
who will live to see them number more
than 20,000,000. And there are children
now born who will in their day see
more than 30,000,000 of them here. How,
in view of these facts, can it be said
by any one, after thoughtful consider
ation, that there is no negro prob
lem.
The Negro, a Tremendous Problem.
The mere presence of the negro in
the South necessarily presents a tre
mendous problem-how two people* In
nearly equal numbers, the extremes of
the human race can live together and
yet separate and in peace. Hut that
problem has been intensified an hun
dred fold by tho enfranchisement of
the negro.
In fact this feature so overshadows
all others that it may be said, now Mt
least, to constitute the negro problem.
If the people of the North are sincere
In the oft expressed desire to leave
the people of the Mouth to deal with
the ii*|ib problem, their first step
should be to repeal the Fifteenth
Amendment. That would leave each
state free to deul with the question as
It saw fit. Until It Is repealed, the
Mouth Is not left free to deal with It.
The Kouthern states with that amend
ment repelled would undoubtedly dis
franchise the negro, and the necessity
for the solidarity of the Mouth would
Immediately disappear.
Meal* Me a liras* loiosHr*.
To require the Mouther* etalse to
surrender a portion of their representa
tion as ‘he price to be paid lor the
repeal of the Fifteenth Amendment
woujd be a gross injustice, because the
universal rule haa been that represen
tation is based on population and not
on the number of voters. Tire provis
ion In the constitution which gwt-e
three-fifths representation to the slave
population, was no exception to this
rule, as the reduction was a compro
mise made with those who denied the
right of any representation to that
population, on the ground that they
were not citizens, but only property.
But while it would be such gross in
justice, and while the North ought to
be too magnanimous to exact it, still
tf the repeal of the Fifteenth Amend
ment can bo secured In no other way.
It would. In my opinion, be better for
the Southern states to pay the price
of a loss of a part of Its representa
tion, rather than that this eternal con
troversy over the negro, and the in
evitable sectional differences and ani
mosities resulting therefrom should
continue during all the indefinite fu
ture.
A Costly Sacrifice to Be Avoided.
The lose of any part of our Just re
presentation In Congress would be a
ccstly sacrifice, one to be consented
to only in case of absolute necessity,
to accomplish a greater good. The
loss of a corresponding vote in the
electoral college would be of less con
sequence, for unless there is a mate
rial change in the disposition and
temper of the North, it is a matter of
ilittle practical consequence whether
the electoral vote of the Mouth be
greater or small. There will be no
political peace and harmony between
the South and the North so long as
the right of the negro to vote is forc
ed upon the South. The repeal of the
Fifteenth amendment, leaving to each
state the power to regulate for Itself
the negro question, would destroy the
sectional barrier which the South so
greatly deplores and for the removal
of which it knows no other method.
Repeal Would Help the Negro.
No fears need arise in the minds of
the genuine friends of the negro any
where that this repeal would mean
ill results to him. In fact if would be
to the interest of the negro no less
than of the white man. An unavoid
able Irritation and antagonism must
Inevitably arise when an Inferior race
endeavors through the ballot to gain
the ascendency over a superior and
naturally dominant race, or even to
share In the governmental power. To
this effort on the part of the negro in
the South has been duo nine-tenths of
the friction between the two races.
But with this cause of conflict remov
ed and the threat of negro or mongrel
domination forever withdrawn, . the
magnanimous and kindly white men
of the South would Instantly recog
nize and appreciate the changed re
lation and act accordingly. The
eternal Interference of misguided
zealots at the North would then
largely abate, and the proper re
lations between the races would be
promptly and fairly adjusted, with
fullest consideration for all the rights
of tho weaker race.
White Mon Mnst Stand Together.
Until this amendment is repealed,
the menace which must ever accom
pany it will require that the white
men of the South should stand to
gether upon the issue of white su
premacy. and opposition to negro rule
and negro officehoiding. It is within
the power of the Republican party If
It desires to do so, to repeal the Fif
teenth Amendment within the next
three months by securing the necessary
action by Congress and the ratification
by the requisite number of State Deg-
Matures. When they refuse to do so,
it can only be because they desire the
continuance of the opportunity for ne
gro rule, and negro officehoiding. And
If while thus still beleaguering our
stronghold, they approuch with soft
words and promises of the favor of
those who sit in the scats of power, I
would cry to the defenders of white
supremacy: “Beware! The Greeks
are at the gates bearing gifts!"
A. O. Bacon.
H. M. A SHE,
General Agent
Smith Premier
Typewriter,
Atlanta, Ga.
Dealer wauled for Savaumh.
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