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Our readers are aware that the platform of ihe Radic d is to force the black man upon the South on conditions which the Northern States would not tolerate for themselves. The attempt to do tliis is unfair, and it cannot succeed without trouble. We do not wish to face the ex to initiation of the negro on the one hand, nor his equality on lt;he other. The safety and prosperity of the country seems to us to be dependent on adopting as quickly as possible some medium policy founded upon tiie right of the S'-ates to dictate their own citizenship and regulate their own industrial system. We speak from observation and experience, but without prejudice. Especially, are we free from prejudice against the negro ; but if we were not, it is plain that, so long as he remains among us, the system which is be t for him is best f- r the whites and for the inter ests of the country. That is an advantage which always belongs to the weaker class of the community. It is a means of defence conferred by Providence, and cannot be safely despi ed or ignored. The negro must be treat ed well, or the whites must suffer. But this treatment must be dictated by the laws of nature, and not by the caprices of philanthropists or humani arians of whatever school, especially such as are not on the ground, and such as ste dily refuse to submit themselves to the practical working of their own theories The plan which the true friends of the negro and of the coun’ry should seek, must make it to Tie interest and honor of the South not to j endeavor to throw the negro off. If he is not valuable as a laborer, he is not valuable at ail. If that value be destroyed, and if the South once devote herself fully to th ■ effort to supply its place, a new system of things will have commenced, the result of which no one can foresee.We, therefore, from our point of view, in the midst of forebodings and uncer ainties beg ; that this subject may be dispa simately con sidered by those in authority, beiore it is really “too late.77 It' the South has been extreme in her devotion to slavery as tin1 proper and useful relation between the white and hlaek races id this country, undoubtedly the other extreme represented by the Radicals is also a mi take. If their policy is adopted, or—which is the same thing in effect - it it be so long threatened as to make the negro wholly useless and destroy all dependence upon him, so inducing a struggle between him and other laborers, we cannot see how the South can be held responsible for the consequences. A convention *»f the wisest men from all civilized nations, if' met to settle this question, would certainly decide that the nlt; gro, as having been made the ward of government by emancipation, should come next under “tutors and governors,” and not either be left wholly to himself with the barren gift of freedom in his hands s or be placed on an equality with the white 5 race. If that be not true there is no political • philosophy, nor any need for government, ex-I cept in the baldest and most formal sense of , the term. _____________________________________
Newspaper Details
Galveston Tri Weekly News
Galveston, Texas, US
Mon, Oct 30, 1865
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 22 Jan 2024
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