My opinion is that a majority of the people of the North, East and West
have become satisfied to let the South exercise the same right to settle
her domestic affairs that they practice in settling theirs.
Only a minority—some members of which try to make up in noise what it
lacks in numbers—cling to the old prejudices, passions, and policy of
interference. Mr. Ernest Crosby—a hot partisan for negro rights—has
recently published a “Life of Garrison,” and very boldly admits that
while Slavery was wrong the war which was waged upon the South was also
wrong.
Ten years ago such a sentiment would have drawn volleys of protest from
the North, the East and the West.
There are no protests now; and I shouldn’t wonder if a majority of the
intelligent people of those sections would admit that while Slavery was a
moral wrong, that it had been practiced by both sections, given a solemn
Constitutional sanction as a condition precedent to the Union, that the
South had a right to withdraw from a voluntary compact whose terms had
not been kept, and that the war which was made upon her to force her back
into the Union was a colossal mistake and wrong.
(2) None whatever.
(3) It is.
(4) If it is a question where sectional interest or feeling is
aroused—yes.
(5) Because of the tyranny of party name and party organization. Southern
Democrats dare not vote independently.
(6) I think they begin to understand it. The more they see of the negro
_in Mass_, the better they will realize our problem. As long as they seem
to think that all the Southern negroes are as nice and wise as Booker
Washington, they will, of course, find it difficult to get our point of
view of the race question. But they will gradually come to see that there
is only one Booker Washington and that _he_ isn’t doing anything more
than running a large school which any ordinary white College President
could run on one half the money which Doctor Washington rakes in—why
opinion will change. The doings of the negroes in San Domingo—where there
are no mean Southern whites to beat, cheat, or lynch them—will also have
influence in opening the eyes of the world as to what the negro, _in
Mass_, actually is.
The idea that the negro is merely a white gentleman whom the Almighty
inadvertently painted black will disappear, in time.
(7) The “suppressed vote” in some of the states of the Union appears to
be quite large and the number of illiterate, criminal and incompetent
voters is likewise great. A square deal would demand that whatever rule
is applied to the South should be applied to the others.
* * * * *
IDALIA, COLO., December 29, 1905.
_Hon. Thomas E. Watson, New York._
DEAR SIR: Will you kindly print in your next issue of your
Magazine the names of Presidential candidates of the Democratic
and People’s party of 1896 and 1900.
Most respectfully,
⸺ ⸺.