Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1908 — TAFTS VIEWS ON NEGRO PROBLEM [ARTICLE]

TAFTS VIEWS ON NEGRO PROBLEM

Migration to Africa Idea Be Calls Fatuous. SAYS SOUTH NEEDS BLACKS He States "Their Ancestors Were Brought Here Against Their Will. They Have No Country hut This. They Know No Flag but Ours. They Wish to Live Under It and Ars Willing to Die For It—They Are Americana.” New York. Dec. 8. —At a banquet of the North Carolina society of New York W. H. Taft said: "In all southern Btates it Is possible by election laws prescribing proper qualifications for the suffrage, which square with the fifteenth amendment and which shall be equally administered as between the black and whitq races, to prevent entirely the possibility of a domination of southern state, county or municipal governments by an ignorant electorate, white or black. "The proposal to repeal the fifteenth amendment is impracticableand should be regulated to the limbo of forgotten Issues. The idea that In some way or other a social equality between the races shall be enforced by law or brought about by political measures really has no foundation, except in the Imagination of those who fear such a result. The federal government has nothing to do with social equality. ”1 believe that the solution of the race question In the south is largely a matter of industrial and thorough education. Some southerners seem to think that the only solution of the negro question is his migration to Africa; but to me such a proposition is utterly fatuous. The negro is essential to the south In order that It may have proper labor. Their ancestors were brought here against their will. They have no country but this. They know no flag but ours. They wish to live under it and are willing to die for 1L They are Americans. ‘‘l improve this opportunity to convince the intelligent citizens of the south of the desire of the adtninistra tlon to aid them In working out satisfactorily the serious problems before them, and of bringing them and their northern fellow citizens closer and closer in sympathy and point of view.”