Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/367

Rh away, and he will become as regular a voter as his white brother, when he loses his identity as a political factor separate and distinct from others. White immigrants will move so rapidly now that the negro will be overshadowed everywhere, as he is now in the localities where the whites outnumber him two or three to one; they will be assimilated to the whites in thrift and citizenship ; never the equal but always the weaker vessel which must not be imposed upon but must be protected.

The morality of the Southern white people will compare favorably with any country or section in the world. Unsympathizing pens have not considered their untoward surroundings in having contact with "an unassimilated and inferior race," that the "submersion of brains, political experience, land ownership, and habits of domination by ignorant members could have but one issue," which was plainly brought out in the reconstruction days and for many years following. The white people have given evidence of their morality in the growth of the religious denominations, and more especially in the prevalence of prohibition in the liquor business by local option laws, especially in Mississippi and Arkansas. About 90 per cent of the counties of Mississippi have prohibition by virtue of local option. It is even better in Arkansas, but in all these elections, the negro votes almost solid for whisky.

It is a wise provision also that the races are kept separate in the schools, in churches and in railroad cars. Equal accommodations are granted under the laws. In some of the States no separation appears in railroad cars, and soon it will be the rule in all the States in this particular, but it will be a long time, if ever, before the children of the two races will attend schools in common, so long as the negro is numerous in particular localities.