Joel Chandler Harris' life of Henry W. Grady including his writings and speeches
History
Joel Chandler Harris' life of Henry W. Grady including his writings and speeches
Grady, Henry Woodfin, 1850-1889
The South has something to say which she can say with confidence. There
is no longer impropriety in her speaking or lack of weight in her words.
The people of the United States have, by their suffrages, remitted to
the Southern people, temporarily at least, control of the race question.
The decision of the Supreme Court on the Civil Rights Bill leaves
practically to their adjustment important issues that were, until that
decision was rendered, covered by straight and severe enactment. These
things deepen the responsibility of the South, increase its concern, and
confront it with a problem to which it must address itself promptly and
frankly. Where it has been silent, it now should speak. The interest of
every American in the honorable and equitable settlement of this
question is second only to the interest of those specially—and
fortunately, we believe—charged with its adjustment. “What will you do
with it?” is a question any man may now ask the South, and to which the
South should make frank and full reply.
It is important that this reply shall be plain and straightforward.
Above all things it must carry the genuine convictions of the people it
represents. On this subject and at this time the South cannot afford to
be misunderstood. Upon the clear and general apprehension of her
position and of her motives and purpose everything depends. She cannot
let pass unchallenged a single utterance that, spoken in her name,
misstates her case or her intention. It is to protest against just such
injustice that this article is written.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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