My own belief is, although I have never before
said so in so many words, that the time will come when the Negro
in the South will be accorded all the political rights which his
ability, character, and material possessions entitle him to. I
think, though, that the opportunity to freely exercise such
political rights will not come in any large degree through
outside or artificial forcing, but will be accorded to the Negro
by the Southern white people themselves, and that they will
protect him in the exercise of those rights. Just as soon as the
South gets over the old feeling that it is being forced by
"foreigners," or "aliens," to do something which it does not want
to do, I believe that the change in the direction that I have
indicated is going to begin. In fact, there are indications that
it is already beginning in a slight degree.
Let me illustrate my meaning. Suppose that some months before the
opening of the Atlanta Exposition there had been a general demand
from the press and public platform outside the South that a Negro
be given a place on the opening programme, and that a Negro be
placed upon the board of jurors of award. Would any such
recognition of the race have taken place? I do not think so. The
Atlanta officials went as far as they did because they felt it to
be a pleasure, as well as a duty, to reward what they considered
merit in the Negro race.
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