The Dawson journal., 1883-05-10
power of a political party.

ing the hold of Bepublicanism'
upon power, it has had the contra
ry effect Republican politician,
see this. Some of them acknowl-
edge it now, while the best men in
the party, characterize the action
of their party in its effect upon
the government and people, as the
greatest crime of the nineteen
century.
Evidences are not wanting that
the people of this country Will, at
no distant day certainly within
the next decade-deal with this
question in the light of reason and
experience. In the absence of
passion and prejudice, and in the
presence Of an imperilled civiliza-
tlon, in at least one third the
states, to which the leading Re-
publican paper of the country has
said this negro question was a
standing menace" no man can
doubt what the decision of Ameri-
can statemanship will be.
The negro in his present posi-
ton constitutes the problem with
which the country will have to
deal. Willingly or unwillingly,
the sound common sense of the
American people must compute
the cost Of what has been done for
him, the reasonableness Of his de-
mands as to what shall hereafter
be done for him, and whether or
not he is ever likely to pay as an
investment, when what he is to be
worth at best is compared with
what he has and is to cost.
Accepting the statement and So
luton of this problem as recently
enumerated by Fred Douglass, as
putting forth the negro's concep-
ton of the case, together with his
demands as to its settlement, and
we are confronted at once with the
issue that thoughtful men have
long since concluded would come
at last in this connection.
Douglass says, in brief, that ne
groes cannot leave the country if he
desired to do so. This is true.
That he would not go away if he
could. This is also true. That
he has no idea ''of getting in front
of the bayonets of the white man, :"
as the Indian has done, for the
reason that he is warned by the
Indians fate what would be his
own In such a case.
He admits the negro is depen-
dent upon the white man, and cut
loose from him the race must per-
ish. He admits also that as an
opposing force in any contest that
would arise between the races the
fate of the negro would be same
as that of the Indian. mall these
conclusions his Judgment is APP
proved by that of every sensible
white man and black man in the
country. The admission of de-
pendence and inferiority however,
poorly comports with the terms
upon which he proposes to remain
where he is. If his is the weaker
race, how is he to dictate to the
stronger the terms upon which
they are to exist together? IF, il
all the characteristics that deter
mine the exercise of power, the
white race is the superior. how
can he expect the superior viii.
and intelligence Of the white MAJ
to submit to the domination of the
inferior black man? The white
people of this country come Of {
stock that have never yet had so
clal or political terms put upo1
them by interiors, either in poin-
of intelligence on numbers.
They will not, in this case, vio
late all the instincts of race anC
blood, in the adoption of a polio,
of assimilation" which can enc
only in the corruption and dege.
neration of the white man, because
Mr.. Fred Douglass demands this
policy as the only salvation of his
race, which he admits is inferior
to and dependent upon the white
race.
! He has not arrived at this posi-.
ton as the result Of right reason.
ing. His judgement is against
the feasibility of such a policv
He has suggested solution OF
the question most agreeable tc
himself His utterances in Wash
lngton give voice and expression
to the long cherished hope Of so.
clal equality on the partof the ne
gro. Of its final accomplishment
he is yet expectant. The pur-
poses of those who are honestly
seeking to elevate him in the scale
Of moral and social, and conse-
quent political being, are misin-
terpreted by him as Intentions on
their part to bring him to the goal
of his only ambition, that of social
equality.
The evil of this policy is that it
raises in the negro hopes that he
can never realize. His final fail
ure and disappointment, which
will come to him at last, but delay
his adjustment to conditions that
are inexorable as fate. These con-
litions assign him to a position of
ubOrdination to the white man.