Huntsville gazette., 1886-04-24
The Ne gro IN the South.
Some Views I, ON . Virginia Judge.

From the Forum for April.
There has been much sterile talk
md print about "Tne Negro Prob
|sin," rs it is called. just what
this means 10 hard to say Let us sup
pose, however. that it asks: What
is to be the position Of the Negro.
} y fifsy years hence. socially and po-
liticslly ? and: How is the white
: see likely to be affected by his pres
ence and probable position? How.
while the details of the future are in !
aud therefore should not
trouble US, it does not require pro
phetic inspiration TO- foresee what. in
genera. will surely come to pass.
Hunger, that great motive power
humanity, snd strict laws against
pilfering, will gradually drive the Ne
gro to work more steadily for hi.
livelihood This will be the best part
Of his education. he will grsdnslly
get whatever knowledge Of himself. !.
of others and of affairs may be pos
sible to his heavy brain. He will
acquire property, and with it social
Independence. We shall see, or our
children shall zee, white servants
and laborers under Negro employers.
Resistance would be vain. and regret
senseless. Brains, not color. must
settle rank. There is now, and has
always been, a multitude OF black 9
more worthy Of esteem and more val
liable members of society than very
many whites, and we have always
heartily recognized their worth.
There is reasonable hope that the
race will progr ss in intelligence and
virtue, in industry and possessions,
and work out for it's members posi-
ton both comfortable and creditable
God speed the day. Give them a
fair chance. Let merit take its
rightful place in all the world.
But what about social intercourse:
That is another thing. There is a
race instinct: given by the Creator,
which must forever check fusion. A
Negro may be my su perior in wealth,
intelligence and plety, but he may
not sit in my social circle, or At my
table, or be entertained Is q guest in
my hons. Some fanatics have prac
ticedthis thing in spite Of nature and
Of decency, but their example serves
only to disgust and warn. We will
be true to our blood. So, my social
equal or superior the Same instinct il
him viii. rightly repel Ssocial fusion
Doubtless there will be mixed race
Alas. the brutality under the sun ? L
will give interminabIe trouble. Thi,
problem our children must work out
Let MS bequeathe to them the right
principles, teach them to respect
honor able descent. to frown upon
impu,ity, and to enforce the injunc.
tim: Let not man jim toge,he :,
what Col hath put asunder.
The future position Of the Negro
in the State is likeviss to bs. .detsrn-
ined by merit. When his growing
intelligence has set him free from
demagogues. we may expect him to
take . responsible and creditable
place in public affairs. The gross
and injurious blunder of the war
party in giving suffrage to indigent
and ignorant Negros has happily re-
suited 10 it's overthrow. But 70,
many years to come this must still
be disturbing and dangerous factor
in our politics, and our only hope il
to bring the Negroes up to fair un-
derstanding Of their privilege. The
existence of two socially incompoti.
BILE races in q common government j.
certainly to be lamented. bat Jews
and Gentiles have found it possible tc
harmonic their interests, and we
may expect like result. All mere
prejudice must give way. What
should We care whether the laws, SC
they be good laws, be made by white
or black. We want in Congress men