Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-05
what Should be the Attitude Of the
whites Toward the SOiored PEG
pte2
"a enc Editor ~ the Dispatcb

whites TOWARD tne SoiofeU E0~
pic?
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The Dispatch has recently contained nota-
be articles. editorial and selected, strongly
asserting the permanent inieuoriiy OF tue
colored race snd urging TIE duty OF the
white race 10 stand together 10 MAINTAIN 81
all hsZlrds the status qfo ante oil both.
refer 20 these articles, not 10 cOoifOYert or
discuss the Views presented. but 10 ASK
the privilege Of settling by the AIDE OF them
certain other sentiments % stand or ial
unou their merits. / have been engaged Ter
fourteen years in instructng colored STU
dept.-au apostle Of the Geptles-snd cx-
press nv own sentiments ana the sehlihcnls
Of those who agree with me.
/. Sc count the colored people a part 9th
one human race, and a. such capaOlc OF the
same ultimat> development as any other por-
lion Of the race. II under present cOBdl-
tons they were showing an average equality
OF personal development with the whites
IL would indicate something more than
eqnaity-an unaccountabie superiority OF
race.
>. The colOrcd people are not a dangerous
clement M the sense Of beng dislOyal, either
in the Stste or nation. They are not An
archisis; they hold no feroisn allegiance
either civil or spiritual; they have not an
uuitned, turbulent spirit; they are submis-
siye 20 authority.
2. rhcy are not dangerous in the sense OF
being prop2gandsis OF pcstllent polilcal
doctrines or OF crimiualily. They are re-
preached rather As being the tools Of others
| tnsn az constituting an aggressive, domino
| ting element.
4. They are not dangerous in the sense Of
| bcing mresp)nNye to Influences used for
| their Improvement. a man who discOurscs
upon education or temperance will fad with
/ them far more responsive hearing and will
achieve quicker aud more marked results
| than with any class OF whites IN this cOun-
| try 50 conditioned ~ 10 render the cOmpan-
! son reasonable and Just,
A county school superintendent i'm Ten
| nessee told me that M his county the cOl0red
| ueople were more interested IN the educa-
! ton Of their children than were the whites,
! aad were more jealous IN experimenting the
! short public schools by private "pay"
/ schools. In this city gentleman who had
| the handling oi the State educational eX-
/ hibit for the New Orleans Exposition sad
| TO me that some Of the best work came from
| the coiored schools.
| =. We believe that the whites should stand
! toward the colorcd people in the attitude OF
]
| OF decfecing against them perpetual inie-
/ riority Of person and Of position we should
| help them 10 fitness to take y good place as
/ citizens Of our common country. They are
| nm Integral part Of our national family; iIic
! is 10 them thu same us to white men; they
! have the same hopes and personal welfare 90
/ work out; many Of them ave brothers IN The
same Christian faith and immortal hopes ;
/ we shalt stand with them before the same
/ Judge Of Oh the earth. We think that the
| whites ought 10 help them as the stronger
/ can help the weaker, As the wiser can help
/ the more ignorant, and 10 be glad At Their
/ every step OF Advancement
G. We believe and feel that the attitude ot
/ the whites towards the col0red people ought
! 20 represent the spirit OF the Lord Jesus.
| Selt-sacIihce Is greater and better than do
minion and will achieve better results. In
! stead % asserting superiority Il seems 10 us
most Christian to use thai superiority for all
| IL - worth to DO good 10 the inferior. \
/ Christian state exists for The benefit Of the
weakest and not for the strongest. The
strongest can care for themselves, snd peo-
pe show Themselves most Christian nv
caring for the loWly that they may rise and
become She worthy peers OF The best
| ~. We think that God has bound mp the
| fortunes Of the strong, the wise, aud tue
| rood 10 the same bundle with the weak. the
! ignorant, and The vicious, that the best may
/ not he tempted TO neglect the worst, but
NAV be spurrcd by the urgency OF their own
safety to care for them aud save them. While
we rebroach the lower stratum and assert
our super ority aud dominion taat basal
stratum crumhles and the temple OF the ma.
ton comes down upon us ~ we'll rs them.
8 We believe that The colOred people must
be lifted No to be something else than perma-
nentlv inferior people with the brand OF in
feriorlty forever upon them and the con-
sciou.ness forever in tneir souls, OF we must
accept permanent corrupiiug influence
upon both races. The presence OF an inie-
rior race not devoid q personal attractions,
between which vice is less a shame and is
counted less crime than between equals. is
a temptation and sure corruption for both
Il furnishes an opportunity and a stimulus
70 the evil Of the higher race and resistess
| temptation TO the lower. We can escape this
only by raising up the inferior out OF their
/ lnieriority.
.. The education OF each generation as il
comes Is q great work; Il taxes heavily the
resources Of families aud OF the STATE. How
much greater the work TO begin with no.
ihing and oyertake the rushing tide OF poDu-
lation. II Is not probe 20 be solved, but
a work 10 be done--a work Immensely and
! oppressvely great II seems TO US that
1 there should be solid south and u solid
nation In this work OF lifting up the l0wllesI
aud making them intelligent, strong. and
righteous. LYMAN D. TEEET.
bdrtShora- Memorial Co,,eJs.