The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-12
THE RACE PROBLEM.
A Calm and Philosophical Discussion Of the
Most Troublous American Question.

fore the Literary Society Of the University Of
West Virginia It was an able and finished
production in all features, but particularly
appropriate and important part of it was his
discussion of what he called the race problem.
Mr.. Elkins said:
American civilization has forced upon it the
race problem, always difficult and disturbing to
the reposs Of nations. After much delay Chit
nese migration has been stopped. and pauper
i'm immigration checked. Such measures
healthful and in the interest OF security; they
should be encouraged, until only the moral aud
industrious of other countries should be per-
mitted to become the guests of the Republic
the negro race In the South numbers about
seven million, or more than twice our population
when the Constitution was adopted 1t has
multiplied eight times in a century. II the
same increase is maintained for another cen
fury, it will about equal in number the present
population of the United States. 1t is encour-
aging that the negro is by nature peaceable.
kind and religious, respectful towards
authority, obedient to law. and purely Amrri-
The North has ten million foreigners.
Voters born in Europe hold the balance of
power between the Two great political parties
The negro race and the foreigners constitute
more than one-fourth Of our population. These
elements must be harmoniously absorbed aud
assimilated into the general body of composite
American civilization.
Though the race question in the South led to
the great civil war. it was not fully settled by
IL. The negro gained freedom, and was elevated
from the degradation of being mere chattel to
the dignity of cit izen This was q great
change to be so suddenly wrought in the history
of race of 1000. 900 peop le The great Repub-
lie could make the slave free and its citizen but
could not. at the same time arm him with the
necessary intelligence and experience that would
enable him to exercise the rights OF freeman
and a citizen In a contest with his former mas
ter. This was not the fault of the government,
1t WAS the misfortune of the negro.
"Ths government did all II could to aid its
newly made citizen in his helpless and almost
hopeless condition. Tho negro, heir thou
sands of years OF ignorance. savagery, and bar
barism, the only civilization he ever knew find.
ing him slave, and his first duty to obey, was
not prepared to exercise his political rights
against his former master. who was accustomed
to control and govern, and was entrenehed be
hind power. wealth and education The con-
test Was unequal There could be but one
suit. Ignorance and poverty had to 60 down
before intelligence aud wealth, as it has always
done the world over.
THE general condition Of affairs in the South,
since the war, has been natural and logical
The war left the two races In their changed
conditions on the same soil. under the same
skies. and in the same homes and places.
Neither race could get relief by retiring. In
these new and trying circumstances for which
we're forced to begin the work Of solving the
race problem. History furnishes parallel to
q situation 80 difficult for both sides
The black man deserved the profoundess
sympathy-the white man consideration. In
the humiliation of defeat loss Of property, and
everything he had tonight for and held DEAR the
white man brooded over his losses. He deter
mined that his humiliation should not be deep
ened by allowing his former slave to be his
social and political equal and aid in making
laws for his government He resisted by force
in some cases; by threats and indirection in
others; and often by State laws passed in hls
own interest Federal laws were unavailing.
Even where there was federal or State law
that might favor the black man AID was sus-
tanned by the courts. there was no public senti-
ment behind either that could enforce 1t. There
10 whole empire OF questions in our domestic
concerns that statute law cannot reach. and
where natural laws arc supreme and
govern. In the fercest civil war. in the long
night Of battle and blood which hung over the
land, when the liberty OF the negro was In the
balance, his conduct was marked by no act Of
violence or revenge, and be remained the true,
tried, and trusted friend of his master and his
family who were fighting TO hold him in slavery.
There is nothing 10 all history equal 10 this ex-
ample of affection, forbeArance and charity, on
the part of whole race. This splendid fact
should stand out "a bond between the two
races, and it 10 hoped in time will be q gentle
memory that will draw them closer together.
The two races have known each other for two
hundred years. The South needs the black
man The white man ia the South could not
get well without MIN. Iney unQorStauQ 06cn
other and generally agree on all but social and
political questions. Already there is q better
feeling between them. The negro is making
substantial progress in education and in the ao-
emulation OF property.
'The negro, not equal in intelligence and
education to the white man, being constantly
associated with him, looking to him for guild
ance in local concerns, seeing in HIM the model
after which he i to shape his own advance
ment generally obliged to rely upon him for
-~l1x I'D Q hn IS s-sa ~
sistsnoe-is it not natural, a. time goes on.
that be should be largely influenced by him,
even in matters Of political concernl
There should be the Same law over both
South and North. Violation Of the rights Of
citizenship suppression OF votes, frauds In
elections, are dangerous to liberty and free
government and should be punished every
where. Any section that countenances and mp
holds these wrongs is its own worst enemy, and
sooner or later retribution in some form will
follow.
I'm theory and practice. in tho interest Of the
healthful progress and purity OF free govern
ment of it's safety and preservation. every citi-
zen should be protected in all his rights, should
be able to vote as he desires, and bis vote
should be counted as cast. This cannot be de-
MED But to ATTEMPT to change the situation
in the South by federal law has not succeeded; to
try TO effect it in the interest of tho black man
by outside agitation has proven useless. So
long as political parties are divided in the South
on the lines they are. and thu people, both
black and white, are made to believe everything
depends on the whites being in ono party and
the blacks In another; so long as prejudice. pas
sion, hate and revenge shall be encouraged by
selfish leaders for their own Acknowledgement,
the situation between the races in the South
will remain unchanged.
1.-THE true solution Of this question will come
when both races divide economic and in
dustrial questions and distribute themselves
between the two great parties. The black man
will then have the sympathy and support OF his
white neighbor and get all his rights rnder the
law.
when hostile guns were trained upon the
capital of the Republic, with his life threatened
and in danger, Lincoln said to the Southern
people: We are not enemies but frienda We
must not be enemiea' Later on. Grant said:
Let Us have peace At this great distance
from the conflict, should not our wise men on
and echo their plea for peace Prejudice. pas
sion. hate and revenge cannot live forever-and
no man should wish TO keep them alive Upon
no such foundations can anything good or last
| ing in society or government Do built
sit is in the order Of evente In the path Of
certain destiny that the people Of all sections
| through the whole country snail be friends.
| Then let as wisely anticipate the work OF time,
| and Of oblivion and the reconciiations OF ouI
| children by few years and be friends now.
| When the rare question 10 the South shall bt
| settled. and shall be longer the football oil
| politics. the Union will in the best sense BE- 70
| stored.
'sThs people of the whole country viii sujoy
that peace and repose. that friendly fssline and