Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-08
THE NEGRo'S FUTURE.

It is now nearly a quarter of a century since the enfranchisement of the Il. gro, and the future political condition of the race is no less matter of speculation than when it was first given the ballot. Thoughtful men have given much study to the problem, and of late the negroes themselves have been turning their at tention to its solution. In the Forum for March is an interesting and thought full article on the subject from the pen of Professor w. $. Scarborough of Will berforce university, a scholarly and cul- tured colored gentleman who is thought fully equipped to grapple with the ques- tion.
 Professor Scarborough says the way out of the present trouble to the fruition of the hopes of the negro is for him to cultivate himself to be man among men. He is an American citizen, and just so far as he is able to meet the obli- gations of an American citizen intellec tually and faithfully he rises to the point where any possible disqualification by the fact of race disappears. There can be no question that the negSo must at tain a larger degree of political and gen. eral intelligence if he is to reap the highest political advantages to himself. It is a healthy sign that such men as Professor Wilberforce recognize this, and that the reconciliation of the in- | telligent forces of both races ., ell Ivy fnly l,n pfAfy- of the country and its institutions is based on the intelligence of its political forces, and while the negro represents non-intelligent element he is certain to represent an unsafe one and consequent ly one which it is far from unjustitiable to restrict in the use of the ballot. As Professor Scarborough indicates the view of the most intelligent negro leaders of the south it is that the solid white south and the solid black south are opposed to each other, and until the solid negro south has reached the degree of lntelli- gence and responsibility which imparts to the colored man the sensibility and the convictions of the patriot toward the nation the southern white leaders have a seeming justification in holding the reins of power. Conditions such as prevail at the south can never obtain in the north, for there is here wider diff fusion of popular intelligence, but if they could it is quite certain that it would be held justitiable to keep the ignorant ele- ment out of control. If the negroes at the south can be made to feel-as Pro- lessor Scarborough and the most edu- cated men of his race are seeking to i'm press upon them-their responsibility as citizens, to discharge their duty as satisfactorily to the state as white men might discharge it, the whole question would be solved The white man will be ready to adapt himself to the changed conditions when they supervene, and we may hope to see then new civilization ill which race antagonism will not be the dividing poli- tical lines.
 It is we'll that colored men like Profes- sor Scarborough are beginning to take a broad candid and intelligent view of the
 
 the new administrati ,n refrains from in terference with the leavening influences that are now operating to work out the natural solution of the negro question. If President Harrison's declaration that he has altogether rejected the sugges- ton of a special executive policy for any section of our country" is an exact enln ittion of his policy on the southern question, the country will be the gainer. For the present anomalies of the race question in southern politics are bound to disappear as the negro becomes able to look over the situation as patriot should view it, as one views it who con- S dels himself an inseparable part of the An erican people. That position the |'negro will soonest attain under the con dltions that are making themselves felt more and more in the new south.