The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-14
COLOR IN SOCIETY AND POLITICS.
Interviews With Leading Colored Men
on Subject of Current Interest.

colored man in the cabinet of President
Harrison has made little impression upon
negroes of New York, if the opinion Of
prominent men of the race go for auCht.
T. T. For une, the negro editor, whose adj
vocacy of President Cleveland in the late
elections attracted some attention. pooh
pools the idea that the colOre1 man should
attempt to make for himself distinct place
in politics, 1t is noticeable that Fortune
and other educated colored men in New
York discuss the race problem without heat
and habitually use the word negro.
'Our people," said he, "ceanct hope TO
have a controlling interest public affairs
or even TO hold the balance Of power They
will never form a Tammany Hall that shall
dictate nominations and decide the vote Of
parties Their only hope is in combination
with parties in existence"
DO you think the negro has made any
marked impression upon New York city
''No; less than in many smaller commu-
mites and in cities further south. ! found
a colored lawyer in Cincinnati who owns
thirtv-1ve houses. Jackson ward in Rich
rnond, Va, is owned almost solely bv col
ored people. In parts of the south and vest
colored men own property here you would
least expect 10 find them thus interested
In Philadelphia we rave long been property
owners, and in Baltimore there are some
well-to-do colored men. l. New York, how
ever there are not above 100 c1lored men en-
gagged in the learned professions and other
intellectual occupatio S, aid Of these not
one, fancy, earns above 5000 year.
think no colored lawyer earns over 5000
a year. Few colored people own property
in New Y ork, though some have real estate
in Brooklyn and in the neighboring cities
Of New Jersey. Almost the only wealthy
negro that know Of in New York IS Dr.
p a. White. | would accept his check for
800, 900 without hesitation, and tnnk he
is worth more.
"How do you account for the failure of
negroes to acquire property hero ("
"Has it occurred TO you that compare
lively few white men own property on
Manhattan Isandl The negro was enfran
chised and hidden Co go on and do great
things just at the time when the war had
laid the foundation of vast fortunes for
other men. The negro. unarmed with edu-
ca ton or experience, found himself in
competition with the trained intelligence
selt-control and greed OF the Caucasian.
Places were occupied and race prejudice
was strong. To be sure, the men that had
emancipated and enfrauchised the negro
eagerly encouraged him to seek place and
fortune Indeed, the fever Of activity into
which half-educated Colored men were
forced just at that time was rather un
wholesome. 1t mas givel people the excuse
lot ullldNpTdple COIhpai AsOus VI uuaN peilou
with his"
But you think the negro has ad-
vancedg
HE has greatly advanced, and nothing
shows this more than the gradual dsap-
pearance Of race prejudice in New York.
In that regard, this, | believe, is the most
liberal city in America. ! remember when
1t was unsafe tor a negro to visit some
parts Of New York. Now negroes live in
all parts of the city. They are scattered
from the Battery to Harlem, and it is u
rare thing Tor one to meet with any often
sive how of race prejudice. We so to the
theatres and Other places Of amusement,
and our presence attracts no attention.
"Do coiored men receive social recogui-
ton from the " htesF
81 know some negroes that exchange
visits with their white friends. Count
Belvar, u Haytian Of excellent education,
is as black as any man YOU ever knew but
he has his box at the opera or theaier now
and again. and knows some white men of
wealth and position. The Hayians, by the
way, are Il greatly moderated people. |
don't say this because we are having
war with them just now, for of course
colored men here. as Americans are on
our side in that quarrel. But Hayti is
usually instanced as proof that the negro
race is incapable Of selt-governmel AS a
matter of fact, tie Haytian is French in
training, education and instinct, and he is
unstable politically, not bee use he is a
negro, but because he is a Frenchman. The
HaVtiaus of wealth are excellent liuguists,
their manners are good and their dep)rt-
meut is dignifed.N
Nv hat of education among the negroesn
1.-TWO things the negroes have learned:
that he must save mOuey and be must edu-
cate his children. OF course few Colored
children get above the grammar schools
here tecause the parents cannot afford to
support them for years at school. Bat the
children take to books and there is nothing
thai colored man Furnishes more quickly
in his child than neglect of study. " hen [
was at Howard University at Washington
nv class was equally divided between
whites and blacks, aud the man that to k
the highest honors was full-bloodel
negro"
as there an upper ten in colored society
here"
"Oh, yes" laughed Fortune. "We draw
the lines as strictly "a they do on Murray
Hill, and the gowns of the colored upper
ten are cut as low as those OF MCAllisters
four hu dred. Education Is the test Of ad-
mission into the best coloiei S ciety. and
the man of nero wealth feels anything but
comfortable II he ee,s in. There Is as much
talk OF literature, music and art there as
anywhere else. -
d.. 7. S. 2. Miller. a colored physician
from Char estou, s. c., has been practiciug
il New York since 1874. lie agrees with
much that Fortune says: IL Think said
DIR. Miller, that it would not be wise to
have a negro in President Harrlson's cabi-
net. Our people have not had tue training
desirable for cabiaet ofiic RS. Further
more, such an appointment would raise
old race antaAonisms. IL is useless
to hurry our people. They are
steadily improving, and race prejudice
is dying out. | seldom meet il
here. consult wi Ii Whit physicians and
treat white patients. | 60 to places Of
amusement and seldom find a re- taurant
shut against me. Whel ! do, 60 TO some
other place. We must wait patiently for
the death # race preJud ice'
"row many negro physicians are there
in New York and Brooklyn"
About dozen, some Of them forty years
in active practice"
Are they admitted to the medical So
oietiesr
Certainly. In fact, their entrance is
facilitated. The profession here makes no
distinction as 10 race or color"
DO Won find in your practice any trace
Of the Noodoo superstition"
II meet with il good deal. Bat it is not !
confined to negroes. Igno ant whites arr
under the same delusion. Education dispels
it in either race
Are the homes Of tho negroes i'm
proving"
Very greatly There ere more book
and ttCturpA in