Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-10
The Nero Problem.
CHLOE.


concerning this all.sbsorbing question OF
the day, I venture 10 make q few additional
assertions.
Having been born since the days OF slavery
(elad that wSs), nurtsd by ageod old auntie,
raised up on iSrm With every pnase OF
negro life and watched and studied their
ideas, believe / can give AS unbia'ed
Judgment OF the character and capacity OF
the southern negro as IL ! had been bred
in the pursr States Of the North.
The natural characteristics OF tho pure me-
gro are simplicity, Industry, mirt5. kind
ness. affection. and obediencs-all msrred by
superstition and tendency when away frem
whites TO barbarisnI. All OF these qualities
las has often been said led bv coptcientious
leaders make him useiul citizen; but II by
such as he has to day, The worst typs OF
civilized mankind Without the bsneful In
nasnco OF the latter he wsuld be all that one
could wish-corsidering the time and CIR
cti distances under which he has labored
His simplicity would be beautiful; his pro-
gress wonderful; bis industry would put TO
blush many Of his suporiOfs, while bis hap.
piness would he envied by the posseSsors oil
millions aud the rulers OF nations.
cannot say more without acknowledging
his infinite kindness. Whether in daytime
or the darkest hours Of sigHt the syer-resdy
hand OF good Uncle or Aunue is willing and
waiting TO do all tnat Loving hands can do.
| do not say old Uacle, &c, because it would
deprive many Younger enes oil tue honor
whlca they 90 richly deserve. With oil his
bad leaders his affection is not vet shaken.
II YOU would insult one OF the older ones to-
day say word against his old "mostsr " or
"mIslusL" Theugb they may have over
seered hin badly, still he loves their very
msmory. Naturally he loves to obey, aud
nothing delights him more than the sppro-
bstion OF bis employer for isimplicit obedi-
eEce.
By far the most characteristic OF him Ia his
supsrstition. He hears things, be believes
too much, and imagines more. He believes
in dreams and "yisiens." Ho tolls his won
derful dream and assures all that something
IA going to happen, and II by chance some
thing UNCOMMON does happen he declares
bis dream ended. Often In day he "views"
wonders "In the spirit" These he calls
"yisions." II is astonishing what slsYc
be Is 10 these dreams and DIVISIONS" OF
terror. He secs bis departed friends
in haloed glory, he hears the shrieks
OF bis dead mother warning him OF 'he
danger of beng returned TO slavery, or sees
the demons OF Pluto's throne themselyes
wrapped 10 their Gery sheets. Often his re-
ligious experiences are based upon such
dreams and "vsi0us." He firmly believes
In chants" Gr.Veysrds and old mansloH-
houses are be saws, the resorts OF thepe
ppirits II Is rarely you see him about these
places after dark. OF them he tells o. heat
ing the sounds Of hammers, OF CHAINS rat
Ting, OF horses feet nj full run. and OF seeing
great white RuimalS wAlkiHg as II sentlnels
Of The dead, aud on some dark nlghls the
whole scene liz upSs II by electricity itself.
When | was very small | remember that
a. H.. - vii -
interest OF n little negro OF to-day, and II
VA, for wears that looked for the " hAnts"
OF my early teachers.
His worship. am sorry TO say, Is not what
n should be, and it is In that that we find m0sL
Of bis tendency to go bsck 10 the ways OF bis
fathers. Since his separation from The
white church he has greatly given way to
his ancient customs. Instead oil worshlpplng
in tke usual quiet way he has shaped 1t into
hall frOic. For hours every SUNDAY, rare
IN an exception, and often IN the week, he Is
at = meeting singing, shouting, jumping,
fainting, snd yelling not unlike political
mob. And h for politics, he has
llttle or no idea and but little care.
IT'S true there are many oil his
muatto brothers that seem to understHnd
the general principles OF the two great par
ties As well as The leadEg Issues VI the day,
u
whole, that do Is but an Insignificant lew.
II You ssk BIN what does he vote for he Will
invariably say jest ter vote" Often the
most conscientious will acknowledge that
he knows nothing OF politics. lie thiass It
a peculiar honor, and rney fails Ia make his
appearance at the polls on election'd2y-
" lest ter veto"
II - nlsIn thAt such 4 being is voted.
How? BY the crGttineSS Of lis leaders
sometimes q nulatto, rarely pure negro,
but almost always "wtite negro" 81 such
characters are Justly eetigua'e1. A. bis
house, Al his church. and at every schoo-
bouRe, under the cover OF darkness. are all
theas dIre;ui doiBgs done. For hours does
be hsrsugue him Not principle does he
unfold not az argument does he produce;
but back to his - darker passions does he
appeal His pictures OF bis condition -
.lsVe aud horrors OF slavery, and the dangor
Of beng deprived Of all his rights again, are
but few tRings he holds up 10 his iears 10
awe him. No wonder the poor negro sees
- visions" These speeches, supported by
his bxrbarous fears and supersIltons, will
throw Mide any amount Of the best oil RET
.oulng the wisest can produce. Tue tact l.
this: The segro does not vote, but by fear
he is voted.
We are educating him, but so far II has
numesr (nsgTees) seem TO doubt IA educa-
ton, m say II you educate 4 negro Won turn
him fool; but It is to be hoped tbat ere long
the good influence VI az education Will still
vet redeem his degraded race.
Though the negro would he the equal OF
the white man, socially ~ well a. politically,
still be sckno~ledgss has own inferiOriiy
aud weakness a. . race. Naturally he loves
the white man, and prefers his Judgment 10
his own, and II he was oulY left 10 himself,
/ mean without MS present leaders, bis fu-
ture would be bright in rsslly.
Such is tue negro OF the pew South, whom
all these discussions are about. and such is
he likely to remain while led by leaders Just
fer gain.
some will say that wrong him by this de.
scripiIsn, 10 whom | will say: Look, quss-
ton, study. and Judge tor yourself, aed when
you nnd the time "a Is in the tuture) that
err IN reisics witt you.
While on q tour North last year WAS
struck at the opinion OF great many good
people upibsre. They believe u the nesfols
the equal OF sou.hers wilkes, and Just as
aft 10 rule" They will believe nething
but that be Is deprived Of his education.
and cheated out " his volc by the will OF
a msiofiiy OF the white people Of the South.
No greater error, as sny oae here OF COM
moa tsRse knews, ever existed. for sew
efsl years he has had everything that be
needs, save tie leadership Of "vhlte
negroes" uhsse syowsd object Is as Office.
Now for the question, 0ught the negro TO
rulsi gay, M. Think Of Il Only Two
euHdred and seventy years age was he brat
landed acre a savage; for two hundred and
tort y.isur years uss be slave WITH no idea
81 nslonsl emancipation; aud twenty-five
years OF tree life makes him ut 10 rule. Vas
there ever 80 rotten athsoryg Ia thsre such
q page In histeryy Tse tiEe Il not yet.
The white msn viii rule for years yet not
because the negro IL negro, but because be
Is nes capable. No race en- earth With his
history, with his education. and With ais
superstition can rsls even itself. and more,
wsethsr Ethiopia, Indian, Asylaian, Mon.
goliss, or Caucasian, no matter in what
race, knowledge is power" ID.
Hoods Snsapagilis wins new victories
over disease and becomes mere popular