The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-03-21
THE PLANTATION nIcoER.


We find in the New York World
the following resume of very truth
full article which recently appeared:
"The Plantation Negro as
Freeman" by Phillip A. Bruce
(Putman), is valuable though not
encouraging, contribution to the
data of the negro problem. Il rep
resents the judgment Of an educat-
ed, candid and kindly disposed
Southern gentleman on the actual
character of the emancipated slaves
and the new generation of freemen
of color, and his expectation of the
future course of social and political
events of the South. His opinions
may or may not be well founded,
but that such opinions are held by
such men is precisely one of the
most pregnant facts in the case.
Mr.. Bruce regards the negro as
still in a condition of race childhood !;
weak in will capricious in conduct !;
an animal in morals; hating the
restricts under which he might be
a serviceable member of society F.; ut-
terly licentious in his domestic re-
lations insubordinate TO his employ
ers; incapable at the present stage
of his development of any real in
tellectual elevation gaining only a
superficial cleverness by the school
system, which exaggerates his child
ish self-conceit and does not steady
his character. Between him and
his white neighbors there is GER
tain kindliness which does not pre-
vent strong repulsion between the
two races. Year by year this re-
pulsion grows the breach between
the two races widens; the whites
will tolerate no idea of social equal
ity with negroes, and the negroes
will be content with nothing short
of social equality as we'll as the
equality OF citizens before the law.
In religion, whites and blacks are
entirely separated in politics they
are Antagonistic. Coincidently with
other causes, the effect of this antag-
onism, in Mr.. Bruce'a opinion, will
be that the negro population must
revert to the pure African type with
all its Incidence, superstition and
incapacity. His representations
are gloomy indeed. He says: -, !
During all the latter periods of
our national history the majestic
and radiant figure of the republic
has been logged by the ominous
shadow of the negro-now as a
slave, stripped of every privilege,
and now as a citizen holding aloft
the ballot in his hand. In the
course of the next ten decades
American institutions will be sub
jected to severer strains than they
have yet endured, and one of the
most important causes of this strain
will be the evil influences which the
Southern blacks will indirectly ex-
ercise on the national destiny. The
negro is only useful to the Southern
States, and through those States to
the Union, as a 4aborer; but it
would be far better for the whole
country if he were withdrawn, even
if withdrawn SO suddenly as to blight
for time the material interests of
the South" 3d.
Mr.. Bruce maintains that the ex-
preston, "the Solid South" has no
sectional significance. at merely
embodies the determination of the
whites to ward off political ruin and
to save society from destruction.
The discussion and agitation
of questions of national con-
Germ have already ceased in the
Southern Stats, inasmuch as all
divergence of political opinion in
wolves social anarchy in the conclu-
sion. Not until the negro is elm
mated as a political factor will the
equilibrium be restored, for not un-
til then will the. Southern whites
separate into parties. The
partial Acknowledgement of the me-
gro in future would appear to be iu-
evitable, as essential, if not to the
existence of the South, then to the
prosperity of the Uuion."
The Pamsy for March comes to
our table, freightcd with pictures
and stories for young folks from
eight to twelve. It is certainly a