The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-21
SUPPORTERS
RACE PROBLEM In THE SOUTH.
If the Question Can Be Solved, Bishop Newman
Says, Christianity Alone Can Do 1t.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Oct. 20.-Bishop John
2. Newman, of Nebraska, who is presiding
over the deliberations of the Tennessee
Conference of the Northern Methodist
Church in this city, has given utterance to
his sentiments regarding the negro problem
during an address to the students of Gen.
trail Tennessee College, an institution con-
Quoted under the auspices of the Northern
Methodist Church. Bishop Newman head
ed the delegates to the conference on a
visit to the college, and. after all had been
welcomed by President Braden, Bishop
Newman was introduced. He spoke with
rupted by applause. After referring O the
work Of the church, which. he said, lis the
greatest Protestant denomination In the
world, and has given large promises of
latent capabilities and excited hopes to be
Bishop Newmanspoke of the negro problem
as follows:
Il suppose that it has occurred to you
that we are attempting to solve problem
In this country never before attempted; at
all events never before solved / put you
to the challenge to point to me a single race
IN the history of the world that has been
emancipated by others which ever amount
ed to anything. 1t is one of the most SOL
emn problems in history. 1T seems to me-
the law of successful emancipation is that
they who would be free mnst first strike
the blow themselves; must have risen in
their own might against tyranny, against
any form of oppression, whether POLITICAL
or ecclesiastical, OF pOlitico-ecclesiastical
Such have succeeded. We, therefore. under
the power of our higher Christian civiIza-
ton, propose to solve the question with a
people whose condition has suddenly and
radically been changed. and that by the
power of this Christian civilization shall
rise to manhood that shall be distin-
e.. - -, H.
ligence and for renown. This is the solemn
questions; this is the deep. underlying
thought of the statesman OF to-day, of the
philanthropist and of the church, and if
Christianity fails to do this then Chris
tianity is a failure. 1t was no fault of your
ancestors that they were enslaved. 1t is no
fault of yours that their descendants were
emaneipated; so the question then recurs
whether yon prove the exception to what
might be called the rule of history"
Bishop Newman then referred to the past
history of the race, and said:
Your problem. to the observer contains
two features: The one is that those who
were immediately emancipated SO con-
Quoted themselves as to commend their
pureness. industry, frugality, temperance
and piety not only to their own immediate
successors, but to all coming generations
while their sons and daughters have taken
advantage of the privileges accruing to
them by the munificence of the govern
ment which gave them emancipation. This
new generation IL q living emblem to the
capability long contained by the African.
and OF latent capacities which are yet des-
tined to unfold themselves and astonish the
world. For 1 do not hesitate to say the
branch of your race has history as con-
spicnous and as illustriOus as either of the
other branches of humanity. You can
rapidly discover the glory of your past
history. and believe it is in your power to
rival the glory of the past by O history more
glorious in the future"
DR.. Hartsell. secretary of the Freedman's
Aid and Southern Education Society, in an
address to the conference. touched upon
the negro problem, He began by saying
that the greatest missionary field in the
world is the sixteen Southern States. among
both the white and colored people. Con-
tinuing. he said the great need of the mis-
sionary work in the South is intelligent
and consecrated men. There is no neces-
| sity for being afraid of the negro question: y
sad DR.. Hartsell The negro is here. and
/! here to stay. Not less than five hundred
/ negro babies are born every day in the
! southern States" The only way to settle
| the question. the speaker thought, is to ed
ucato the whites and the blacks