Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-08
THE NEGRO QUESTION.

Ia the Forum for March Professor Scar
borough has an able paper upon the negro
question IN The South, which at least in one
respect takes u view Of The subject tina. hiss
never been fully presented or dispass;on-
atsiy debsted. The essayist holds that the
leas which withholds The South fr9.u deal
ing with the negro question fairIy-the fear
OF negro supremacy-is one not reasonable.
because not justified by experience. or at.
tested by any entertained or expressed
d;slre or ambition on the part of the negro.
Inc supremacy of his race does not enter
al ali INTO the plans of the negro, says the
essayist, and in this declaration he is forti-
NED by the testimony of the present and the
experience OF the past. The negro seeks
only to exercise the political rights and
privileges guaranteed him by the Constitu-
ton, trusting wholly 10 the evolution of
the future to determine the destiny of his
race. That is to say, the negro entertains
70 desire to rule over the whites or to do
tnen any harm. Now, it is an axiom in
fhsiorical philosophy that races and large
:gregations of people, more often than
Otherwise, entertain desires in the direction
OF their natural drift. The South. there
Ire, has no reason to fear any domination
u the blacks, and as Professor Scarborough
well says, entertains alarm for which there
Is 40 solid basis. But" reply the South
esn statesmen, even if that be true, we
g have fear harm will come to us by
reason OF the exposure of our people to the
macy OF an ignorant black majority y
&c article by Senator Wade Hampton in 8
ja'e number of the Forum is cited in sup
port OF the charge that such an argument
has been advanced. Professor Scarborough
replies that the obvious answer to it is that
there can be no such ignorance now as may
De admitted prevailed in the reconstruc-
ton Period" The present generation really
knows of the horrors of slavery only BY
Tradition; it had no part in the civil war
ans can have recollection of it only as
dram from childish memories. 1t is i'm
probable, therefore, that the generation
ensertains in any degree the reyengeful
spirit. The essayist, with biting sarcasm.
asks how people can sincerely entertain
tear OF being left TO the mercy of race.
which not so long ago they were accus.
tened TO trust to the extent of committing
to It's Gaze their wives and their children !?
The thought is suggested and it is sur
pr'slng that Professor Scarborough did not
re'sr 10 it--that the plea that the ignorance
of he hiQcl-s or The Co,fl, =, ~
It's people, is answerable By the reply. that
= sooner it is removed the less of menace
u-ere will be; that one OF the shortest roads
70 knowledge in this country is through
political freedom and enlightenment, The
citizen who is properly educated in the
rights, duties and privileges of his sover-
elgnty, becomes a conservator of order.
peace, and the rights of others. If he does
not himself add to his privileges the ae-
vantage OF fair education he is altogether
hkeiy to see TO it that his children are thus
benefited. Communities cannot adopt the
policy of keeping class in ignorance and
suggestion without mourning the penalty of
imminent danger of assault that is liable ct
any time to proceed from an ignorant and
subjected portion of the population
progressive enlightenment is surer
defense than armies of soldiers.
TAis truth applies TO people regardless of
;@ee, and it occurs to us that the South
nay yet find, when the pro-siavery preju-
dices that now operate TO keep its ignorant
While element in line with the dominating
intelligence have evaporated, that this
same poor, debased and ignorant white
element-beSatse it ices not show advance
ment-may become the source of infinite
social difficulty.
Che essayist strikes the keynote of the
whole matter when he declares that the
regro has nothing to hope for from the
5 nsh so long as it takes no counsel but its
own, and persistently refuses to consider
ar plans thst do not accord with its pre-
conceived noions. He fears that this will
coa;iuue 10 be the attitude of the South.
a.la tuat rs s result it will too much tres
pass upon the patience not ouly Of the
nssifn at large, but of the negro. We are
ciued to believe he entertains fears not
JUSTIFIED in present lights. The nation will
be content to await The evolution of the
truth and the triumph of civilization,
which never moves backward. Neverthe.
les there may be temporary aad disturb
irg attrition before this end is reached
Even the essayist finally arises cut of the
c s?siring vein and strives at the conclu.
sjoa that the negro question will be settled
by lhst -ace-and this for three reasons:
tie proved ability of the negro to advance.
the possession of inherent power 10 better
his condition; secondly, his determination
to use this power to command admiration
AMI respect, his determination not to sink
inc mere nonentity; lastly, because the
awakened conscience of the nation will aid
the working out of the solution of the prob
lem. Just now this is to operate he does
no, tell us and leaves that part of the sue.
jeei, 50 FIR as he is concerned. 10 doubs.
Be does confess. however, that If all other
suggested solutions OF the negro question
fa.i, there remains one fraugLt with more
OF good than OF evil for the negro removal
to sections where he will be free from the
conflicts TO which he is now subject; con-
c,nsion, by the way, that has been reached
b. many Others as the possible and final
experiment.
MILE it was most desirable to have the
q League election law bill incorporated
inZo cur codes. yet, since il has been