The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-06-28
The Negro a. = Dlsadv antaGe

Is sincere friend OF the section in
which it is published, and IN able
Newspaper, We may well doubt the
wisdom of its course in dwelling upon
the fact that the Negro is a disadvan-
tagO to the South. The fact is in
cORt'stable. The Negro was a dis
advantage to the Southern states as q
slave. He is equally disadvantag-
ecuS now as factor in its industrial
economy, and in its politics he il a
curse. But it must be remembered
that he is in the South BY force of
circumstances beyond his control.
The South is no moro responsible for
his presence than the North. South
ern statesmen who forcsaw something
Of present evils and endeavsred to
prevent them, were foiled by those
imbued with the spirit that is ready
to sacrifice everything to money.
But, being in the South; the Negro
has claim on the Eorbearance of it's
people that cannot be ignored. He
is barbarian, but the fact that under
the kindly regimen of slavery he
ceased to be a savage, shows that he
is capable Of being made a responsible
member of society in course of time.
His premature and violent release
from the paternal dicipline of mild
servitudO to which he was subjected,
has demoralizsd him as a matter Of
course, but when his temptations are
considered, he really deserves praise
for not haYing been worse. He can
be made better. He is Of plastic ma
tsrial. The South must be patient
with him. Such patience will bring
its own reward. Under direction
and training, his present lew product
i've faculty can be increased ten fold.
Let him be educated to work, to work
industriOusly and economically. Let
him be taught self control and trained
away from smotiOnalism as from his
present habits of slovenlinOss and
carelesSnOSs. So educated, he will
DO more productive industriOuSly
than any of the labOrers who are
brought from Hungary to Ponnsylva-
MIA. Teach him in politics to love
his home and his State. Make him
understand that there is no patriotism
that does not begin with home. Make
him understand that men who live in
Tennessee owe it to themselves as
we'll as to the State to be Tennessee
ans first, whatever they are afterward.
Do this and he will become q bles-
sing, because law-ahiding and quiet
workers are always q blessing. Keep
up the race line. Allow no race itor-
mixture, but be just and kind to the
Negro That is . Southern policy
for the South, and under it the Ne
gro will cease to be q disadvantage.
st. Louis Republican.
The above is a fair specimen of
the average white mans idea of the
Negro. He never sees any thing
good or manly in him. To him the
NegrO is the servant of servants.
Fit only to serve at ell times and on
all occasions in some mSanial capaci-
ty. Our newspapers take up much
valuable editorial space daily in
showing the fearful doom of this
country in the future, by reason of
the presence of Negroes here. Every
and thoughlesss act is paint
ed in glowing colOrs, presa ging some
dire calamity.
If the Negro was 8 disadvantage
to the South as a slave, and a curse
as freeman and politician, whose at
fault? Who was it that made his
disadvantage and. curse possible in
this country? Is it not manifsStly the
work Of white men! Did not white
men steal them in the jungles of
Africa and bring them to this coun-
try against their will! Did you ever
read Of Negro of his own free viii
leaVinC A fries and romin0 In Anari