Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-22
Mr.. Atkinson on the Negro Problem.

EDWARD ATKINSON. Esq. of Boston. has
recently written two letters to the Atlanta
Consultation, IN which he discusses with the
candor and clearness which mark all his
productions on the negro problem as IL
presents itself to his mind. BIT. ATKINSON
has well-deflned opinions on this subject
and claims that upon il be has drawn out
The Constitution without the knowledge OF
that paper. We quote:
"Your reply is very satisfactory to me
because, without knowing It, you have sur
rendered the position which had been
taken by southern men as body down 70
the time when Mr.. Henry w. Grady made
his address in Boston. Down to or up TO
that date the position unconsciously held;
even by most intelligent southern men, had
been that the race question, so far as 1t
affects the relation of black men and white
men, is local question and not national
one. Hence its discussion by northern
men. however friendly their relations with
the South may have been, has been re-
PEELED or viewed with some displeasure as
upwarranted or at least unwelcome inter
ference. All this was changed when MT.
Grady came to Massachusetts and submit
ted his representation OF the southern view
OF the race question 10 northern nen III
their consideration"
II Is very natural for the southern people
10 maintain that the negro problem Is a
local question and not o national one, as II
A. very natural for Mr. ATKINSON TO main-
tain that it is a national question and not
local one. But when the southern peo-
pie claim that the negro problem is local
question they mean that the people OF the
North are not as we'll acquainted with the
negro character as are the southern peo-
pie. and cannot realize how any question
concerning persons of an inferior race
placed in the midst of persons OF supe-
rio- race touches tine emotional nature of
the southern man as well as his intellect.
Bee how easily Mr.. ATKINSON disposes OF
the matter. He says:
II now venture to explain to you that
what / am at is TO accept the surrender
of your present views of the political rela-
tions Of the white and the black races in
YOUR southern land, and by putting you
TO the question. to bring you to conclu-
sion in which you will accept as the only
safe principle for the conduct OF society
the fundamental principle of democracy,
TO wit, that in dealing with political
rights and in adjusting both the political
and the industrial relations of the two
races there can be no distinction based
upon color. You will then arrive at the
further conclusion (which is the necessary
corollary OF the frst) that when the politi-
cal and industrial relations of the races
have been fixed, determined. and finally
settled consistently with the fundamental
law of the land and the fundamental law
of political science as well, under which
no distinction due to race, color, or condi-
tion can be permitted. the social relations
of the two races will adjust themselves
without controversy and without friction"
Mr.. ATKINSON Is totally mistaken in as
Stunning that "the political and the indus
trial relations of the two races" are not in
volved in their social relations. There are
certain "social relations no doubt which
1t may be said are not involved in accord
ing to the negro all his political and indus
trial rights, but there are other social rela-
tions which follow the concession of politi-
cal rights. The negro claims the right to
hold Office. Is his holding of a lucrative
Office not likely to demoralize some OF
the white race? Two negroes were
q few years ago appointed trustees
of all the public schools in this
city. This political right" Of holding
Office thus empowered the negro to sit in
Judgment upon the merits of the white
school-teachers--eve the female teach
ers-and caused social commotion which
could not be adjusted without contro-
yersy and without friction" So the right
Of the negro to hold any Office may be a
political right; but there are many offices
which cannot be conferred upon negroes
without rousing social prejudices, and dis
turbing social circles. Why not? Because
70 put negro over white men in any office
or position of trust or emolument is to do
wrong TO the superior race.
We give this az one illustration only.
Possibly Mr.. ATKINSON is so far above the
ordinary human being in the South that he
has no race prejudices, and can see no i'm
propriety in whites sustaining to blacks
the relation of dependents. If so. he may
consistently maintain that social relations
will adjust themselves without controversy
and without friction" even under such cir
cumstances, but he must allow us Of the
South TO cling for some time longer to the
belief that as the comforting of the right
of suffrage upon the negroes was the
greatest political crime of our day, that
crime cannot be lessened nor corrected by
debasing all the Offices in the southern
States and trying to persuade ourselves
that the social relations of the two races
are not necessarily involved in their being
allowed to enjoy all their political and
industrial rights."
No southern man denies that the north
ern people are interested in the solution of
the negro problem. We only claim that
they ought 10 assist the southern people to
solve it.; because IL viii be better for the
whole country to permit it TO be solved by
the people who know the negro and how
N traat him