The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-23
AN Absurd CONTENTION.

Referring 10 The late memorable confer
encs as Lake Mohonk. which was con-
vsnsd for The purpose Of considering the
condition, capabilities and prospects, Of the
negro. and to devise the most appropriate
means for aiding him In the development
Of his equal manhood, the New York
Kevtd ook occasion To eriticiss the move
ment. and 10 argue thss the Nohonk con-
ference had been dealing With . chimera. a
figmsnt Of . disordered brain. and that -
. matter OF fact thsre II no such thing a.
'':he negro" And the same argument. in
identicaliy the came language. Is repeated
BY the Spokane Globe OF . later date.
Without stopping 10 comment upon the
remarkable coincidence that the same idea
should Be expressed In precisely the same
language by the two papers. II may be
claimed - very extraordinary that two
ably conducted journals. 80 far separated,
should by the same incident have been led
to assume . position 30 utterly untenable.
From frst to last" SAYS the World and
the Globe. in referring TO the Mohonk con-
ferees. ''ths speakers we're led astray into
Improbable paths by the assumption that
there is an entity which they call the
negro" And both papers express In the
same language the opinion that
.'speculations founded upon the
assumed character and con-
dition Of the negro are scarcely more
profitable than like speculasions concern
ing the old man OF the sea or the man in
the moon." Negroes there are" say the
Hera and the Giaa<. hut not the negro
q term which means. II II means t"merns"
in the Gseo<. . typographical error.l any
thing. q certain type of persons. similarly
eircumstanoed. with identical characters
and aspirations. whose case Is 10 Be dealt
with BY formulate. A. Is done with chemi-
Gals In the laboratory"
This is u~nmitigated duplicate bosh. As
well say that because there are fast horses
and slow horses. weak horses and strong
horses. race horses and draft horses,
,h~oroughhreds and bronohos. therefore
there IL no such entity As that we call
s'the horse"
The same fallacious reasoning would ap-
ply to the American" ''the Irishman,"
or ~the German" - entities or elements in
American politics The Negro" regard
less OF differences In condition, ca
pscitiss and requirements. is a dis
unet entity. He Is the successor
Of what heiore the war was declared by a
Supreme Court decision, and from pulpiss
and sosuams. and through the columns of
A. l.. -. - -.
Institution he eoaatsd for two-Gfths OF a
man in respect 10 Southern representation
In congress and the electoral college. As
an emaneipased Institution be counts for a
hve-ffshs man in respect 10 Southern rem
resensation, and IN oonstitutionally as
serted rights of tall American citizenship.
bat rs = voter couns for nothing or worse.
II is absurd and false 10 argue that aay
distinction Is made il. these respects be-
tween negroes Of active i~nss,lecs and
negroes whose minds are sluggish beyond
awakening" Whether bis mind is active
or sluggish. he - held 10 sesong 10 'sshe in
fessor race Whether "~wellIo-ic. indus
trsous aud prosperous" or s'eesosted, poy.
ersy-ssrseken aud hopele.sly indolent,' all
the same and all The time. no matter how
much in The majority, he must not At
tempt or aspire TO be dominant" How
ever capable. respectable and in every way
worthy. such considerations count
for nothing in his favor. and
he must accept irrespective OF
numbers and eli sueA trivial oonsiAsrs-
tens. whatever the proud Anglo-Saxon
ruling rses" nasy So % TO accord him.
The negro" 10 m sndivisihle. much abused
entity. |" that counts fer eight or ten nlI.