New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-08
THE LAKE MOHONK CONFERENCE.

The exonisite beauty of their surroundings
and the admirable arrangements for their com
fort NAV have had something to do with the
Sancuinc views expressed this week al Lake
Mohonll by the good men and women assembled
there to discuss the negro question. he IN
hupnce must have been potent, Whatever its
source. which could send DR.. Abbott 10 bed
doubling if there really was negro problem
for fow men in the country have more fulN
realized the importance OF the subject VI
studied it to better purpose, or expressed souhu
or opnions upon it than the Editor OF Inc
Christian Union" But VIC suspect that by TINS
light phrase he designed to intimate that que
allowance should be made for the buoyanc!
Of the atmosphere which the delegates had
been breathing.
Cause for gratitude and encouragement there
certainly is in the reports which competent Oh
servers arc able TO make concerning the con
dition and prospects OF the negro race Judge
Tourcce who would not wish 10 be conSlhcieu
an optimist. and whose address was in the VEN
Of sober criticism, nevertheless declared 'ht
remarkable opinion that the colored cltIzchN o.
the United States had made greater progress
in twenty five wears than any other race start
ING from the same point had made in an equal
noriod Of time. Several unsclfsh and urcless
workers among the colorcd people at the south
were present at the conference, and II IS a
notable and cheering fact that actual expert
once has rendcfed them confident OF the future
The value of such discussions as this Is not
disclosed Immediately. II is seldom possible
TO look back from any practical achievement III
civilization and fix the precise point AT whlch
the controlling impulse was given, but II j.
often easy to trace the sources OF hight ana IN
spiration approximately. There is no doubt
that the improved administration OF Indian
Affairs owe, much to the Mohonk conferences
of recent years. and there is reason to expect
GOOD results from this similar undertaking IN
another field The resolutions which the con
ference adopied with practical unanimity. and
| which will in some sense constitute the Worn
! inc code Of those who were present, 50 lar a.
| they individually exert Themselves, whether III
| nractiCal labor among the negroes or III mould
| ing public opinion, cnunclate numerous NltaI
| truths with unusual effectiveness. 1t is gr"a'
art so to state facts as 10 give them the iorcc
| of an argument. The foundation on which tins
platform is built is that the one thing essentla
| 20 the welfare and happiness OF the colorco
| race in this country is character-a simple
| truth enough, and universally applicable t.
mankind, hut one which has been generally
forgotten by the proprictors Of panaceas. The
conference declared for example, that the one
room cabin is the great social curse OF the
| negro race. The observation on which TIM
statement was based is doubtless accurate an'
penetrating. The proper way TO remove M
curse is not to present every head of family
with a model habitation, but to develop II
him the longing for wholesome, clcanly
intelligent Christian home" by education b!
the discipline of labor, by the encouragement
of thrift and the cultivation Of sclf-rclancc
That this leavcn is actively at work III man!
places is the testimony Of competent witnesses
and we are justified in believing that event
uallv it will leavcn the whole lump.
1t would have been cause for regret II III
Mohenk Conference had dissolved withou
hearing a frank avowal Of the fact that prcju
dice against the negro is not confined to South
ern States There is still large measure o
| intolerance on this side OF Mason and Dixon
line. which sometimes manifcsts itself IN so
cial contempt and occasionally in absolute
oppresson and President McIi and other
who held the mirror up 10 Northern natur
performed a valuable service.