Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-22
THE NEGRO PROBLEM.

educated Americans that Prof Bryce,
the author Of a book entitled "The
American Commonwealth, Is a man
thoroughly familiar with American
institutions. though n native OF the
British Islands. In the North
american Rerisi0 for December, he
has an article oil tho negro question
which Is attracting wide attention.
His thoughts aud opinions on this very
vexed subject are worthy Of serious
consideration, inasmuch as he Il, out
side Of any personal propossesslons or
political interests In the matter, and
his Insight, judgment aud impartiality
can not he impugned.
The Professor says that the problems
which foreign observers consider the
grnvsst ~ American issues are the
labor question, universal suffrage, aud
the position OF the negro In the South.
The one which he regards ~ most
urgent, most serious, and most dan
gerous Is that Of the colored people.
Compared with It the thriG, the cur
rency and the railway questions sink
into lnsignihcsnce.
In social life the negro IL now more
distinctly separated from the whites
than during slavery times. The law
prohibits intermarrihgo la nearly MI
the Southern States, oveu the Illicit
relations between the sexes which pre-
vailed in former days have almost
wholly disappeared.
In civil life the negro has had
equality on paper for the past twonty
year,, but he IL rigidly excluded from
all resorts frequeu,cI by whltee. He
Is rarely chosen for any political
office, even In States where he forms a
majority Of tho popul alton. "rho
Northern people seem just IA unwilling
~ the Southern people 10 have n negro
Ne, In post Of authority over them"
Mr.. Bryce asks three pertinent
questions: How Is the negro To be
clevated9 How IL the social antagonism
between the races To be lessened? How
are the anomalies and contradictions
OF the political position TO be overcome3
To the first he remarks: "It he tthe
negrol remains ignorant, uncultured /,
swAyod by passion rather than by rea
son, he can not but be- a source Of
danger, as well rs u reproach TO
Christian civilization"
To the second, Mr.. Brlce says race
antaeouism il not law Of nature, but
the sharp aud harsh social separation
which now exists is fraught with
trouble, and may become dangerous
when the weaker race has grown In
intelligence anJ courage.
OF the political anomalies aud con-
traJictiohs lac offers the following;
"Tho negroes have got tho suffrage,
which In America is tho source OF all
power. It has been aolcmnly guaran.
toed 10 them by the Constitutions aud
thoy arc no, suffered to enjoy It. Such u
situation has moro than one element OF
evil In It. Ills a standing breach OF tho
Constitution, standing violation Of that
respect for law which is tho very life
blood OF democratic institutions II Ia
calculated To provoke resentment and
disaiIcction on tho part Of more than
seven millions Of people. IL suspenda the
natural growth and play OF political par
ties nj tho South, forcing the negroes to
stick to one national party, irrespective
Of tho (oton moro Important To-
cal issue. which State polite. pro-
sont; forcing tho Southern whites
also TO hold together ~ one party ON ono
issue, instead Of dividing and regrouplnp
themselves according TO the questions
which the changing conditions OF thoii
country bring from time to time to tn,
front. Thus IL perpotuaio, seotlouallsm
grave mischief in national politics, even
! though the danger Of another secession
may have wholly passed away. And las
, " all, perhaps worst Of all, It accustomi
the Southern politicians, among whom
elections were at one timo purcr than th'
Northern cities, to course Of fraudulon
eyasions or perverslons OF the law aud o
good fhih which cannot hut distort thoi
y, own political conscience and undermln,
that citadel OF free government, faith II
the elective system and obedience to III,
decision " the majority. II voting cease
to be honestly managed, people vii
< cease to respect tho results ofa vote, ant
{ the community Is thrown back to the oil,
4 regime Of brute force"
Prof Bryce has travelled In tn
= South during the last two years, an,
a writes from personal knowledge oh
4 tained there. However, he think
y that Mississippi has struck the RICH
i key by Introducing an educational ties
Is for the franchise. He adds tho follow
1t ing significant sentences
u "If a stranger may express his view %
. point of domestic politics, I would sa
% that the solidlty OF tho South, 80 dl,
pleasing to many at the North, Is NOR
e likely to be broken mp by letting Ia
f" negro alone than by agitating for his pre-
Il tcstIon"
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