The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-15
MIR. ATKINSON AND THE NEGRO.

In letter which be recently addressed to
the Atlanta Constitution, Mr.. Atkinson dis
cusses at some length the condition of the
negro race in Georgia. This letter will be
found highly characteristic Of the section
from which il comes, in the attitude which
the writer assumes towards the negro ques-
ton as it is presented in the Southern States.
On all economic problems Mr.. Atkinson is
an authority entitled to the highest respect
from the ampleness of his knowledge, the
keenness of his discrimination and the
strength of his reasoning powers. When he
touches the negro question. however, CUES
ton which he has had no opportunity OF
studying in its practical bearings. he shows
the same ignorance which has rendered 80
worthless the views in this connection Of
other Northern writers. who are equally badly
informed on the subject. His promises being
defective and erroneous. his conclusions very
naturally rest upon an unsound foundation.
The limitations of his knowledge from
actual observation does not. however, in
fuence him to express himself with difiidence.
When you white men of the South he ex-
claims in his letter, who direct the press
and lead the politics of the Southern States,
really know anything about the negro, you
may then expect the colored voters to trust
you and to follow your leadership. At pres
ent you know the least about the negro,
because you have shut your eyes to the
facts"
In other words, Mr.. Atkinson and other
man IF ,,ropipapca ba North rpJarsfou1
the negro more thoroughly, although they
have had no opportunities of studying his
character, than men of equal intelligence at
the South whose lives have been passed in in
innate contact with the negro from their
childhood and who have been forced by the
overshadowing Importance of the problem
created by his presence to examine with
painful care into all the conditions of that
problem with a view TO it's proper solution.
This is the most curious phase of the North
ern attitude towards the Southern negro, the
cool assumption that the Southern whites are
ignorant and blind in their conception of
negro character, while the Northern whites.
very large proportion of whom have never
seen negro. are fully and accurately informed
as to that character
The very first law Of evidence is violated in
such an audacious assumption as this If Mr..
Atkinson were correct in the idea which he
has advanced the witnesses who are intro
duced into court would not be those who are
actual cosnizant OF the facts in question 10y
dii ect and prolonged observation. but those |
who have never had an oppori unity Of OBJ |
serving those facts at all. but who neverthe-
less. believe in spite Of reason and truth that |
they are competent TO testify.
That a man as accomplished as Mr.. Akin
son, and as practical in other branches of |
thought and inquiry should take so untenable
a position as this. is one Of the most curious
Of moral and -intellectual phenomena. II is
not confined TO himself. His opinion is
shared by the greater proportion Of the per-
sons in his section. however liberal and rea-
;onable they may be in other respects.
The same assumption Of superior knowl-
edge of the character Of the negro was OBJ
served before the war in all the Northern
to the slavery discussion. The
same spirit survives. but fortunately it is now
matter Of Indifference to the Southern
people, as they are fully determined TO deal
With the negro question according to the die
ates Of their own judgment without the
slightest attention to unenlightened advice
rom outside.