The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-08-15
HOW TO SOLVE THE RACE
PROBLEM.

DR.. &c. Price, said in speech the
other day, that no single thing but com.
bination Of forces would solve the race
problem. His was strong plea for both
the Afro American and the South each il
indebted to the other for confidence long
since deferred by what seems to be racial
disintegration. He urges that the South
should concede to the Negro his full con
stitutional rights. This one thing is the
bone of contention. 1t is hinged upon
the previous condition Of the Negro, not
his present status, intellectually or ma.
terially. 1t is argued with one strong
voice that the Negro 10 incapable Of the
high civilization made possible by the
white man. TO refute this by precept or
oVertures, is now the unrelenting mission
of the race. Inmemorable examples may
be cited on the farm, in the school room,
in the machine shops, in fact in al the
.avenues Of professional life, to which the
race has the slightest inducement. But is
this all? Is it probable that the South
will repent Of ito sins when the possibili-
ties Of the race have been unquestionably
settled? Win 1t acknowledge merit and
moral worth to be the sacred conclusion
Of lofty ambition? No! No! The South
ls intelligent and promising but 1t is
downright mean. They have heard the
preaching OF the gospel but will not heed.
Grave conditions confront the South that
involve the civil and social status of that
section, and suppression. ostracism are
the most mOrdant Affections with which
to torture defenseless people. Educa
ton teaches man the power Of his being.
sets in motion his intellect and widens his
vocabulary concerning his surroundings
makes him sensitive Of his rights. Mid
the flashing rays of the vernal Sun in the
"Sunny South, the Negro is being taught
on the one hand, how to love the "Bleed.
ing Saviour and high literary attain
ments in colleges, and, on the other hand
that this is white mans government, and
that intelligence, visible in a black skin,
is discounted. What patriotismi All
logic that may be brought to bear upon
the conscience and the mind OF the South,
whose opposition to the Afro-American
is predicted upon q condition not the lax.
ity Of true citizenship, may quiet the sit
uation in certain quarters, but, reason and
impassioned theories are incompatible.
When the South acknowledges true man.
hood In the Negro, then will follow his
constitutional rights, otherwise it is
pearl In the fire. The Negro is and
always has been full Of patriotism, and
at the time when the government was in
danger, and peril rocked, and owing to
the mountainous burden almost fell upon
Its knees, the steel fingers Of the Afri-
can, saved the cornerstone Of American
liberty. Does 1t not seem strange "that
the letter killeth but the spirit maketh
aliveT The white people in the South
are hospitable, courteous and charitable
to the colored people, but the fear of Ne.
gro supremacy and the marvellous pro-
gress made by the race have produced no
small degree Of uneaslness. I would have
the race TO enter into the commercial
arena, establish business Of all kinds,
put his sons and daughters to work. We
cannot afford to be content, Put our
dimes into grocery stores, notions, grain
enterprises, etc. Organize joint stock
companies. Investments Of this kind will
help the country and solve the race
problem.