The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-12
the xEe no PROBLEM.
Gen. Rosser and MIR. Lewis Blair Talk on
the Subject.

tohmtfciai A1FcftistfS a"N "'''~'o '
who answer the question, What shall
we do with hlm?" one Elizabeth Cady
Stanton. the well-known writer; Maurice
Thompson, author and Southerner; T.
Thomas Fortune, colored journalist; Clark
Howell. of the Atlanta Constitution; John
swinton. journalist and reformer; Profess
sor Scarborough (colored), OF the Wiioer-
force University; Mr.. Lewis II. Blair.
Of this city and General Thomas ]. Ros-
ser, Of Virginia
Mr.. Blair has the following TO say:
oThough the South must solve the
negro problem II ever solved. the North
must lead the way. The North, however.
must act equity as well as preach equity
for the negro IL the South is TO tollow'
Its many negroes make the race prop
lem a difficult one for the South under
the most favorable circumstances Inc
South. therefore, is not wholly plana-
bic for displaying toward the negro mucn
of the darker side Of humanity. Inc lew
negroes North, however, reduce inc race
nrohIem 70 zero and make the North's
determination against them tneXcusapie'
Yet. Notwithstanding It's slight teihp.a-
lions the North treats the negro Win
manifold injustice. Thus In great cosIno-
politan New York, where, II anywhere
Justice might be expected, the negro may
not satisfy hunger at best notes. may
not quench thirst at leading saloons may
not crafty taste al fashlonaDie opera,
NAV not comfort stricken conscience at
STYLISH church. He may join neither
lodge. union. post. club. guild nor eX-
change; may follow neither trades nor
mechanical arts may drive neither pub
lie cab nor public truck; may not even
dig the public streets: may follow only
degrading. mental and ill-paid pursuits
his welfare hindered and his MANHOOD
affronted at every step. or with rev eN-
ceptions. He is never safe from insults
or even violence. and his wrongs fire.
ouently wait redress till the great asslZe
where all wrongs are supposed 10 De
riehted and all wrongdoers punished'
The mob. too. sometimes Port jews
June l. 1892. for example) seizes him Tor
sacrifice. and outraged justice 1olus Hs
hands in helplessness or 1ndliIerehce'
'1f the North desires the elevation 81
the negro it must clear its skirts mus
tice Is excusable nowhere and TO NOBODY
but ifthe South is inexcusable. the North IS
treblv inexcusable because the natural
termination to Cypress the inferior race Is
ever present and ever strnog South, WINE
such natural temptation scarcely exists
North. SO long, therefore, as injustice 10
negroes. whether positive, such as Nlo-
lepce or negative. such as denial or cur
tail of rights. prevails North, elevation IS
well nigh impossible. because one wrong
North will be made 10 JUSTIFY nun
dreds South, one outrage North be maze
10 Justify thousands South. and one lynch
l.. to f.c.ffr Immune HE
lynchings South A heavy responsibility
rests upon the North, whose temptations
are few. to treat the negro not only just
" but generously, not only to pla, 10
| impediments in but to take them out OF
| his path. not only not to cOldy leave
| him to work out his own salvation, but
| 20 extend fraternity, helping, sympathetic
| hands When the North thus 'tcts, IT
| may then with hope appeal to the South
to do likewise. but until the North does
so act the most fervent, eloquent. patri-
otic appeals will fall upon cold hearts and
deaf ears, and the negro will remain help
| less, degraded, oppressed, a disgrace 10
! American Christianity and blot upon
| American civilization.
Gen. Thomas l.. ROsser has the follow
| ing TO say:
"The material OF the mental as well
1
cannot be refined and perfected. II may
be improved. but it cannot be refined,
highly tempered and elegantly furnished,
| and all effort 10 elevate the negro con-
! fronts the fact that grapes are not gath
| cred from thorns Of figs from thistles,'
| and 10 degree Of cultivation viii or can
make a negro a gentleman.
IF the white and black races remain
| together in the South, or anywhere else
| in the United States, the white race viii
| sooner or later enslave or eXterminate
the black one, and while the negro Will
| never again be chattel as i'm days Of
! slavery, he VIII become a peasant OF
| low degree, and will again obey and
serve the white lord Of the manor.
THE two races can never blend by
| mutual absorption. miscegenation is
an utter impossibility. and the line Of
| demarkation between the white and black
| races Is cutting deeper and wider every
| dag, so that the chasm between them
| Will soon be great gulf' which none
can cross. Now and then the bottom stra-
! tum Of the white race viii mingle with
/ the upper stratum OF the black race. but
| this Is less frequent every year. and while
the amalgamated offspring is seldom rear
! ed. If he or she grows up 10 manhood or
! womanhood 1t is only for a life Of shame
| or crime. and the seed are destroyed in
the second or third generation, leaving
| no posterity.
shall we set apart or acquire a ter
| ritory and remove all our colored citizens
| to il and keep them to Themselves
| Unhestatingly, l answer no. Ii would be
| treating them most cruelty
| placed on to govern themselves. they
would soon relapse into barbarsm and
| become far more annoying 10 their neigh
| bors and burdensome TO the Government
! than the Indians ever were: and besides
| they would soon indulge in such ex-
| cesses Of crime and lawlessness that they
| would have to be placed under a
strict police Of military surveillance I'M
| der which they would soon lose every
| capacity of or desire for citizenship.
If the negro is not interfered with by
the machine politicians, he will re-
main where ne now is-in the Southland
! though a great burden to the Southern
| humanely, even sympatheticalIy. but
| never on terms Of equality.
The negro Is now living in Incidence
and peace in the South. and his present
status will not be disturbed I'm this gene
ration, but when the old master and the
| old slave are gone there will be no bond
| of personal sympathy left between the
races and then ! greatly doubt that the
| two races "can be carried in peace with
| equal civil and political rights on the
| American soil"
p cperty transfers.
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