The People's friend., 1894-08-31
The Negro Problem in the United
States.
AN INTERESTING PAPER READ BE-
FORE THE MINISTERIAL Union
BY REV. j . H. VAN LUE, OF
TABERNACLE BAPTIST
CHURCH.

This question has been discussed
from the Dan to the Beersheba" oj
this country. Every now and then
we hear OF some one discussing and
cussing the Negro. from the legisla-
tive halls of the nation we are treated
occasionally to an elaborate disserta-
tion on the Negro problem and how
to solve it.
There are two ways to do a thing,
right way and wrong way. In
solving mathematical problems the
proper factors must be employed in
order to reach the desired end. and
"hat Is tue OF mathematical prob
lens is doubly true Of this great hu-
man question. The so called NEGRO
Problem," to my mind, is not half so
perpleXing as the question of anar-
chy that is striking at the very foun-
datlon of our government. and
among whom no Negroes are to be
not see the Christ in the lowly Naz-
arene, but their failure to do so end
ed them as nation. So it has been
with many; and may I not truthful
~ say that if this nation fails to see
or recognize the manhood that is
covered by the black skin, only in
tlme OF war. or as be may be used as
ladder to help some political aspi-
rant to climb up into office. But it
Will be seen even though this boast
nerate him for his labors, would
empty the L. S. treasury
Be not deceived, God is not mock
ed, for whatsoever man soweth
that shall he reap" This is the Ian
guage of the Holy Writ. Slavery
was great crime and the entire
country has been cursed by its
blighting influence, and ii there is a
-Aaese- problem now to be solved y-Irt
is but the reaping of what has BEEN |
sowed by the entire people of this |
country. 1t was predicted before
the war (Which brought about the
freedom of my people, that for every
drop of Negro blood spilled during
the days of slavery, that those who
were responsible for the institution
II the same would have to spill a. gal
lon-and L believe the prophesy was
literally verified. The Jews could
Some one is responsible for this
Negro problem and no one knows
better where the responsibility lies
than does the Anglo Saxon race of
TINS country. So long as the Ne
grOes' hands were tied, and his ewes
hood winked by the institution of
slavery, there appeared to be a kind
of peace, or at least there was no
problem; but from the south came
the cry, more Negroes" AS a slave
he was endured as servant, all II
mean the north and the south, were
satisfied. Is it so strange to the now
cultured mind of the Negro why he |
;an not be endured as citizen and
1reated as man? He has been, and
s yet being wronged by the Christ
an people Of America, and to right .
he wrongs done to him, and remu- s
lies tell us that not until the intro
1uction OF slavery did the settlements s
hat were established in this country t
and the truth stands out 1
7ery potent that the Negro was and ]
s a great factor in the making of {
his country. The north cannot boast
II itself against the south and saw {
hey had nothing to do with slavery. t
or all are alike guilty in bringing on {
his question which now seems to c
'erplex. | class race prejudice as a i
ull brother to slavery, and of the |
wO L sometimes think it to be the
more pernicious in its influence. On |
his question churches have split; 7
We have Northern Methodists and b
Methodists; Northern and n
southern Baptist Conventions and s
he Lord only knows what we will 7
ave before this question is finally Y
attled. O
Rev. j. H. Vanlue. Il