The San Francisco call., 1895-08-03
THE AFRO-AMERICANS.

The Afro-American Congress which has
been held during the week in this City has
disclosed many interesting and important
things. An observer at any of the meet
ings would have seen deep eomprehen-
sion of the position which the colored race
holds among the dominating whites of the
country, determination TO improve and
elevate the colored race, a high sense OF
patriotism and strong desire to share In
the benefits of our Government and civii-
zation. 1t has been exceedingly gratifying
to note that no bitterness for the white
race is cherished and that the colored race
wants nothing more in a political way than
the simple enjoyment of those rights which
the Nation is pledged to secure.
Many thoughtful and scholarly papers
on a wide variety Of matters affecting the
interests of the race were read, some OF the
ablest, brightest and most practical being
those by women. Among them was paper
by Mrs. Thomas Pearson of Oakland on the
aims of the home association for aged and
infirm negroes, which was organized in 1892
and now has $500 on hand, besides lot
given by George Montgomery at Beulah,
near Mills College. This is an enterprise
eminent1y worthy of assistance from per-
sons of whatever color who have means
and sense of humanity.
Among the salient political propositions
advanced have been these: The first is
that as the negroes hold the balance of
power between the two major parties they
are in position to use it for their benefit;
the second, either that the laws guarantee
ing full political rights to the negro be en-
forced in the South or that he be disfran
chised and the representation of the South
in Congress thus reduced; third, that the
hard times which have overtaken the coun-
try and fallen with peculiar force upon
the colored race are the result of Demo-
cratic misrule and free trade.
With regard to the second of these prop
ositions it is altogether unlikely that the
negroes as body will consent to disfran-
chisement, as there is a danger that such
consent would be construed into confes-
sion of their inability to solve the problem
in the end. During the last few years a
great wave of energy in the task of edu-
eating the children of the race has been
spreading over the country, for the edu-
Gated negro knows what independence and
power knowledge secures to its possessor.
Education, and that alone will eventually
solve the problem peacefully and forever.
In this country education, wealth ana good
behavior, enjoyed either separately or to-
gether, constitute the real causes which ac-
count for the presence of classes.
The negro, unlike the Oriental is not an
alien. Not only is he politically equal
to the white man. but when he is either
educated, wealthy or well behaved, he
commands respect and wields an influence.
More than that, he is thoroughly assimil-
able and assimilated, knows no life or Gus
tom different from that of the white race,
and best of all, has sweetness of temper,
kindliness, a geniality, an unselfishness,
devotion to friends unequaled in any
other race of the world.
Therefore, negroes shouldnot be regarded
belonging to class for racial reasons.
They certainly do not either in political
or an alien sense. This brings up the great
question as to whether or not they should
regard themselves as a class, whether that
is the highest expression of citizenship and
patriotism, and whether it would not be
best for them to depend solely, as all citi-
zens should, on individual merit, and ac-
cept the right and expediency OF discour-
aging any tendency to constitute them
class. The existence of classes means
separation of tastes and pursuits. and ex-
clusion is its manifestation. As the ne
groes constitute only twelfth of the
country's population, it might be well for
them to consider seriously the wisdom of
recognizing any principle that would bring
exclusion to operate against them.