The Afro-American., 1896-06-27
NEGROPH0BIA.
Part Of an Article BY Dr.. T. ]. Morgan
Violence to be Avoided.

! be to light for them. Justice some
times waits on slaughter, and liberty
on victory.
1t would be iDexpressibly sad if the
! conclusion should be forced upon US
in this country of liberty and of en-
| lightenment that the Negro would be
compelled to achieve his complete
emancipation by force:
No one doubts his right to defend
his person, his family and his homie
against unlawful assault: and it may
be that unless he manifests q willing
ness to fight, he never can become
free.
Let us hope, however, tt at the in
herent justice of his claim to the treat
ment that belongs to manhood, fO"ti-
fed and emphasized by thrift, in
dustry and wUrth1ness Of character,
may secure for him without VIOLENCE
that which belongs to him as an
American citizen.
Social equality Is not a question of
law nor Of cOmpulsion, but of taste
and inclination.
The Negro has no right to demand
nor will he himself concede any claims
for social consideration based upon
any other than social merits.
His political rights, however, he
may claim under the Constitution,
and the right. to earn a living and to
have the reward of his labor, he may
claim under higher law than the
ConstitutiOn-th the law of immutable
right.
"Whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap
The time is already approaching
when the unreasOnipg prejudice
against any class of people shall cease
to work injustice, and When the polit
ical philosophy of equal manhood and
the Divine teaching of the Father
hood of God, and the brotherhood of
man, shall efface any arbitrary, un
reasoning, harmful lines that separate
one class OF American citizens from
another.
NEGRO PATIENCE.
One of the most noticeable facts in
regards to the relation of the races is
the rnre patience aud self control thus
far exhibited by the Negroes under
the most exasperating circumstances.
During the days of slavery, they
were, for the most part, obedtent,
trustworthy, and faithful; lnsurrec-
tons were unheard of, and aces Of
ravenge unknown.
Here and there a slave, more resO
lutte and adventurous than his follows
escaped from slavery and found refuge
in the North.
During the war, notwithstanding
they generally understood that slav
cry hung in the balance and that the
welfare of the slave was conditioned
OH the success of the Union arms,
most of them remained patiently on
the plantation, tOiling for their alb
sent masters, who were in the Sou
thern army, fighting to render slavery
permanent, and by their tender sOlic-
itude for the white women and chil-
dren entrusted to them, awakened
the wonder of the South at their mag
nanimity and fidelity.
They have, in most instances, qui-
etly submitted to the injustice and
cruelty Of the mObs, who have, on
mere suspicion of wrong doing, put
hundreds of them to cruel death, and
with only q mild protest have allow
ed themselves to be robbed of their
political rights and privileges.
GROWTH OF PUBLIC oPINIoy.
In spire of all obstacles, there has
been a steady growth of wealth, Gull
ture. self-respect and power among
them, and with it bas come q grow
ing cOnciOusness of the wrongs they
have suffered, and an increasing de-
mapd for a recognition of heir rights.
There is also, if we mistake net, a
steady change taking place in the
minds of thoughtful white people,
North and South, regarding .em.
Privileges are cheFrfully conceded
to-day which fifty years ago would
have been regrded as impossible.
Perhaps it is not too much to pre-
dict that public sentiment, which
moves in right directions with accel-
Grated ratio will in another half cent
ury, without violence, concede to
them every right and privilege of
every kind of which they are worthy.
In this discussion it is worthy of
note that the continuance of an un-
reasoning prejudice against the Ne
groes will work injury not Only to
them, but to the white people as well.
No class of people can cherish IRA
tional sentiments toward another,
without themselves being thereby
corrupted.
The eight million Negroes of this
country, destined to become fifty mil
lions at no distant day will of neees- |
sity exert an influence of increasing
potency. upon the welfare and pro-
gress of the Republic.
If they are kept down they will
drag their oppressors to their own
level; if they are permitted to rise,
socially, industrialIy, intellectually, |
religiously, politically, they will |
Il, ~
responding advancement in all re-
spects on the part of all their white fell
low citizens Of even the lowest class.
We are solidarity, and what affects |
one class must, Of necessity, affect all
classes.
Injustice will work diIaster, while
iustice will promote the public wei t
are. The Home Mission Monthly.
Alumni messing,