Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-22
VITALITY OF THE NEGRO
Data That Show the Race Will Maintain
Itself.
The Birth Rate Higher Than That of
the Whites and the Death Rate
Steadily Diminishing.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:


The article in The Star recently, quoted
from the Medical Record. is of vital con-
Germ to the colored population of the United
States. The belief is quite general that the
negro is doomed to follow in the wake of
the Indian, the Hawaiian, the Australian
and other barbarous races that have bean
touched with the bliShting breath of civili-
cation. 1t seems to be a universal principle
that primitive races lose their physical
vitality when brought into contact with a
higher order of development. julius Caesar
accounts for the bravery and physical
prowess Of certain tribe of Gauls by the
fact that they were farthest removed from
the communicating influences of Roman re-
fnement. With some such preconceived no
tior the same theory of physical deteriora-
ton is applied TO the cOlored race, however
variant 1t may he with the facts of OBJ
scrvatiOn. 1t is amazing to notice WITH
what case and assurance conclusions are
reached on this most complex of social
problems. Lack of knowledge and informa-
ton seem in no way to affect the definite
ness or firmnesS of tenure of the opinion
entertained. Even men of the scientific
spirit and method, who are accustomed to
sift, weigh, dnalyZe and balance facts and
arguments before espousng theory based
upon them, rush headlOng to conclusions
upon the negro question. with the needless
ness and avidity of school boys in an
L
dence brought forward by the Medical
Record and other high authorities to show
that the colored race is on the verge of
physical collapse would not be convincing
to the same class of minds upon single
other subject within the range of sociologi-
cal inquiry.
l can find only three facts upon which is
based the belief in the physical decline Of
the colored race:
!. During the regime of slavery the
negro was a hale, hearty, vigorous crea-
ture, but since emancipation he has be-
come subject to numerous physical dis
orders and an Unfortunately high death rate.
The fact seems to be overlooked that the
violent overthrow of long-Standing in
dustrial and social order must necessarily
lead to moral confusion and physical dis
tress but as there is no continuing cause
the effect will be only temporary and tran
sitional.
.. The eleventh census does not show as
high a rate of increase for the colored pop
ulation as was anticipated. The accuracy
of the eleventh census is widely controvert-
ed. No theory, therefore, which rests upon
this enumeration can escape the suspicion
which attaches to its documentary basis.
On the appearance of each census since
1860 public opinion as to the destiny of the
colored population has swung from one
treme to the other with pendular regular
lty. So confidently may We rely upon this
decennal alienation of opinion that
may predict with assurance that there will
be a reversal of the present belief upon the
appearance of the census of 1900.
3. The vital statistics of the cities so far
as they have been studied show that the
death rate of theJ colOred race exceeds that
of the white in the ratio of eight to five.
These facts are indeed alarming, but that
they do not establish the theory sought to
be based upon them let the following ar
guments show: % u
/. The birth rate, as we'll as the death
rate is factor in the vital product I'm
fortunately there are no trustworthy data
as to the birth rate of the colored race.
Still it is known that 1t must be very high
as compared with that of the whites. Even
If we grant the accuracy of the eleventh
census, still we find that the rate of in
crease for the colored race slightly exceed
ed that of the whites for the decade 1880
to. 1890. Deducttng the number of immi-
grants for the period we find:
Rate of increase per thousand
Colored ........ .................... 1901
3. The death rate Of the colored race has
not been proved to be higher than that of
a corresponding class of whites subject to
the same moral and social environments.
Dr. John s. Billings commenting upon the
vital statistics of the tenth census says:
"If we could separate the vital statistics of
the poor and ignorant whites, the tenement
house population of our northern cities,
from those of the mass of the white popu-
lation we should undoubtedly find a high
rate of mortality in this class"
). Is the death rate for the cities sus-
tanned throughout the rural districts?
Luckily the census of 1880 gives complete
answer to this question.
Death rate per thousand. 1850