The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-10
Incapable of any high degree of civiliza-

incapable of any high degree of civiliza-
ton.
IF Providence means by this process
to solve the negro question, it would be
a futile task to oppose it. But cannot
lend myself to the belief that God gives
sanction to evil, even though it be that
good will eventually come of it.
know that Providence has often over
ruled sin and diverted its results into the
the channels of good. The adulterous
and violent conduct of David, which Ill
timated in the union of Bathsheba, had
as it's final outcome that genealogical
product, Christ, the Savior of men; but
the sin from which such good came at
last was paid for by the lifelong peni-
tence and punishment of the criminal
himself. SO, if amalgamation, in the
most hopeful view of it, means the ulti-
mate good of our race, those who prac-
tee it now must pay for their sin by
their own prostitution, and by the abase-
ment and moral deflement of their inn
mediate offspring,
THE negro in America has, as has
been stated, been in process of amalga-
nation for all the years of his residence
in this country. This amalgamation has
gone on under the most unfavorabIe con-
ment which at least affected to condemn
aud discourage it, 1t has gone on until
the best and most discriminating OBJ
servers in the south affirm that there are
left but two millions of pure unmixed
Africans out of the more than eight
millions Of this race in this country.
In the light of these facts is it ra-
tional to. suppose that the American
negro will continue a negro? Is it not
inevitable that in the course Of time he
will lose his distinctive color and become
practically a caucasian? The fact, as
we have shown, is already partially ac-
complished and every present indication
points to its total consummation in the
process of time.
There is no chronological reason why
the negro may not reach the highest
material and intellectual civilization if
his environment could be favorable.
But so far as the negro in America
is concerned, it is impossible now to
make the experiment The unmixed
African constitutes but a small proper
ton of the American negroes, and the
proportion will grow smaller as the years
pass away.
Painful though these facts may be,
we must look them in the face and deal
with them as we find them. While /
would arrest further amalgamation,
know such a hope is chimerical There
is almost enough white blood coursing
the American negroes veins to-day to
caucsaniZe the whole race without fur
Their admixture, if that blood were gem
orally distributed"
On the question of intermarrige, the
bishop states that he is opposed to it at
the present time. The intense prejudice
at the South, he states, would imperil
the life of any one who attempted such
thing. The intelligent and educated
people of his race, he says, are opposed
to intermarriage. Like all other qucs-
tions, he says, it will solve itself in the
run of years.
Finally, the bishop makes powerful
plea for the people of his race. lie
pleads their low lines, their helplessness,
their ignorance, but maintains that with
al they can with right treatment come
10 "a plane of high and useful citizenship.
He pleads for the civil rights of the
negro and begs that he be given his dues
at the ballot box.
The book of the bishop, although
brief, is comprehensive. 1t touches ev-
cry phase of negro development and
history. Aside from the amalgamatiOn
feature the book is an exceptionally
strong one and is destined to have its
effect on the future of the race of which
Bishop Gaines is an eminent representa-
tive and exponent.
ROBERT ADAMSON.