Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-07-23
PROF. CoUEO1LI's DECLARATIONS

Rev. w. II. CoUNCILL, Phi. D., (col- |
ored) president. of the Agricultural |
and Mechanical College, Normal, Ala.
has written an excellent article to the |
Chicago, ILL.,, NEW TIME, ssJune edition. |
Among the many excellent state
ments made he says:
ST know of no phase OF the Negro
question which has not been answered
to the satisfaction OF the higher Chris
tian intelligence OF the nation. He has
met every condition OF Christian civili-
cation. The man who would now cues
tion the Negroes capacity for citizen
ship, for letters and for industrial pur-
suits. would be put down as q badly in
formed person"
He speaks truly when he says:
1.-THE fact that the Negro is always put
opposite the Anglo-Saxon is no compli-
ment to the latter. 1t seems worse
than folly to make the silly compari-
sons so often seen in our public prints.
To expect the Negro in the third cen
tury of his civilization to exhibit the
quantity of force which the Anglo
Saxon does in the twentieth century of
his civilization, with ages of intelli-
gent energies behind him, would be as
logical as TO expect q 3-year-old child
TO lift against robust, stalwart giant
of twenty summers. However, it would
not be illogical TO assume that some
day that Syear-old boy will develop,
under similar conditions, the sinews
and strength of that young giant who
now turns him down with practically
no effort"
Prof. CouNcILL tells the whole truth
when he remarks:
Too much has been expected OF the
Negro in reforms which do not appeal
TO sensual man--reforms theological
in character and which rest entirely
upon deep moral sense and construct
J ed upon high intellectual basis.
His discussion of the colored mans
political status is true. He says:
1.-THE first twenty years of the Amer
lean Negroes freedom were spent in
what he considered q battle for the Sc
curitY of his liberty. He Thought lit
tie of any thing else, and regarded ev.
cry man with opposite political views
as an enemy, and was often a prey foI
cunning and designing persons who
would Halter his dreams or Islander
those who honestly differed from him
, This feeling of uneasiness and suspic
Ion about his freedom had complete
control of him-almost soul and body
a ghost while he was awake and Z
nightmare in his dreams"
: And again:
2 "This uneasiness and these suspi
cions, ghosts and nightmares, disap-
peared with the guarantee of security
N IL fraaN ~, foh
lands administration gave him. Tha
was the first time since the war that
= Democratic President had been elect.
G ed. Up to that time the masses Of tn,
: Negroes felt that the ascendencY o
Democracy into national power Nigh
mean the abrogation of the thirteenth
amendment. President Cleveland
first term being an index TO the wishe
OF the Democratic party on this point
: all fears of return to slavery were thor
= oughly wiped out-heavy burdens wer
lifted from the Negroes shoulders. Thi
new confidence in the integrity of tn
+ nation put new life into him, and b.
% went forth with force and power int
E new avenues of industry.
8 Prof. CoUNcILL says:
= Every character of business and ev
n Negro, whose taxable property is push
d ing close to q billion dollars. Out Q
a the security of liberty the 10000
: farms and homes. the sixty higher in
n situations OF learning, vast army c
8 teachers and ministers, 800 newspa
u pers, illustrated magazines, scores {
n well-written books, 200 lawyers, 90
10 doctors have come reAnement, exalte
t, sermons, able lectures, brainy, broad
D. liberal editorials touching the variou
II concerns of the race, and laying tbs
deep and solid foundation upon Whic
must be constructed the Brotherhood
, OF Man."
He declares:
m "The Negro is not . willFul, malicioU
Violater of the law, and 10 not q natu
raj criminal His violations OF la
7 have been the result OF ignorance, an
his blacklist criminality an imitation
Az . race in superior and oVershadOwiT
conditions. The Negro ia . genuiI
II American. he knows no other coui
Id try and is undivided in his devotion
a. the Stars and Stripes. NotwithstanC
ing the charge to the contrary. il r
mains fact that the Negro drinks lie
40 Intoxicating liquors than any 9th
sc class OF our citizens"
10 The above is startling statemen
1t Is nevertheless true.
The following is patriotic outbur
- Of race devotion and embraces truisn
"A IS eternal as the hills.
ia s'The Negro may be misrepresente
20 siandered, abused, hAttered, but he
p still one-seventh OF the nstion's nur
% erical strength, and holds the balan
Of power for good or i'll. He cannot
A counted out. He cannot be set asid
of He must be recognized. He is gro
at ing up-a young giant. His sinev
8: are hardened into steel-his heart
I'd growing brave and stout, His o.