The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-12-09
THE NEGRO IN THE SOUTH.
HIS CONDITION AND PROS.
PECTS AS A CITIZEN.
THE VIEW S OF JUDGE Ii. G. TURLEY,
MISSISSIPPI REPUBLICAN
LEADER.

St. LOUIS GlODe-BenOcFdt.
NATCHEz, Miss, Nov. lois the
negro progressing? Has he bettered
his condition? What hopeful outlook
is there, If any, for his future citizen
ship? These and kindred inquiries
have been propounded so often; such
an eager interest is einced and there
having been, in reality, 50 little light
thrown on the subject, it would seem
a timely topic. What has been writ
ten relating to the condition OF the
Southern negro is, as rule the spO-
radio result of campaign antagonisms,
or an outgrowth Of bitter sectional
prejudice. What is desired Is a fair,
dispassionatc. c.unprejudiced view of the
man of color in his present condition.
as compared with that Of his past.
Now here lies a difficulty. Our
friend Of the North-D0 matter how
honestly and earnestly lie may desire
to do so-can form no accurate esti.
mate OF those conditions. This is be-
because OF the fact that he must un-
dcrstand the character and environ
ments OF the race before he is enabled
to In any degree, estimate conditions.
No hurried tour, not even an Observa-
tion OF weeks, or a few months, will
equip him with knowledge sufficient
for correct opinions. He must "live.
move and have his being" among such
people for years. He must see them
in all the relations OF life. He must
not only know their habits and GUS
toms, but, as nearly as It may be pos
sible, their opinions and very thoughts.
The native white man Of the South,
however honest and intelligent, is
handicapped by heredity prejudice, by
local usages, by a provincial view and
by Il nearness-if you will allOw-to
the object. Let it first be clearly un.
derstood that we are to consider the
Southern negro ''in the lump" and,
also, that there are many notable ex.
ceptions to the rule.
The Southern negro as a slave was
simply a 'bcast OF burden" with
sufficient development of the reason.
lug faculty to be the newer Of wood
and drawer Of water. He was the
most valuable by far OF any Other
class of live stock and received the
care to which stock OF such value was
reasonably entitled. Physically onl,
was he man. Mentally he was en-
bry0nic. He was trained from infan
cy to perform certain simple duties re
quiring usually large degree OF phys
ical capacity and but little menta
ability. II a field hand he was taught
to plough, hoe. chop and the like. l
intended for a house servant he knew
little or nothing Of field work, saw,
through observation.
This condition Of things continues
for a period sufficiently long to In
huence lleredity and he had becom
a creature peculiarly adapted for la
Dor. He went at 1t just as NATURAL
as a young bird dog islands" quai
on his first "0nd." He has no caus
to think, except for the performanc
Of his simple functions. Profit an
loss were mysteries beyond his ken O
care. Debit and credit he knew moth
Ing OF. The "master" and "overseer
did all the thinking for him.
The civil war came and went, leav
Ing him q social waif, an intellectua
infant, but grand specimen Of phys
ical culture; q helpless creature, on
would suppose, In the struggle wncr.
Intelligence necessarily controlled
events. Ills natural impulse was z
llcan upon Bic former master ant
4 aulde, lust u ths Impulse OF bis erst
] wSlle owser was 70 LOOK 70 him 10