The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-28

us aus lueal IS constantly heuneu
Into a Higher Per1cction-In the
Case of the Negro There Must Be
Careful Re-reading and Re-
Interpretation of American His
tory.
Rev. II. 4. Grant b. D.. at the How
ard Place A. NJ f.. church yesterday
morning delivered the second address
upon the emancipation of the negro
10 large audience. In part he said:
Men and nations follow the lead ~
thCn ideals as surely as effect follows
cause, because no man or race Of mpl.
can attain a higher degree Of pnrfcc-
tion than is represented in their con.
ception of perfection as possible for
them.
This ideal. this shadowy something
ihat bcCkons them on and unahants
them into an enthusiastic pursuit, ~
der normal conditions, ALWAYS as
sumeS the race type of the individual,
or individuals under it's spel--an
anthromorphic meeting of the spirit
ual with the physical for the regenerl-
tion or Gf abnOrmaD the degeneration
of the individual or race of individ-
uals.
Herein is found its well-nigh mir
aculOus transforming power. TO the
Hebrew, it becomes a Hebrew: to the
Japanese, it becomes a japanese to
the Anglo-SaXOn an AnElo-Savon;
and twhy not?) to the negro a negro?
In other words, each race in its pur-
suit of perfection as represented by its
race type, not only becomes more
nearly perfect as its ideal is constant
ly refined into a higher perfection bv
the touch of civilization, but it also
becomes more compact in it's interests:
because, that that attracts is itself
transfigured. Hence. the Hebrew at
tains nobler Hebrew manhood: the
Japanese, "A noblcr japanese manhood;
| the Anglo Saxon. nobler Anglo Sax
| on manhood; and Cwhy not0 the ne
gro a nobler negro manhood?
MUST TDEALIzE ITSELF.
History abundantly confirms this
| fact. Without exception every race
that has made any contribution to civ
| ilizatOn has idealized itself-indec1.
| has idoized itself-and has embodied
| in it's race type all the attributes Of
| perfection.
"Waiving any further consideration
of this phase of the subject, the more
| important question, How shall the
| blow that is to sever the chain of Il
| false ideal, be directed so as to be
| most effective in Fastening his third
| and final emancipation?'
The answer is not far to seek The
! school of slavery welded this chain up
! on his limbs; the school of freedom
| must break it. First, there must be
a careful re-reading and re-interpreta-
| tion Of the worlds history, and espc-
| cially of American history, by those
who are charged with the high calling
| of educating the negro youth from the
| pulpit, from the editors chair, on the
| platform, and in the class room, that
| a clearer vision may be theirs as to
| the steps marking the progress of civ
| ilization: that they may see the zigzag
| paths along which all civilized races
have gradually marched into a grand
| er life.
| Thus will they be encouraged to
take up anew the peaceable fight for
their own races ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
strong in the knowledge that theirs is
no more difficult a conflict than that
through which others have success
fully fought,
\ GREAT MENACE.
"Themselves having been made free
| by dispassionate study Of the facts
of history, they will then be able to
inaugurate campaigns looking toward
the freedom of their less fortunate
fellows; second, by teaching patriot
ism-love of country. but another
expression for love of race. A
man without patriotism is man
without a country, without country
men-an anarchist. The negro lead
er CD who would not sing his national
anthems, who would not honor the
flag. because this is not an ideal re-
public whose only rule is the golden
rule. is Il greater menace than his
| races most rabid enemy.
This country is indeed the land of
the free and the home of the brave
for all that can accept and follow it's
political mot its raceD ideal. Herein
is found its unsurpassed advantage
that makes it i'm fact a Cynosure Of the
eyes of the oppressed of all races; for
within its larger freedom there is am
pie room for the Cherishing Of the re-
spective race ideal of it's citizens
without any conflict with its conception
of government FOR the people, by the
people
| Nov, then, the negrO's supreme
need is a mount Of race transfgura-
tion, where he may behold a vision of
perfect manhood under the gusr of
his race-type, Then will he, a free
man, see his liberator-an intra racial
ideal. May his leaders have the Wis
dom and the courage straightway to
lead him up thither.