The Washington bee., 1899-05-27
RARA AVIS.

Ihe so-called negro problem or
more properly speaking the south
ern problem, scientifically consid.
cred, is probably the most impor-
tant, complex and interesting phase
of the vast domain of sociology.
Moreover, involving as it does the
life liberty property and prospects
Of over ten millions Of human
beings who were norD here and
whose ancestors have contributed
Drawn, valor wealth and blood
toward founding, protecting a d
maintaining American institutions
the problem is manifestly a very
serious one The broadest and
best minds and truest hearts
among the whites are seriously at
work striving to ascertain the cause
and discover and apply remedy
which will vindicate the doctrine
of christianity and the brother
hood of man. And this noble
work is Joined by few of our
colored ministers of the gospel who
are producing good results in favor
of our race. The bulk of our
ministers have done but little else
than to make matters worse by
skating around the surface of the
subject without ever reaching the
core, by Indifference, or by talking
like poll parrots upon occasions
when they are expected to talk
sense. An instance of this NAV be
seen IN report Of the remarks
made by a colored minister, named
billiard before the PRESBYTERIAN as
semb'y which met this week at Miu-
neappolis. MINI. Many important
questions were discussed, among
which was that of the condition of
the freedmen, or the race question.
Rev. Dillard, the report says, was
cheered and as the report publish
ed a part of the speech, we suppose
that it was that part which elected
the applause. 1t runs as follows:
"There are plenty of men in the
South who have more lung power
than brain power. With many of
them negro -ology is greater than
theology. Among some of them per.
spiration is more noticeable than
inspiration" This disgusting rot
was delivered concerning the color
ed people and before body of
ministers deeply interested in the
cause of the uplifting of manhood
and at time when a colored man
eould have and was expected to
have thrown some light upon
actual condition and offered some
for the relief of oppressed
brethren. But verify "fools rush
in where angels dare not tread"
and this Rev. billiard offers another
living proof of the forcefulress of
the adage. In the presence of a body
Of men whose lives are dedicated to
the grand and noble work of regen-
Grating mankind aid placing them
upon the high level of enlightened
and chris ian manhood and woman
hood we have the spectacle of a
colored man whose duty it is to
defend the honor and promote the
best interests of the race, indulg-
ing in buffoonery and smartisms
and emphasizing the false impress
sions which the whites have of our
real condition, efforts, hopes and
aspirations. 1t is indeed mortify-
ing and discouraging to race low
ing and striving colored preachers
to be thus misrepTesented. How
differently would Dr. Grimke have
handled the problem and spoken in
our defense The colored ministry
is in the main doing great work in
the amelionation of conditions as
they effect our people, but this act
at Minneapolis shows that We are
not sufficiently careful how we
select men to represent our interests
N the councils Of people whose
aim and purpose are to ascelttll the
ruth and deal with it intelligently