New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL.
DR. BROUGHTONs SERMON.
EXCEPTION TAKEN TO HIS STATEMENTS RE-
GARDING THE NEGRO.

GARDING THE NEGRO.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Many here at Mortified were greatly disip-
pointed when read In The Tribune last Monday
morning the stand taken by DR. Broughton. OF At
larta Ga who preached in the Hanson Plscs
Baptist Church Brooklyn, the subject Of Chris
tan Citizenship and the Negro Problem 20 far
as we can see. this man OF Cod this preacher Of
righteousness and holiness. has said very little
more upon this vexed question than Nh Tilma7+
might have said. who makes no pretence 70 speak
for God or for Gods people. Dr. Broushton claims
that the ignorant black man OF the South must Do
eliminated from politics But what % ignorant'
white men? There are doubtless few such in
the South. What Of the votes q these men? Is
the vote OF an ignorant black man more corrupt
ing than the vote Of an ignorant white man? This
man OF God this preacher n, righteousness. sets w
two standards OF citizenship Negroes must be re-
CURED to come UP to an Ideal educational stand
ard. The very class who kept the negro In igno-
rance for ages is to be the Judge OF his qualhca-
ton from an educational standpoint This, how
ever is not enough; the negro must add TO II
moral oualihcatloTl-a new element In politics.
Other men In the South. North, East and West
may vote regardless Of their moral standing but
the negro must have this standard set up for him
exclusively thereby requiring Of the negro more
than IS asked from any other voters
Dr. BroUghton's statement that the black man
has no political conscience cuts backward. He
saw, they sell their votes 70 the highest bidder.
Yes but who are the buyers? There must be
host of buyers both high and low. II the negro
knows enough 10 sell only 10 the highest buyer.
II DR. Brouzhton would remain In the south ana
corvert the buyers he will not be much troubled
with the sellers Doubtless the demand and supply
are about equal al this time. Diminish the de-
mand and the supply will naturally decrease. DR.
Broughton falls into a great mistake when ne says
that the people Of the North do not know now
grossly immoral the masses Of the colored people OK
the South are. The people OF the North are not an
ignorant class. They have eyes, and can oo'h
read and observe They have known that these
people have been kept in Ignorance for 80 years:
and that they have been by force morally desrahed
beyond any people OF whom history tells. and why
should they not know that these people are I'M
moral? The people Of the North know this, and BY
their prayers and gifts have shown their GodhSe
sympathy and brotherly interest in them
Now, DR.. Broughton becomes very exact, ana
tells US that rs per OF the crimes Of the South
are committed by negroes. Yes. ana oY present
methods are Just as prepared 70 near Dr.
Broughton say that SO $40 per cent OF the crime OF
the South is committed by negroes Negroes are
punished for crimes which in white men are no
crimes or they are imprisoned without the excuse
Of crime Courts are in the hands OF one class
alone Statistics are gathered By one class alone
and arranged 10 suit the needs OF the case. les,
why not say at once that negroes committed ~ 81"
per cent OF all the crime in the South but be sure
n
show that they are still human, although approach
ing the angelic state in some places In the south!
But sobery speaking upon this awful ana pam
tll subject OF immortality. which DR.. Broughton
speaks OF with such ease, Is the black man mo
only leper OF this type? Are not white men I'M
moral? IL not. whence the four million riuIattoss
and octoroons? DR.. Broughton says that IN soutn
Carolina the ballot has been taken away from uo
negro: that the negro is thus happy IN ms Se@,e.
This is a misleading statement True, the peios
has been taken away from the black man. plt ne
Is far from happy. He Is not even content Inete
ia steady exodus from the State. The least that
we could have expected DR.. broughton 10 naVe
done was 70 have been strictly truthful In ms state
ments Of fact. The Tribune reports Dr. sroush,pn
as saving: south Carolina was a state wheFe the
colorsd men were the happiest and most pros
nerous. where there no lynchings. ana 70
which there was a steady exodus Of negroes from
other States" Now. this statement Is absolutely
false in the face OF the fact that fourteen negroes
were lynched AZ Phoenix. 5. g, last November.
VIII the Doctor look up his history as 20 eN-fost.
master Baker and his family and others. lynched
in South Carolina, where negroes are so nappy
and prosperous ,,.,- -.t..,,
IN educate the negro will come with better grace
when he can eSpound the Gospel OF Christ IN .
more correct and broader spirit. -,
The negro Is a man. He Is citizen. he Gains
c,tizenship with all It's rights this much ano noun
ing more Try this, and give him time ana oppVr-
tunity 10 advance. and he Will prove himsei 70 De
A faithful and loyal citizen in the future a. ne gas
in the past. - n rsaa a. -A