The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-05
The Wessenwer.
A BRIEF STUDY OF AN OLD
SUBJECT.

He appears in print often, and, like his
speeches, he is wise and discreet and
sincere in what he writes. His one
theme is the race question, which he
treats with sobriety, good sense and
candor He is by no means a defender
of slavery in the south, but he has too
much discernment not to see something
of it's blessings to his race and benefits
to humanity. He believes that south
ern slavery laid the foundation for the
solution of the problem now before the
south; that the negro once taught all
trades for his masters use or benefit,
should now learn them for his own and
his country's, and so bring his mental
strength to bear upon the present phys
ical conditions in the south. Meantime,
he must keep a strong and courageous
heart, and not believe that he can make
short cuts, or can better himself by any
process of mere mental gymnastics or
oratory. In Mr.. Washington's opinion
the south will gradually reach the point
where it will desire an educational or
property qualification, or both, applying
to both races" If it were not for dem
aCogues of the Pritchard, Russell, But
le., Pearson kind there could be a wise
and Just solution that would tend to
TIE benefit of both races and to the
prosperity of the whole country. I'm
fortunately while among the darker
race there are sagacious, frank and
able men who advocate measures that
are for the uplifting and happiness of
their people, and for the safety and
peace of society, there are some prom
inent negroes who are incendiaries and
enemies Of both races, although ignor-
antly as to the negroes, and who are
even injecting into the negro mine sug-
gestions of evil that If acted upon gen.
orally woul end in a race wal and in
the final expulsion of the negroes from
the south. Then there are the white
office-seekers n suckers who are
mean and devilish enough to SO act as
to provoke race strife, and all to retain
or obtain office. Literally they are the
public enemies of the state. and are
breeders of strife and sewers of seeds
of discord and violence between the
races.
The Messenger has had so much oc-
casion to write of the negro question
within a year or two it has become
rather fiat and insipid. But constantly
there are utterances and published
opinion that invite attention and pro-
yoke Just now the att >ntion
is directed northward. In New York
and Pennsylvania the race question and
all tia attends upon the large influx
of negroes into those states, have
awakened public attention and much
is written in ~nSequen of the de-
velopments. The Messenger two or
three weeks ago directed attention to
the complaints of the Philadelphia press
to the disproportion Of crimein that
city among negroes when their num-
bers were considered. The New York
Morning Telegraph has been doing
some very positive and sharp writing
as to crimes among the blacks. We
give a sample that readers of the Mes
senger may see how emphatic and
forceful northern newspapers can be
when they handle the at their
own doors. The Telegraph says:
One of the most perplexing problems
that confrontS the police department OF
any American metropolis is how to cope
with the negro criminals. The great
est curse of every great city is its col
ored population. These black brutes
add nothing ito the material progress
or aggregate wealth of any community
but, instead, are a considerable tax on
municipal and a constant
menace to the peace and prosperity OF
Caucasian citizens. It is the verdict of
police officials that, while possibly
there may be some good ~Senegambians
they are all in the defunct condition of
good Indians. Nothing else serves so
we'll to insure the good behavior of the
black brother as six feet Of good, heavy
soil above his carcass. Their purpose
in the economy of nature is palmer
when it is said that they make an ex-
cellent fertilizer. No prettier or more
satisfying sight can we'll be imagined
than the flowers of Spring blooming
above the grave of a negro.
Police statistics show a startling in
crease of the ratio of crime as relating
to the black race. The d~emoralizing
effect of such a debasing element can
zee be conceived from figures. The
. is a constitutional ~incendiary,
Nine-tenths of the arson crimes
ged against him.. His inclina-
, theft is innate, and skill in the
liter of stealing is regarded as a vir-
Tue by most of the race"
That is far too sweeping and de-
mandatory. 1t fails to discriminate.
AS the Messenger has again and again
stated, there are two elements or class
es among the negroes ~proper-the kind
ly, affectionate, faithful, sober, well
meaning class, and the low, vicious, un-
principled, saucy, bullying, dangerous
class. Southern whites perfectly TN
derstand this and govern themselves
accordingly" The 'cOlored' folks are
not included. For the most part they
are decent, we'll behaved, intelligent,
not given to the dark crimes, fond Of
official grub, but self-respecting in the
main. There are not many Tom Mil
lers among them, but when revolutions
set in the Toms are politely invited to
pack and go and keep going. There are
signs visible that the youth of the "yel-
low" class in Wilmington are not as re-
spectful and we'll behaved as their par
ents should compel them to be. But
the Telegraph's onslaught is too bitter
and v~ituperative. 1t shows how quick
the north Is firing Of 1.-The man and
brother as a a freeman and citizen
and toiler, and, perhaps, voter.
LITERARY GOSSIP.