Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-19
ITOI,IAN.

The New York Times cannot take the
same rosoate view that its contemporary,
the Herald. does. Of the scheme to estab-
lish a negro town on Long Island. Briefly
outlined. the plan Of the promoters OF
the proposed refuge for negroes from
"southern barbarism' Is this: The IN
habitants Of the town are to be cafeluliy-
chosen southern negroes. Every one OF
them must be of good character and IN
dustrious habits, and the head OF each
family and each unattached coionist must
possess a capital of SO on which TO De
gin the new life No white person VIII
be allowed to own zeal estate In the
new city. but employment is to be pro-
yided by factories erected and operated
by the money of some unnamed white
capitalists
The Herald. as was shown in para
graph from an editorial in that paper
printed in yesterdays Dispatch, rs much
taken with the idea of negro community
"nocking alone" and which will show
the whites that wnen fair play Is ac-
corded, to the negro he can take care OF
himself without any assistance" But the
Times. while wishing the scheme sue
cess, thinks it is Utopian. and feels con-
strained TO throw cold water on It, AS
compared with attempts TO colonlze
American negroes in Africa, the idea, re-
marks the Times, has merits. That, now
ever. IT adds, is all that can be said Tor
it. Then our doubling contemporary pro
pounds this pertinent question: What
need have negroes of the KIND described
TO emgrate from States where the con-
ditiOns Of climate and labor are ianular
and congenial TO rather Indictment re-
gion in which their presence VIII be
disturbing and, therefore. unwelcome fac
tor, and where the demand for their labor
for a long time at least. will be entirely
artificial and, therefore, highly preca-
rious?
Next. the Times suggests that ii Is so
easy TO plan a model town on communistic
principles that perhaps the promoters
of the Long Island scheme have underes-
tin.ated the difficulty in the way Of find
ing model negroes. Models, it continues.
are not numerous in any race, and black
men and women of the kind wanted are
not the ones that will be most eager TO
try the experiment; for a very large ma
jority of them are doing well wherever
North or South-they' may now be. In
conclusion, the Times expresses doubt
whether the negro race has yet advanced
to point where segregation would be
good for it, or even endurable, recognizes
the fact that all over the United States
the negroes have the least trouble where
they are least numerous, and says that
concentration and secusion develop and
emphasize atavistic traits, which traits
ale in the negro the reverse of admirable.
Evidently there is some one on the
Times staff who ia better acquainted with
the character and proclivites OF the
negro. and his environments at the South,
than is the writer of the article in the
Herald The difference between the view
points of the two writer's is the difference
between the practical and the sentimental.
There is not reason given by the Times
man as making against the scheme that
IS not sound. The plan Of self-support-
ing negro community is utterly impracti-
cable; but even should money be pro-
vided to support the colony, the pro-
mOters Of the plan could not do a worse
thing for the colonists than put them
beyond the influence Of white civilization.