The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-09
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1900.
CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER ON
THE NEGRO.

we would not weary our readers Win
discussing the negro question, but that is
one of the livest questions of the day, and
particularly SO just now in the STATE Oh
Virginia, when we are talking about call
ing a constitutional convention TO quality
the suffrage. We have shown in these
columns evidences of an awakening at the
North to true appreciation of the SUB
iect. and one of the most thoughtful ana
most sensible papers in this connection
that we have seen is reported IN the
Washington Post Of yesterday 1t was
paper on the Education of the Negro,
by DR.. Charles Dudley Warner, president
of the American Social Science Assoeia-
ton, read on Monday night at the Column
bian University. when the annual general
meeting of the Association held its first
session.
DIR. Warner said at the outset that the
education of the negro was na1ufai
sequence to his enfranchisement, and that
the establishment of a public school sys-
TEN was hailed by the South with delight
but whether as a desire for education or
as a sign of freedom he was not sure
Not content with the common school sys-
tenn. colleges and universities, he said,
were started by Northern people. and
special stress was laid on liberal culture
for the black men under the idea that
education could realize the theory Of uni
yersai equality.
..These results DIR. Warner went on,
'.are of a nature to lead US seriously to
inquire whether our effort was founded
upon an adequate knowledge of the ne
gro" And then he made the interesting
confession that the Northern people have
made mistake in their estimate of The
negro's evolution as race in attempting
to apply to him the same treatment for
the development of character that we APP
piled TO a race more highly organized
We say that it is an encouraging sign
that the Northern people are now opening
their eyes TO the fact that they did make
not one mistake, but repeated mistakes
mistakes at every turn-in dealing with
the negro The first of these mistakes was
10 clothe him with the right Of franchise
before he was qualified to exercise it, and
then to attempt by superficial education
10 lift him up TO level with the cuti-
waited whites of the South in politics and III
society.
Proceeding, Mr.. Warner said that in the
days of slavery negro mechanics We're hu-
merous. and they frequently showed them
selves TO be skilled worl1men. The OPP
portunity and the disposition to labor he
continued, make the basis of all our
civilization. The negro was taught to
work. 10 be an agriculturist. mechanic,
a material producer of something useful
He was taught this fundamental thing:
Our higher education applied to him in
his present development operates in exactly
the opposite direction And he added:
Have these colleges. as whole, stimu-
iaied industry. thrift. the inclination TO
settle down 10 The necessary hard work
OF the world. or have they bred idieness,
indisposition to work, a yaporous anhi-s
ton in politics. and taat sort of conceit
Of gen,iiity of which the world has al
ready enough If any one is in doubt
about this he can satisfy himself by d
soiaurn in different localities In the South.
The condition of New Orleans and It's
negro universities is often cited. II is
favorable example, because the ambition
Of the negro has been aided there by in
tiuenoe outside of the schools. Tie Fed.
eral Government has imposed upon the.
intelligent and sensitive population negro
officials in high positions. because they
were negroes. aud not because they were
specially lifted for those positions by
character or ability. II is my belief that
the condition of the race in New Orleans
IS lower than il was several years ago.
and that the influence Of the higher edu-
cation has been in the wrong direction.
We face a grave national situation. It
cannot be successfully dealt with senti-s
mentally. It should be faced with knowl-
edge and candor. We must admit orr
mistakes. bath socia! and political. and
Sc, abou; the solution of our problem
with intelligent resolution and a large
charity 1t Is NOT simply a Southern aues-s
.isn; i u Northern question as well.