The sun., 1901-11-08
THE FUTURE
OF THE NEGRO
From the Topeka Capital.

From the Topeka, Capital.
Attention is invited to communication
in another column on the subject OF ne
gro lynchings and the negro. The Capt
tai has this to say concerning Mr.. Pages
communication, that as applying not to
the whole race, but to high class and
II growing class OF negroes, we agree
practically with all that he has to say.
The Capital believes that the future ad-
vancemcnt and success and standing in
the community of the colored race, all
through the North, depend infinitely more
upon such colored men AS Mr.. Page
than upon the whites; and it was this
that we endeavored to emphasize i'm the
article that the writer criticizes.
If the writer of this communication
or any other colored reader understands
that the Capital attributes the lynching
craze, extending of late years from the
South to the North, East and West, to
disappointment with the progress made
by selected class OF colored men and
women, he entirely missed the purpose
OF the Capitals article. On the other
anarchy il due chiefly if not altogether
to impatience with the slow advance
ment of vast numbers of colored people,
we believe is indicated by several things
which can hardly be otherwise account
ed for. One is the fact that the increas-
ing tendency to take summary vengeance
not only on eolored criminals, nor even
upon colored persons believed to be Grim
inals, but upon colored persons merely
because they are apparently content to
remain in the same low stage of develop
ment in which they emerged from slav-
cry. is not accompanied by any similar
tendency to take the same lawess mea-
sures against white people actually
known to he guilty OF crimes.
These lynchngs are phase of the
trace question:" What is the explana-
tion of them? Is lynching becoming, as
our correspondent put it, "a purely Amer
lean method Of furnishing crime;" is so,
how is ii to be accounted for that Czol-
gosz lives six weeks after his atrocons
and wanton attack on President McKin-
ley?
The truth is that anarchy is nowhere
more hateful than in this country. The
frequent lynching Of negroes, accompan-
led, even in some NOrehern States, by
looting their homes and dispensing and
driving them out Of town, is n phenom-
enon of the race question" The Capt.
tai stated its opinion that it is due to a
growing impatience with the slow prog
ress and Il lack of ambition and purpose
among the great numbers of the negro
race; while we took pains to say further,
and this was the nub and gist of all we
had to say, that in every community
there is class of intelligent, earnest
colored men and women, numerous and
strong enough by well organized effort to
overcome the apathy and lethargy and fri
volity which are holding back multi
t,ides Of their race; who by discounten-
ancing humbugs and parasites in reli-
gion, cheap and disreputable mercenary
fakes in politics, unworthy persons in
society and Il loud and dissolute loafing
classic the extent of their numbers nm
offence and stumbling block to their
race-can do more in ten years to over
come race hatred and intolerance and to
create revolution in the sentiment to-
ward the negro than all the white
Legislatures. schools, preachers and
newspapers can do in a generation.
What Mr.. Page says of the heaDy
handicap against the colored man in
the race of life is not ovedrawn, and it
would be well if white people were
oftener compelled to face their own
bgotry and unfairness to the negro who
strives to advance. The negro is handi-
capped; undoubtedly he has not been al
together emancipated. Much is certain
~ explained of him, compared with what
is done for him. Nevertheless, there are
negroes who couageously face the situa-
tion and make the best of it. All honor
to them for it, There is but one way to
compel justice and fair play, and that
is by deserving it, and it is not enough
that it should be done by few; it must
he done by the many. The best colored
men and women in every community
must set the standard and enforce it with
increasing energy in all the activities of
the race. social, political, religious and
other.
Mr.. Pages COMMUNICATION is largely n
defence of the class OF colored men and
women who need none, whom the Capt.
tai not only did not attack, but com
mendcd III express terms, and who,
we stated our opinion, must leaven the
WllOlt lump u THte HTtJuulcc, VI W ulcii
the recent lynchings are menacing
symptom, is to be overcome. We do not
defend lynchcrs nor the race hatred back
Of them; but as to the opportunity and
duty confronting intelligent, earnest col
ored men and women who are profound
ly concerned for the triumph of them
selves. their children and their race, to
insist on high standards OF conduct set
the stamp of disapproval on frivolity
and worthlessness and want of character
and refuse to permit men and women of
a low stamp to represent the colored
race or to speak for it in religion, politics,
business. or in their own social life, there
is no room for difference Of opinion. and
this was the burden of the Capitals
sermon of week ago last Sunday. We
believe that everywhere in the North
stronger organized effort in this direction
is the immediate present duty of the
really cmancipated colored men and wo-
men. cmancipated in mind and pur-
pose as well MS in law; and that it is
equally the duty Of white men and wo-
men to cooperate with them in it.
Trninmen Killed In Missouri.
NIn Nov In n pOl1i-