The age-herald., 1901-05-13
The Negro Question.

In this day, when so many good Ameri- cans insist upon the story that Is sad enough for all Americans, that the Re- public is past or is passing, 1t is comfort ing to look at even the title-Dage of The Review of the Republic, the New York publication which in but little more than a year has taken a front place among the sober periodicals of the nation. We have great and powerful nation at any rate, whatever may be said of the past or future of the greatest of all republics our Republic that never was and never was meant to be a democracyl
 MT. Edwin Atwell, who is personally known to many enlightened southerners- Americans-is conducting this Review with distinguished ability. The current number Is especially interesting. An American Gentlewoman in London" writes forcefully, though from an errone- ous viewpoint. on that non-existent thing, British Hatred of Americans" Rather inconsequently-would 1t be par doned if written, womanlike?-she says: "As good American. all I ask is to be let alone-and I do like residence in Lon
 
 have liked the same thing.
 In the Review "The Negro Question" is discussed by Hon. Joseph J. Willett of Alabama, whose signature Is given in tac- simile. MT. Willett's argument is perhaps the most logical recent contribution co this most vexed and most ve1ing of all our great national issues. He writes:
 ''Is the condition of the negro improv- ing? is a question one hears on all sides. The answer is both yes and no, In the farming regions. where the great mass of them live, and where they live almost to themselves. they are as ignorant as improvident and as superstitious they were when they were set free. thirty-sx years ago. It is a characteristic of the race that when left to itself 1t relapses into barbarian. In the towns and cities their condition Is unquestionably im- proving. While having no originality in himself. he is the greatest imitator on the face of the earth.''
 And furthermore MT. Willett declares
 "The future of the negro Is yet ob- scure Ha has been wronged in several ways; first, in making a slave out of him. for which north and south alike are responsible, and. next. he was made to feel that he was ward of the govern mont. and that paternal blessings would continue to be his without money and without price. He was realized how vain Is thts belief."
 Concluding, Mir. Willett says, with a great deal of force, "All these things and more has America taught the world without historical lights to guide her feet Then. who shall say the negro prob- lem Is insolvable? That 1t will be solved without deportation, extermination or amalgamation we cannot doubt. though exactly how or when we cannot fortell any more than we could the solution of the others It will doubtless come grad ually and almost imperceptibly, for great truths which pitch their tents out side our shining walls, though but dimly seen in the gray dawn. will be manifest when the light widens into perfect day.
 Great Hospital for Montgomery.
 Save only the founding of St. Vincent's Hospital, Birmingham, and apart from the States present great charities and correc- tions, the greatest charity in Alabama's history is offered to the people of Mont gomery and the Advertiser of yesterday does we'll with it's story of the splendid proposition of the Sisters of Charity. It is this
 ''There is a chance for Montgomery to get magnificent hospital for small ex- penditure on her part.
 '"The Sisters of Charity, who have es- tablished splendid hospitals in many Southern cities. stand ready to build one here
 "The Advertiser Is authorized to an- nounce that the Sisters of Charity will spend at least s5O.ooo, and probably s6o.- 900 to s75. 900. in the erection of commo- dious hospital with modern equipment, provided the people of Montgomery will raise $10 900 as a contribution to tho en- terprise to provide a suitable lot.
 "The Advertiser is assured by those who are in charge of the undertaking that the conduct of the hospital by the Sisters of Charity will be non-seotarisn in character. Persons of all denomjnar tions would be received and given equal consideration There arc hospitals under their charge in Birmingham and Mobile, which are offered as proof of this. The Advertiser knows that there is superb | institution in New Orleans under tbeir conduct. of which the whole oity Is proud. It turns away no one. receivos unfortu- mates from all Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas
 Such an institution is badly needed in Montgomery. The Advertiser believes | that this proposition of the Sisters is the quickest and most practical way to get