The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-03
DIR. ABBOTT ON THE SOUTH.

1t is trite TO say that most of the North
ern criticisms upon the South have been
based upon ignorance of the subject; and
the Northerners have resented any such
assertion They have assumed that they
knew it all, OF at least all that was worth
knowing, and have proceeded upon that
assumption, Gradually, however, they
are coming to an understanding of the
truth; and il is gratifying 90 note that
many of them have the moral courage to
make proper Acknowledgements. This is
especially true with respect to the negro
question. Heretofore Northerners have
studied the race question as an abstract
proposition. Now many of them are re-
ducing it to the concrete, visiting the
South to get a near and personal insight
into racial conditions. And they are find
ing things just as the Southerners have
ell along been describing them
Among the Intelligent and open-minded
Northerners who have lately visited the
South in search of information is the Rev.
Dr. Lyman Abbott. At a public meeting
in Brooklyn the other day ne gave a
summary of his Investigations and conclu-
sions The North has prided itself upon
what it has done for negro education.
Dr. Abbott pointed out that for every
dollar put down by the North for negro
schools, the South has put down four.
The North. he said, had sent into the
South $50 0O0 900 for negro education, and
in the same time, from its poverty, the
South has expended s120,OO0.OOO for the
same purpose. The North, however, has
looked upon it's donations as being the
highest Christian charity and benevolence,
meanwhile regarding the far greater ben
efaction of the South as a matter of
course. The North has taken to itself
all credit; the South has received no
credit.
The North freed the negro, without
starting out to do it, then forced citizen
ship and political equality upon him.
Having done that it left him a burden, an
incubus, upon the Southern people, who
had just been brought to ruin by the de-
vastating war. The South was expected
to educate and elevate the ex-slaves for
the ballot. This burden" says DR.. Abb
bott, "the North should have shared in
a far larger degree"
That the South has done its part by the
negro nobly DR.. Abbott recognized. Dis
GUESSING the position of the blacks in the
two sections of the country he said:
THE negro in the little log cabin in the
South is better off than the negro in the
North in a tenement with fifty more of
Ii LII. u - from ha
notion" he added, "that the South can't
be friendly to the negro because they
don't regard the negro as we think they
ought to and as we would not regard the
negro if we were living surrounded by
them as they are. We must get rid of
the idea that all men are equal and that
every man has an equal right to vote
and an equal right to a place in society
and an equal right to stand where every
body else does
The North, as a matter of fact, is get
ting away from such ideas rapidly, If in
deed it every really held them. The ne
| gro is ostracised socially and-what means
more for Enthusiastically in the North,
and he would be ostrao4sed politically also
if he were there in large numbers as
ne is in the South. In the city of Brook
Ign, where Dr. Abbott delivered his ad-
dress, negroes are not permitted to live
in the desirable neighborhoods, and prop
erty declines in value in locations where
black people secure a Judgment. Negroes
are not permitted to work in the indus
trial trades, and they are gradually being
weeded out as servants.
Talks like Dr. Abbott's will do good.
They will bring the Northern people to
a realization of the fact that they have
no corner upon civilization or benevo-
lence, and that they have been lacking
in that fairness witch gives full credit
where it is due. They have been regard
ing the South and the negro from q
prejudiced view point. They may be
slow to acknowledge their error, bu
they must eventually do 1t. And wher
that time comes they will cease to re-
preach the South for its attitude toward;
the blacks, since il is the natural one
and for the DISTINGUISHING of Ignorance
and veniality in the interest of good gov
eminent.