New-York tribune., 1901-04-04
TIE NEGR0 IN TILE NORTH.

Mr. Booker T. Washington has the courage of
! his convictions and lets concern for his
/ extraordinary popularity in the North as
! solver of TIE negro problem divert him from
enforcing upon Northern people as opportunity
offers the sense of responsibility for their share
of the negro problem. That share is not merely
10 give money for industrial and other schools
| in the South, and keep sharp lookout 10 guard
the negro's rights in that section, but to give Il
fair chance for life to the negroes right here in
| our own Northern cities and factories. lie
! drew attention 10 this aspect of the situation
most impressvely the other night the dinner
| given in his honor by the Social Reform Club,
an organization composed not merely of per-
| sons interested in social and labor problems
missionaries and amateurs. but also of actual
| labor leaders and skilled workers Instead of
confining himself 10 the exposition of industrial
education he went on to point the moral which
some of his hearers might not welcome, but
which he was sure they ought TO hear, and told
! how negro boys, having diligently trained them
selves 10 skilled labor, found Northern white
! men refusing 10 work in the same shop with
them and driven 10 swell the vicious
classes Of our cities. This reprOach to Northern
| workmen was taken in good part by their
! special representatives. and il explained
! that the labor unions made no discrimination in
/ principle and the central bodies would not cOun-
| tenance ii in practice. but doubtless the
prejudice often did stand in the way of the
individual negro, and influence the action of
/ separate bodies Of white workmen.
! This is really situation rs important for
Northern people 10 consider as the Southern
! phase of the problem which they have been too
/ exclusively and perhaps too patronizingly con
/ cerned with. We often tell the Southern people
| who tolerate lynchngs that remonstrance
| is based as much on regard for the white race
which degrades itself by barbarous practices
/ for the negro race which suffers from the bar
/ barism. SO should look at this home queS
| tion more important 10 the welfare of the
| white community than 10 that OF the small
| number of blacks affected by it. Mr. Washing
/ ton says he does not selhshy plead for his
/ race in the North but for white civilization
we'll and he is undoubtedly right in that view.
! The negro is at his worst In the cities. particu
! larly in the Northern cities. In Il large measure
the best Of rhe stay In the rural South, help
| ing 10 raise their own people. Directly after
the war there considerable emigration
of the more energetic and ambitious negroes,
who looked on the North the land Of promise.
| Their successors have been of a less desirable
| class and the better ones OF these are found
! Northern farms. while city life tends 10 confirm
the bad habits Of those who seek cities from
laziness or love Of adventure and TO demOraize
| those who start there with higher ambitions.
Unless therefore. we wish TO make OF the urban
negro communities an increasing source of dan
ger we must encourage our black people 10
improve by giving them free opportunity for
employment in occupations for which they
| fitted Let each man have q chance TO get
according TO his individual merits and excuse
for shiftlessness will be removed and strong
pressure be brought to bear. particularly on the
young 10 become useful citizens.
Unless the North gives the negro fair indus
| trial opportunity it cannot reproach the South
| with its inherited prejudices IL his rights are
| there denied and if Northern men want TO see
the race problem solved they must solve such
part of IL comes to their own doors. North
ern workers must accept the principle OF indi-
vidual worth the test for entrance into indus
| trial fellowship. Otherwise in the end the negro
| instead OF sharing their occupation. will sup
plant them In il. The rules of labor unions ms
noted, do enjoin acceptance of this principle
but IL is easier TO adopt resolutions than 10 get
thousands OF men 10 live up 10 them. Men like
| Mr.. Washington do not force upon Northerners
any more than on Southerners the social aspect
! OF the race problem, but wisely leave that TO
| take care of itself, satisfied If they can make
| the negro, North and South, respectable self
| sustaining and useful 10 the rest of the COM
munity. Unless this can be done he is menace