BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-11-26
SAN JUAN, NOVEMBER 20
Editorial Comment.

Prof. w. Ii. Council, president OF Jus
Agricultural and Mechanical College tor
Negroes at Normal, Ala, himstlf negro,
has expresfe ed his views regarding the edu-
Gated negro and social equality with clear
ness and Point which ought to set wrong
notions right. The Booker Washinton din
uer incident has been useful in arresting
much aimless comment upon the race ques-
tion and in concetrsting it for the moment
upon the aspiration Of the educated negro,
a fact from which some expect trouble to
result. Prof. Council settled any doubt on
the question by saying. in effect that the
educated negro has and ought to have only
one aspiration, to be leader OF his race
apart from any desire for social equality
with the whites. He has published In a
Nashville paper a most emphatic denial
that any suclf attitude as that can be as.
sumed with the slightest hope OF success.
More than once during the last few
years the befogged and veXatious race ques'
tion has been iIlumlned and calmed by the
uttprances OF educated negro leaders. MIR.
Booker Washington is by ne means the
only accredited spokesman of his race, aud
not only this letter by Prof. Council, but
several other published utterances OF negro
educators, have proved that there is an am
ple reserve OF good sense in the colored race
to assure its wise mental direction. The not
southern impulse that mlsconstrued the DIN
ner incident has been dispasslonately rebuk-
ed by Prot. Council, who at the same time
shows that he understands the southern at
titude better than it is understood anywhere
in the world, But distinction should be
made in regard to this Any statement OF
Prof. Councils attitude should be qualified
by the fact that the educated negro, In speak.
ing for his race, addresses the educated
white man. He has no part In the vulgar
violence of TIllman, who said that "a
thousand niggers would have to be silled"
ON account of the dinner incident before the
colored people could be set back in their
Mace again. Tlllman's remark was iDjur-
ions in two ways: it intlamed the more
violent southern whites by suggesting ne
gro social aspirations which do not exist,
and it was q libel against the educated
southerners who have devoted their means
and attention to the ameliOratlon of the
colored people.
Stronger testimony to che negro's quail.
tiles as a man than that given by Col. Sir
James Wlllocss in the "L0ndon Empire
t6VieW" ulS UCCb 1llCnuo OOuAN AVO uOSh Os
Col. Willocks commanded the Kumsssi re-.
lief column and his account OF that heroic
little campaign is tribute of deserved
praise to the black soldier.
The American negro long since proved
his fighting power. since the enemy broke
first before his charge at Fort Blakely none
who knew the facts have questioned his vaIor.
In thousand fights oE cur western frontier,
while we had one; in Cuba and the Philip
pines. lie has died for real liberty and law.
Now mis- African cousin is showing the same
qualities, proving that every race tights
well when well led, and winning the respect
due the intelligent fighting man.
To fnd these qualities recognized by
British officers, who have too often set a
had example OF contempt for the less for.
inmate races, is encouraging. 1t may, per.
chance. give a useful lesson to those ele.
ments among our own people who do not
vet understand that the way to make the
best Of the negro, and the only way to solve
the problem he presents, is simply to treat
him according to his deserts as man.