The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-10
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 10. 1901
PROFESSOR DABNEY AND The NEGRO.

) O.
nj the University of Virginia, on the
suffrage question, is attracting atteu-
ton and will attract more Afternoon
the more it 6s READ. 1t is one OIL Tue
most scholarly contributions 10 the
question which is now agataung, as
rarely before. the people OF tins stabe.
Ruf while it is an able argument ana
in most respects a strong argument,
we cannot agree in the main conclu-
sion. Prof. DabDey's condition. id
fine, Us that the negro race is a menace
to the white race and that therefore.
the negro should not only be dlsfrah-
rhised and denied the right OF parh-
cipation in government, but that All
public support which may tend TO in-
prove his condition should be withheld
from him. This may appear to- be AZ
most brutal presentation OF Pfot
Dabney's views but it seems to us 10
be perfectly fair presentation.
Passing over his argument in favor
of DISTINGUISHING the negro. we address
ourselves particularly to his remarks
concerning the education Of the negro
ut the public expense. He says that
the real difficulty with the negro is his
political, social and Industrial rival
RI with the whites and that there can
be no doubt that for the good of both
races his privileges in these directions
must be curtailed. He says that it Is
better that, while assured of Il prac-
tical monopoly Of domestic service and
the simpler forms Of manual labor,
the negro should realize that compeu-
ton with white men in the skilled
trades and learned professions VIII
either be failure or. il successful.
be accomplished by a terrible risk lie
SAYS that individual negroes may rise
by their own eXertionS to hlghe:
planes. but that it is an unanestlon-
able. if mournful, fact, that the whites
will not tolerate great numbers OF them
in tho upper kinds OF work Clearly,
then" he concludes, sit is folly on the
part of the white people TO tax them
selves in order TO give gratuitous in
Etruction, either genera! OF industrial.
to the negroes. and thus fit them for
tut1t WI Nolhil'AiiAShA 1890
whites will not endure.
Prof Dabney then goes on to say,
in further elaboration OF the subject,
that "a little learning is dangerous
thing for the great majority of ne
gloes, who Imagine that its possession
absolves them from the necessity OF
labor. and therefore we should not aid
in giving q common school education
10 this class Of negroes. He admits
that education is a good thing from tie
negTc's point of view for some negroes.
4.as it is undoubtedly true that it fits
some Of them for higher activity than
manual labor" But he further con-
tends that this is bad for the Com
monwealth for the reason that the
more the negro improves his condition
and comes into competition with the
whites the more certain is it that there
will be race conflicts Wise states
manship must therefore, he reasons,
reckon with this hostility as a fact
and must firmly refuse to continue any
system of education that Increases it
and renders more difficult The peace
full cooperation Of whites and blacks.
Tits seems to us to be a cruel doc
trine and we cannot consent TO IT.
We do not believe in indiscriminate ne
gro suffrage. Voting is {; privilege
conferred and not an Inherent right
The great majority of negroes in Sir-
ginia are not qualified to vote and they
ought to be disfranchised. But we
believe that the negro is fairly entitled
to the benefits of government We be-
Iicve that among his inalienahle rights
are life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness. The negroes of this coun-
try have been emancipated, slavery
has been abolished and we do not be
lieve that it is right for THE people Of
Virginia to attempt to hold the black
man in state of bondage.
This is not merely a civil question,
it is great moral question. The white
people of Virginia cannot do the negro
cruel wrong without injuniing them
selves. The worst result Of a wrong
from an injury received: Il man docs
not recover from an injury given un-
less he repent and make reparalion.
IL we deliberately and heal1lessly
wrong our black neighbors. depend
upon ii we Shall do a greater injury
to ourselves than TO them. In taking
issue with Prof. Dabney we DO not
plead so much for the black man ;is
we do for The white man, for we hon-
estly believe that the danger in the
course which he advocates is 10 the,
whites more than TO the blacks We Go
not believe that any man or any neo-
pie We're ever hurt by following the
iaw Of Kindness. We believe that if
the people of Virginia will only treat
the black man With fairness and kind
ness, the great God Of the Universe
and the Father of us all VII! take care
of the results. This may not be The
doctrine of politics, but it is the doe
urine of the Bible. and that great Book
Is a very safe rule of conduct FOR ma
lions a4.l States rs wel, as FOR ind;-
s-fdafo lS