New-York tribune., 1902-02-22
rHE DIscorRAGEMENTs or THE NEaRo.

THE DISCOURAGENfENTS OF THE NEGRO.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The prospects of the colored have not
improved very much in the last decade. He has
been made TO feel. in parts OF the country.
that his presence is only tolerated y feeling such
is generated by such a condition OF things is not
helpful to a people The situation is about the
same II in Henry Grady's day, when he
spoke a follows The future holds a problem In
solving which tho South must stand alone. This
problem is 10 carry in her body polite two separate
races nearly equal In numbers. She must carry
these races in peace. for discord means ruin. She
must carry them separately. for assimilation means
debasement; she must carry them in equal justice.
for this she Is pledged in honor and in gratitude:
carry them unto the end, for in hu-
man probability she will never be quit OF them
He is put upon the defensive at every turn. and
apologies must be made for him. as was the case
when Booker 7. Washington made his appeal be-
fore the Alabama convention for conservative ac-
ton Some OF his people say cruel things
about the negro, and would have him banished
from the cities and the country to place by him
self Others say bitter things about the white
people. and estrange many who are their best
friends.
In the midst Of the contention both In State and
Church Il IS not wonderful II some OF the leaders
OF the colored people becoming discouraged.
That we consider inevitable result, and that
is to be greatly deplOred. Some OF their best men
beginning TO say that the is IN
that, indeed, emancipation is not complete. Some
OF them pleading with their people they have
never pleaded In the past. and beginning show
that their power with them Is declining
Then. the negroes acquiring fondness for
rowing from place another that augurs no
Improvement in their condition. In many cases
move to a place means improvement. but not
so to the coored man. In many cases he returns
TO his former place Of residence neither wiser nor
a better man Heretofore there was not a man TO
be found who was more averse to removal. His
home though humble the sweetest place
earth to him. 1t has been said: THE Southern
white man dislikes the negro ana owns up to II.
The Northern white man dislikes him and lies
tates. later to his home in the South,
whore his truest friends are found among his own
BY act OF Congress June 90 1874 a gold medal
tinguished Of bravery. We fancy that acts OF
bravery worthy of the medal not promptly
rewarded in the case OF the ColOred man they
in the OF the white man. No special reCOg-
milton made OF the act OF the colOred man,
Parker. who knocked the smoking pistol out Of
the hand OF the assassin who ready to send
another ball into the body OF beloved President
Some OF the most daring deeds have been per-
formed by COlored men. and brief mention in the
newspaper is all the credit they get for them. Acts
of lawlessness are quickly published and in some
act is performed and followed with scant praise.
Some of the legislation, such the Jim Crow
car bill. the effort for reduction OF appropria-
tons to colored public schools and the taking away
Ireland has been crying out for years against 4
condition of things infinitely better If intend
lift up this people il will not, II cannot, be done
by discOuraging their leaders and crushing every
ROBERT H. WILLIAMS.
Baltimore, Nd. Feb. IA. 1902.