The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-12
THE SOUTH AND THE NEGRO
RACE QUESTION Considered BY A
wELL-KNOwN NEGRO EDUCATOR.
Adjusted III Outsiders Do Not
Interfere.

telligent reply can be made to this question
two other questions must be answered:
I. What is meant by the negro question?
2. What is the desired solution?
II the negro question in the South asks;
VIII the white population or the South ad-
nit the negro 20 free and full participation
in all the civil. political and industrial priv
ileges and opportunities enjoyed by any
other class of citizens in the South, then
the question cannot be localized, but it is as
broad as the territory of Anglo-Saxon
power. The labor unions and brotherhoods
have answered it for the North, East and
West by closing the doors OF all important
industries in the faces of negro applicants.
The South has answered and is answering
the political and social part of the aues-
ton through her legislative enactments and
constitutional conventions.
If the solution is the admission of the
negro into the free and full participation
of all the civil, political and industrial
privileges and opportunities enjoyed by any
other citizens in the South, then 1 answer:
''The solution there will be what it is ev-
erywhere else in the territory of Anglo
Saxon domination and power" If this is
the solution denied by the friends of the
negro, or by the negro himself, all the OPP
erations TO produce II will intensity racial
strife and make more definite and bitter
the lines of contest.
Refinement OF human character, under
the touches of gentle charity and holy re-
llgion, may mollify asperities and antipa-
thles, and change results prophesied by
mankind does not justify such expecta-
ton. L know the negro has capacity, and,
for my part, | do not see why he may not
s.
grandest and highest things In every ave-
nue. OF life. But my opinions as 10 what
the negro ought to have the right to do
volved In the situation. 1t is a fact that
Anglo-Saxon prejudice everywhere has
placed limitations on negro opportunities.
CHEERFUL VIEW.
But there is another and more cheerful
view of the negro question. l prefer the
view that the negro question and its solu-
ton mean that there is a common ground
in the South which the two races in the
South must occupy in friendship and mu-
tual helpfulness. This ground has been
found and is being accepted by both races.
The South offers better opportunities for
the negro to get wealth than any other
section OF the country, and the negro OF the
South is the superior negro of the world in
all the essential elements of civilization,
not because of his native superiority, but
because Of his superior opportunity. The
best negro knows this, and he clings TO the
South. Any general emigration from the
South TO the North is not by the thrifty
negro, who is growing in wealth and in the
good opinion of his neighbors.
been settled yet, but outside meddling will
only widen the distance between the races
and push them back from the common
ground of friendship and mutual helpful
ness. All questions growing out of the new
rela tons of whites and negroes in the
South, not yet adjusted, must be settled by
the best white men and the best negroes of
the South. While II is a fact that outsiders
do harm, IL is also fact that no question
touching the interests of both races in the
South can be settled fairly and permanently
in an eX-parte manner. Ten millions of
people, however weak they may be, cannot
be ignored by the stronger element, and
the stronger transmit bloodless, honest
and complete treaty to posterity.
The best white man or the South has
been negatively influential. He has held in
check, while standing unseen in the back
ground, much proposed hasty and unfair
legislation toward the negro. This best
white man has been in this position ever
since the war. He has not pushed forward
his ideas and plans. His non-aetion was
made necessary by sectional lines drawn
during reconstruction, when every white
man was forced 10 take a stand, and by
subsequent party lines, which in the South
were race lines.
ol1O4N
Just in proportion as we can get rid of
these conditions, and outside interference
ceases, the best South will assert itself
without fear of having its influence de-
stroyed by the cry of Yankee and Niger
lover from the men who ever since the
war have been supported in power by preju-
dice. If unfair politicians, both in and out
of the South. can be induced to let the
negro question rest. there is no doubt that
the best white men and the best negro men
will come to such understanding as will
guarantee present tranquility and transmit
to our children and their chidren's children
peaceful relations We will mutually agree
10 give and take We will mutually agree
10 treat each other fairly and let alone all
questions which will breed discord and
strife.
But if the white South, when left alone,
should attempt 10 ignore the negro when
considering his case, and TO Cypress him,
then it would not only be proper for the
fere, did the powers in the case of
China. AS for me. ! have faith in the
ability and inclination of the best white
teTnal questions In it's best heart the South
is proud Of the work of its forefathers in
Transforming millions of barbarians to mill
lions of Industrious Christians. / be-
lieVe, II left alone, the real South. which
has been only negatively influential, will
become powerful in its advocacy of and
provision for the continuation of the work
of its fathers in negro development. when
ever Ii now assumes an unfriendly attitude
toward the negro it is driven to such action
by outside meddling, in which case the
negro suffers.
l cannot believe that the men led by
Generals Robert L. Lee. "Stonewall' Jack
son, Joseph Wheeler and other noble sons
of the South would maliciously seek to
fasten vassalage upon the negro and TO
plunge ten millions OF human beings into
mental, moral and industrial ruin If they
wished TO do so they could not, but would
make the most hideous monstrosties of
their own race, and the South would be-
| come a land OF self-destrOying demons.
| Sparta undertook to exterminate her lower
| classes by cruelty. Sparta is only bloody
| spot on the page OF history. Rome dsre-
| garded right and crushed the souls of men.
| The barbarian despoled her OF her glory.
Right is the ruling principle in the best
heart of the best white South, and when
| the best heart rules the South, as il sure
! ly will, there will he no complaint from
| the negro. Mr.. William Lloyd Garrison.
/ the great champion of negro freedom, held
! that the South alone could settle her affairs
! He approved OF Mr.. Lincoln's proposed
| policy to reconstruct the State of Louisiana.
| Kitchener He is.