The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-06-17
THE PROBLEM OF NEGRO DEVELOP
MENT.

\ gentleman in Raleigh, who heard the
address,, was greatly pleased with it.
By request he has furnished the follow
ing synopsis:
/. The value of race problems and the
struggle for existence.
Race problems are essential to race
growth. We do not welcome them but
they come and are to be granpled with
energy. The higher a race advances, the
acuter and subtler are it's problems.
Civilization is costly and requires much
exertion. Savagery is primitive and re-
quires little energy. On this account We
should have civilization and encourage
others to have it. One of the best ways
to ~civilize a race is to increase it's needs.
Put the race where it will need many
things or die. the instinct of self pre-
servation will be reused to action and 1t
will adapt itself to the new environment.
The American nation has it's negro, In
dian, labor and other problems. If they
were all solved others Will take their
place. The solution of all our national
problems will be the end OF the nations
growth and activity.
In the lower animal life the struggle
for existence is keen. The weaker be-
comes a prey to the stronger, there is
no quarter. Man as a higher animal is
unique, yet he must live a strenuous
life in order to survive. 1t is the brutal
and lower animal nature IN man which
seeks the destruction of weaker races.
When Governor Aycock and other high
minded leaders are sowing the seed OF
education throughout the State, and
pleading for equal opportunity to be
given every boy and girl, regardless of
race, we see in them the voice of that
which is highest in man, the spiritual
in man pleading for spiritual develop
ment in man. The Christian doctrine of
the survival of the fttcst is that while
it is right that the strong survive. it is
also right that the weak be fitted and
made capable to survive. On this prin-
ciple, the Indian, the negro and other
weaker races, are pleading for protection,
on this principle noble leaders are de-
voting their energies to fit weaker races
Tor self-government and citizenship.
Z. scope OF the race problem.
what is often termed the negro prob
lem really embraces problems along the
lines of his greatest needs. There is
always a danger by emphasizing one
phase of his development, of falling into
the extreme OF Over-deveIopment OF that
phase. lie needs religious DEVELOPMENT
At present his religious growth is too
iuAuildhl' tie is 100 religious. He needs
the tonic OF a spiritual and moral re-
ligion.
There is great need Of his mental
training. There is no emancipation from
slavery when the minds power to reason
is not trained, and where men cannot
acquire ideas by reading. The cry
against higher education is not Justified
by the facts in the case, since what is
called higher education in the South
is nothing more than a high school
course which a very few have. The agi-
tation has been helped no doubt by the
Understanding titles of negro schools,
prophetic of what they shall be rather
than what they are. There is no danger
Of a rush to the highest centres of cul-
turc on account Of the high standard and
years of discipline required in them.
The agitation for industrial education