The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-06


race.
90 But the negro has inalienabie
rights.
I'm introducing his article Mr.. sledd
says:
SO much has appeared in the public
prints touching the various phases of
the negro problem in the South that it
is perhaps presumptuous to attempt any
further contribution to the literature on
that subject. Previous discussion, how
ever, seems open to two very serious
criticisms-it has been largely sectional;
and, by consequence, it has been for the
most part partisan.
Northern writer's, with practically
no knowledge or experience of actual
conditions. have theorized to meet a
condition that they did not understand.
Since emancipation, the negro has been
regarded as the rightful protege of the
section that wrought his freedom; and
his cause has been championed with a
bitter and discriminating zeal as earn
est as it is misguided. Southern writer's.
on the contrary, remembering the negro
as the slave, consider him and his rights
from position of proud and contemp-
tuous superiority, and would deal with
him on the ante bellum basis of his SER
wife state
HE then proceeds to show how both
sections have treated the question from
partisan views and says:
The South has regarded it as a local
and not national matter; has refused to
receive any light upon it from outside
sources; and has met any suggestions and
offers OF outside help with a surly invita-
ton to mind your own business The
North, on the other hand, considering the
question in it's wider bearings. has ap-
preached it from the side of performed
theories, rather than of actual facts: in
a spirit of fearful or indignant sentiment
tality, rather than of calm, unbiased rea-
son; and has therefore proposed rene
dies that must, in the very nature of
things, be at once undesirable and i'm
possible. AS is usual in such cases. the
truth lies between the two extremes
He then argues on his first hypothesis
that the negro belongs to an inferior race
and among other things says
The negro is lover in the scale of de-
velopment than the white man. His
inferiority is radical and inherent ply
siological and radical inequality that may
indeed, be modified by environment, but
cannot be erased without the indefinite
continuance of favorable surroundings
and the lapse of indefinite time. But
what the negro race may become in the
remote future by process of development
and selection is not a matter for present
consideration. The fact remains that now
the negro race is an inferior race.
DEHUMANIZING THE NEGRO.
:" 1t is in arguing his second hypothesis
that Mr.. Sledd roughly attacks the atti-
tude of the white people of the South
toward the negro:
"'(2). But the negro has inalienable
rights.
While the North has erred in ap-
preaching the negro question with the
assertion of the equality of the races
and seeking to solve it on that unsound
postulate, the South has, much more
grievously erred in precisely the OPP
posite direction. For our section has
carried the idea of the negro's inferior
ity almost, il not quite, to the point of
dehumanizing him. This is an unpalata-
BILE truth; but that it is the truth, few
intelligent and candid white men, even
of the South, would care to deny. Bla-
tant demagogues, political shysters,
counting favor with the mob; news
sheets, fattering the prejudices, and pan
dering to the passions of their constit-
uency; ignorant youths and loud voiced
men who receive their information at
second hand, and others do not or can
not see,-these, and their followers, as
sert with frothing vehemenee that the
negro is fairly and kindly treated in the
South, that the Southern white man is
the negro's friend, and gives him even
more than his just dessert.
But, if We care to investigate, evil
dences Of our brutal estimate OF the
black man are not far to seek. The hard
est to define is perhaps the most impress
sive,-the general tacit attitude and feel
ing of the average Southern community
toward the negro. He is either nothing
more than the beast that perishes, I'M
noticed and uncared for so long as he
goes quietly about his mental toll (as
a young man recently said to the writer,
The farmer regards his niger in the
same light as his mule, but this puts
the matter far too favorably for the ne
gro); or, ii he happens to Offend he is
punished as a beast with a curse or a
kick, and with tortures that even the
beast is spared; or, if he is thought of
at all in a general way. it is with the
most absolute loathing and contempt.
He is either unnoticed or despised. AS
for his feelings he hasn't any. How
few-alas how few-words of gentleness
and courtesy ever come to the black
mans ear! But harsh and imperious
words, coarseness and cursing, how they
come upon him, whether with excuse or
in the frenzy of unjust and unreasoning
passion. And his rights of person,
propriety. and sancity of home-who
ever heard of the rights of 'nigger?'
This is the general sentiment in the air,
intangible, but strongly felt; and it is.
in a large measure, this sentiment that
creates and perpetuates the negro prob
lem y
SOLUTION UNANSWERED.
we do not now speak of the utterly
worthless and depraved. There are many
such; but we whose skins are white need