The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-30
THE HAPPY SOUTHERN NEGRO

CONGRESSMAN llOmOSOA ~
succeeded in convincing Congressman
Littlefeld of Maine and other northern
statesmen a few days ago that the soutn
err negro is not an unhappy man VIII VIII I
out a country" and a poor, persecuteo
creature. a. mere sad-eyed helot Of hard
taskmasters. He took his friends into
the black belt of Alabama, where the
negro may, be seen in his native element,
so to speak, and the northern men were
compelled to admit that they had in
dulged in some misconceptions OF tae true
situation. -
They found the negroes happy and con-
tented and were convinced of their in
telligence and aptness and desire TO learn
by looking in upon Booker Washington's
wonderful educational establishment at:
Tuskegee, which Is preparing hundreds
of negroes of both sexes, for Intelligent
and achieving life in the great business
and industrial world. -
Mr.. Littlefeld declared that Booker
Washington and. other educators OF the
southern negroes are holding and using
the master-key which is solving what is
called the negro problem" Any one
visiting the southern states will readily
discover why it is that all the schemes
for deporting the negro of the south TO
Africa lor to Mexico or South America,
or to our western and southwestern ter
ritories have failed and will fail. Great
inducements fail signally to attract any
considerable number of southern negroes
| ~ 18th "a
reason is that the negro is born and bred
in the south and likes it, and has, in
spite of the political limitations imposed
upon him by southern legislators no de-
sire to be expatriated. The negro Is there
and he will stay there. The broader the
! provision for his educational PROGRESS the
sooner will he fall into his natural sphere
as a valuable, intelligent American citi-
zen. Every schoo! added to the many
now in operation for. his advantage is
preparing each year larger number who
can read, write and meet the exacting
requirements which unfair southern legise
flatures impose upon the negro and do not
impose upon the white voter, however
ignorant. The number of negro capital.
ISIS Ill aCuS SOuIu IS luCiSdStuS ldRluly.
There are negroes who can easily refer
to their wealth in six figures. If the I'M
thrifty element is large, it is certainly
becoming smaller, year after year.
The problem Of bringing about amicable
and peaceful relations between whites
and blacks in the south is not problem
to the white element represented by SEN
ator Tillman of South Carolina, whose
i program is to kill the negroes off There
are other men in the south besides Till
| man, however, who are working success
fully to minimize the racial antagonism,
and who believe that both races can live
in harmony In it's own sphere Of action.
The greatest mistake the distinguished
philosopher, Herbert Spencer. has made
is his steady opposition to the education
of the masses, on the ground that educa-
ton spoils them and demoralizes them.
He would oppose the education Of the
southern negroes. In twenty years from
now there will be a very pronounced ref
utation Of his theory II, the southern
4 states and it Is to be hoped he may have
an extension of his life to witness it,