The new age. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?, 1902-07-12

more virulent because impotent ami
mostly, the discussion that had been
fought out with the sword, yet now.
surely, the time for such recrimination
il past. II we are, indeed. one people.
United States is more than name only.
the problems. perplexities. and inter
ests of every section appertain In no
slight or trivial measure to the coun-
try as a whole. II is true that each
section and state and county and town
ship has it's own problems--but the
particular problems of the part are
the general problems of the whole;
and the nation. as a nation, is inter
ested in the administration and con-
Germs of the most insignificant men,
bers of the body polite.
1t would be trite and old-fashioned
apply to ourselves the old fable of the
body and it's members; but we surely
lie open to its APPLICATION in our treat
ment of the negro question. The South
has regarded as a local and not a ma
tional matter; has refused to receive
any light upon it from outside sources;
and has met any suggestions or offers
of outside help with a surly invita-.
ton to mind your own business" The
! North. on the other hand, considering
the question in its wider bearing, has
n nnrnanhnH from he cidn nf
formed theories. rather than of &C.
tual facts; in a spirit of fearful or In
, dignant sentimentality, rather than VI
calm, unbiased reason! and has there
fore proposed remedies that must. in
the very nature of things. be at once
undesirable and impossible. As Is
usual in such cases, the truth lies be.
tween the two extremes.
The negro question is a national one.
as much so as the question of tariff. of
immigration, of subsidies or any such
issue that is universally recognized
as touching the interests of the whole
people. 1t is but right, therefore,
/ thoe thC oOiutiOh VI thC QutSllOu
should command the attention and en-.
list the interests of the people, regard.
less of section or party or ante-bellum
attitude; and the South has no right
to take offense at any well-meant and
kindly effort to relieve the situation.
But, at the same time, the fact must
be recognized that the negro question
is not different from all other ques-
tions, does not Occupy a place apart,
unique, and cannot be dealt with ia
any other way than the common, ra-
tional method applicable to the COM
monest social and political problem.
Ignorance of the facts cannot take the
the place of knowledge here any more
than elsewhere. Sentiment cannot
safely here or elsewhere usurp the
place of reason. Blindness, prejudice
uncharitableness vilification, have
the same value here as elsewhere, and
are as likely to lead to a fair and sat
isfactory problem as any other-just
, as likely and no more. We must, az
whole people. candidly and honestly
! recognize a certain set of underlyine
, facts, which may or may not differ
. from our theories, cross our sympa
thies, or contravene our wishes. Their
we shall be in a position to deal will
, the question.
Now, the fundamental facts to b,
2 recognized in the case are these:-
ID The negro belons to an infer
4 Tor race.
Ana this not by reason of any pre-
5 vious condition or servitude of bruta
+ repression on the part of his forme
D master. whether in the days of SLAYER,
s or since; not on account of his colo
or his past or present poverty. ignor
ance and degradation. These, to b.
sure, must be reckoned with; but the,
C do not touch the fundamental prop
4 osition.
t The negro is lower in the scale O
It development than the white man. Hi
l. inferior is radical and inherent,
s. physiological and racial inequalit
s that may. indeed. be modified by Ell
= vironment. but cannot be erased will
s out the indefinite continuance of 4;
vorable surroundings and the lapse r
y indefinite time. But what the negr
II race may become in the remote Z,
a ture by process sof development an
r selection Is not a matter for preser
% consideration. The fact remains ths
O. now the negro race is an inferior rae
Is There can hardly be any need to d.
n fend this proposition in these days {
s. the boasted universal supremacy .
is the Anglo-Saxon. Occasionally "
lie hear hysterical utterances by negroe
Is or by well-meaning, but misguide
Is friends of the race to the effect tbs
D. the negro is the equal of any whit
n man anywhere. But in general sue
IL ill-advised cant is being laid aside an
the inferiority of the race ia comm
le to be recognized.