Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-07
Attacks the South in An
Article On the
Negro Cues
ton.

CONVICTION. Ca, Aug. 4-Excitement
Is intense among the citizens of Coving-
ton this morning over an article publish
ed by Prof Andrew Sledd, of Emory col
lege on the negro in the July Atlantlc
monthly, in which he was most unjust TO
the south.
The Journals correspondent has this
morning interviewed a number of proml-
nent citizens and without an exception
they are most severe in their denuncia-
ton of Professor Sledd and his article
One gentleman characterizes Mr.. Sledd
article as not only false but malicious oy
SAYING that as Professor Sledd writes
from this county it remains for the citi-
| zens of this section to first give the lie 70
the contents of his article.
The feeling is doubly strong IN that MT
Sledd holds such a prominent position in
Emory college. Along this line another
citizens said to your correspondent that
SO long as a man with views so inimical
to the people among whom he lives is re-
tanned on the faculty of such an institu-
tim as Emory college neither he nor any
other true southerner could trust a son TO
that institution.
When Professor Sledd was seen by
Journal reporter this morning, he express
ed himself as perfectly willing to be In
terviewed.
IT wrote the article and published It."
he said, after careful consideration. l
regard this negro question as one open for
discussion as well as one with two sides,
I regard IL as a question the support OF
either side OF which need not impugn ones
moral integrity or his allegiance to the
SOUTH I feel that this question should be
discussed much as the currency question
or any other"
The reporter asked how he had arrived
at these opinions.
He said, "I have lived in six southern
states and here as elsewhere l find IL
Illustrated the truth of my statements
Understand me, the two main points In
the original article are The negro belongs
to an inferior race I in no wise desire
social equality I do believe that 1 state
a general fact when I say that the negro
Is dehumanized and treated lower than
brute in the south. / believe that If the
white man can go to the negro's church
the negro should go to the white man
church. If the white man can have one
thing in any of the public utilities the
negro should have the same If the ne
gro tips his hat to me or any white man,
/ or any other person should do the same
to him, and I believe that the average
white man of the south would sooner kin
a negro than a forty dollar mule
Professor Sledd is Virginian by birth,
the son of the late DR.. r. N. Sledd, no
tee southern divine.
He was born in 1870 was graduated at
Randolph, Macon, and later studied at
Harvard. He has taught for a number of
years in several southern states. He came
to Emory college TO accept the chair of
Latin in 1898. which position he now occu-
pic. He married Bishop w A. Gamblers
daughter and is a licensed preacher in the
North Georgia conference.
Professor Sledd says: HE is a true
southerner. an unreconstructed rebel.
have always preached in the north, he
says the doctrine of constitutional state
sovereignty"
DR.. James e. Diclzey, president OF EN-
DRY college, was seen by reporter, and in
answer to a request for an interview he
said:
81 have not read Professor Sledd's ar
| ticle on the negro question, therefore
can say nothing in regard to the matter.
| Furthermore, Mr.. Sledd wrote the article
| in question purely in his capacity as pri-
vate citizen and in no way as being con-
nected with Emory college, hence am not
concerned in the matter officially. 1t is
to be greatly deplored, however, that this
criticism of Professor Sledd and hard
feeling toward him has come abouts'
DIR. John f. Bonnell, vice president of
the college, was seen by the reporter, but
refused TO give out any interview for pub
hcation.