New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-20
4 SOUTHERN WHITE WOMAN'S VIEW

We shall await with interest the expressions
OF Southern opinion on "a Southern white
woman's" views of the negro problem, pub
Hshed in the current number Of The indie
pendent When, some little time ago, Pro
fessor Sledd. of Emory College, Georgia, made
frank admissions concerning the white atti-
tude toward the negro in an article in the
main sympathetic toward the negro the bitter
I feeling aroused intense He provoked We
hement denials of his statement that the whites
were unfair TO the negroes that they not merely
denied them social and political equality
which of course is avowed-but also dehuman-
lied them and denied them the fundamentals
of Justice The Southern woman is not in the
least sympathetic toward the negro. She evil
IDENTIFY approves of dehumanizing him, and
certainly is not open to the criticism passed
upon Professor SIedd of being untrue to race
and section. She would not, like him, be I'M
fitted to teach Southern youth. She could train
them I'D to despise the ignorant negro and
hate the educated one. Yet she only confirms
the truth of Professor Sledd's statements which
provoked most resentment. He rebuked in
Justice She rather glories in it. He said that
lynchng had come to be q sport of savage
whites She says: "a bestial passion in a few
negroes has awakened In the more infam-
Unable lower class of whites bloodthirst that
"will last as long as there is negro left in the
South to kindIe it." And instead of regretting
this savagery and. like Professor Sledd. coun-
selling Justice and self-restraint. she makes
this frank declaration:
1t is well enough to bear in mind that in the
South the white mans relations TO the negro
are not based upon ideals or justice even With
US 1t is a question of self-preservation and a
determination on the part Of the httest to sur
viVe though whole decalogue Of virtues perish
in the struggle. All our evils grow out Of this
race consciousness Of impending danger, and We
ready to tempt or destroy rather than to
endure even a hand to hand political contanina-
ton with the negro. We prefer to be damned
by sins and not by their companion
ship. A people who persist IN living among
their natural enemies and without the en-
ergy or courage to protect themselves cry IN vain
for Justice They will not get it For justice,
after ALL is not even handed" till 1t is won, and
then it is like the bird Of victory that perches
upon the conqueror's banner. And where are
our ethics? Practically there is no ethical solu-
ton Of the problem which faces the blacks and
whites in the South The settlement of
questions is always savage. Ihe one Whlch
survives, however, will then be prepared Tor
purely ethical development And in this case at
least the prospective victors will be badly in
need Of II, for il has been the negros dlstlnction
that he has always brought out In us the worst
we are capable of being.
This cynical young woman-she says she is
thirty-five and native of the 'black BELT
believes that the negroes are fast becoming
desperate and revengeful; but she is not dis
turbed, because they incapable of holding
TO one fixed purpose The missionary is worn
OFF her conscience, she tells US, and her atti-
tude is well expressed In the remark: Il have
mo plan for their redemption, and their pre-
tensions bore me-" This is not surprising
People who deal with subjects that bore
them seldom have anything helpful to offer.