New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-17
THE CASE OF PROFESSOR sLEDD.

The resignation Of Professor Andrew Sledd,
Of the chair of Latin in Emory College. Georgia.
is the sequel to his recent article on the negro
question in The Atlantic Monthly" Frofes-
sor Sledd. who is a highly respected and
popuIar teacher has taken this action volun-
tariIv. lest the college should suffer through
the violent denunciatOn Of himself and his
views The bitterness displayed toward him IS
discoura gingly suggestive of the state or pub
lie feeling in the South. When a college pro
fessor cannot in serious and straightforward
fashion discuss a great social problem without
alternating himself and the institution which
harbors him from the community, free speech
and reason are at a discount. We do not won
der that the South dslikes outside attempts
to solve the negro problem. hut if it will not
listen to it's own educated men, and repudiateS
them when they run counter TO blind prejudice,
the outlook for civilization is not bright. Doubt
less Professor Sledd said things with which
many honest. educated and progressive men
in the South will not agree but only the most
narrow minded intolerance would resent his
thoughtful and sincere attempt 70 get at truth,
show where the North was wrong in its view
| of the negro question. and where the South
| made mistakes in dealing with it.
| Professor Sledd is a Virginian. In his article
| he took as strong ground as could be desired
| against the old Northern idea Of equality He
held that the negro was an inferior race
not because of past slavery or present
ignorance and poverty, but because it was
lower in the scale of development. He
declared most emphaticaIly against any inter
marriage or amalgamation of the races, and
against any such equality would give
the black man the slightest pretensions
in that direction. He had no fault to find
with efforts TO keep the South in the absolute
control of the superior race He willing
TO see the ballot surrounded with safeguards
and TO have severe penalties melted out to all
negro wrongdoers Nevertheless he declared
the negro has inalienabe rights" and COM
planned: Our section has carried the idea of
the negro's inferiority almost, if not quite 10
the point OF dehumaniZng him. This is
''unpaatable truth; but that it is the truth few
Intelligent and candid white men. even Of the
South. would care to deny" He said: IF
1.-The negro could be made to feel that his
fundamental rights and privileges are recog
''nized and respected equally with those of the
white man, and that he is not Disseminated
against, both publicly and privately solely
because of his color; that he is regarded and
dealt with as responsible, if humble, men,
der of society, the most perplexing features Of
this problem would be at once simplitied, and
would shortly, in normal course, disappear"
Then Professor Sledd proceeded TO point out
Instances of Southern unfarness 10 the negro,
without regard TO his personal character. He did
not mention, but he might have done so, the COM
mon Southern tendency TO speak of a man like
Booker Washington as niger" Especially
did he lay stress on the lawless invasion OF the
negros most fundamental rights TO his life and
property. He declared the unwelcome truth
that the lynching habit was largely sectional,