The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-07-23
A COLOR-LINE ARGUMENT.

Another prophet has arisen in Ethio-
pia in the person of w. e. Burghardt
Dubois professor at Atlanta uni
versity. Mr.. Dubois is one of the
leading negroes Of the country and is
withal man of splendid education
and Attachments, holding. both Ameri-
can and European degrees, the one
from Harvard and the other from the
University of Berlin. Pref. Dubois
treatise on the race question is in the
form of a book of essays, entitled
"The Souls of Black Folks" Like
Booker 7. Washington, this author has
dedicated himself to solving the ne
gro problem, but his method is widely
apart from that of The famous founder
of Tuskegee. The professor comedies
Mr.. Washington's sincerity but ac-
cuses him of representing lin negro
thought the old attitude of adjustment
and submission, of accepting the
alleged inferiority Of the negro race,
and of seeking through "A spirit of
compromise to gain the sympathy and
cooperation of the white south.
Mr. Washington, he says, "distinct-
ly asks that black people give up, at
least for the present, three things:
First, political power; second, insist
ence on civil rights; third, higher
education of negro youth, and concen-
trate all their energies on industrial
education, the accumulation of wealth
and the Cancellation of the south -
He insists that Mr.. Washington S
teachings have largely fastened the
disfranchisement of the negro, and the
steady withdrawal of aid from insti-
tutions for the negro's higher train
ing He holds that Mr.. Washington
is now facing the triple paradox of
his career
''He is striving nobly to make negro
artisans business men and property
owners, but it is utterly impossible,
under modern competitive methods,
for workingmen and property owners
to defend their rights and exist with
out the right OF suffrage.
He insists on thrift and self-re-
spect, but at the same time counsels a
silent submission to civic inferiority
such as is bound to sap the manhood
of any race in the long run.
"He advocates common school and
industrial training and depreoates in
situations of higher learning, but nei-
Their the negro common schools nor
Tuskagee itself could remain open a
day were it not for teachers trained
in negro colleges or trained by their
graduates
Professor Dubois gives these as rea-
sons why the negroes of America have
duty to perform-"a duty stern and
pose part of the work of their great
est leader
! Continuing he says: $50 far as
Mr.. Washington breaches thrift, pa
thence and industrial training for the
masses we must hold up his hands and
strive with him. rejoicing in his hon
ors and glorying in the strength of
this Joshua called of God and of man
to lead the headless host But so far
as Mr.. Washington apologies for in
! justice, north or south does not right
ly value the privilege and duty of vot-
ing belittles the emasculating effects
of caste distinctions and opposes the
higher training and ambition of ouI
brighter minds-so far as he, the south
! or the nation does this-we must un.
ceasingly and firmly oppose them. u
The book has appeared at most OPP
perfume time for never has the race
question so thoroughly absorbed the
attention of the American people as il
does today. The volume will be ca
gerly read by students of the perplex
ing color problem but it may be doubt
ed if many will be won over to trof
Dubois theories of higher education
for the colored man as opposed tC
Booker T. Washington ideal of indus
trial training