The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-28
BURDEN OF THE NEGRO PROBLEM


is most strenuous for Chinese exclu-
| sion. That element may be gagged
against negro agitation by the threat
| of Chinese agitation. But that would be
too much politics about the negro.
Craftsmanship is demanded, and states
nansfrip will not jump from the frying
| fan into the fire.
Craftsmanship sees a solution Of the
negro problem in removing the obstacles
from the way of the development of
the negros aptitude. and in encouraging
him in cultiva ton Of those habits which
| have become second nature with the
white race for its advancement.
| Such rolicy recognizes these facts
emphasized by the experience Of the past
| forty years.
The negro race is not the Caucasian
race merely colorec black
| The negro lace, mentally and morally,
| is centuries behind the Caucasian ana
has never given evidence of ability 10
advance in that respect Of its own In
| itiative.
| Crossed upon white stock the negro is
| given greater mental strength. but a
| strength likely to be exerted in manifes-
| tation of the vices rather than of the
virtues of the original stocks.
The negro race. physically, is power
full race and fit to work under proper
guidance.
To seek TO give the negro child, but
three centuries removed from the jungle.
the start Ia schooling similar to that
given the white child. with a thousand
years of the education Of individual ef-
fort behind it, was worse than foohardy.
1t was not unlike placing loaded maya
zine rife in the arms of A chimpanzee-
rytr liza q q y
privilege won bv the white man in cen
turtles of struggle and, after all. not al
ways exercised in manner justifying
his victory. was worse than criminal.
II was not unlike poisoning n stream
at Its very source.
Like education for whites and blacks.
education without distinction of race. are
the baneful theories which applied for
nearly two generations. have not only
injured the negro in weaving him from
incentives to productive and beneficial
exertions into sloth. vice and crime. but
have even twisted the training Of whites
upon right lines. IN forcing the suffrage
upon the negro there was injected into
the whole body polite virus of cor
ruption in party practices and in muni-
cipal, state and national administrations
fatty disproving much of the theory or
public education.
1t is but step from mendcant meth
DDS in negro education to mendicant
methods In white educat ton. Such pau
periza ton is but the fertilization of the
soil of graft in quarters high and low
SO. the negro problem belongs to us all.
The intelligence and patriotism of the
whole country must combine for It's so
luton. in permitting the south, most at
fected by it at present. to determine the
way and to supply the means Broad,
well defined principles must guide us.
Efforts to educate the rising generation
OF negroes must recognize, for avoid
ance. the mistakes of the past manifested
by negro youth of today. Expenditures
of time, energy and money must be per
capa city of the negro instead OF per
caylt aroo. ,.,,o ,o, ,ooa u,,.o,,,,o.,oa
must be brought back to the proper start
ing point before it is too late. They
must not only be allowed In other parts
of the country the opportunities to work
enjoyed by them in the south, but they
must be sharply taught that unless they
work they will starve. The machinery
for such instruction is to be had in 81
stringent vagrancy law, enforced com
pletely by an effective rural police or
patrol with provision that individuals
who will not work for themselves and
for others shall be forced to work for
the state in fields not conflicting with
honest labor
The way must be kept open for the
natural diffusion of the negroes among
the white population until they became
an element inconsequential from the So
cial, political or any other standpoint
AT present there is one negro for every
81 of the total population OF the coun-
try. That ratio would be a safe one If
it was common TO all parts OF the coun-
d.
is one negro for every three OF tho popu-
ation, the ratio ranging from one in
twenty-five in West Virginia 10 | in ~
in Mississippi and South Carolina At
the same time in the fifteen states east
of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio
and Mason and Dixon line the proportion
is negro for every $50 of The popula-
ton. the range being from in 6 in
Delaware to | Ia 62l in New Hampshire
In the / mountain and Pacific states
the proportion is in 1853. and in other
states and territories it is in SO.
AS long as any distinct race is massed
in one section Of the country. so long
will that race be hampSred and so long
will il be a drag upon the whole country.
Tie politician. the sensation monger or
any other individual in any part of the
country who, in using the negro for every
other purpose but the negros good, re-
tards the natural diffusion of the negro
revealed in the fact that nearly 1000 600
negroes are now living outside the south
in II total OF 1854 900. is an enemy to
his country and must be suppressed.
Those who would suppress him have only
TO bear in mind the significant fact that
the race question IS invariably brought
| to the front when the leading political
parties OF the country lack the courage
TO formulate and support policies appeal
| ing to the Intelligence Of the people, or
! when the movement carrying more ne
| groes to other parts OF the country and
| more whites to the south is most pro-
| nounced.
! OF all persons southern men should
| have no part in giving life TO negro agi-
| tation. The negro Is in this country for
! good we must meet this situation not
| with impracticable theories supported by
| overdrawn pictures OF danger from his
| presence. No reasonable man could with
| nroohetic sight have viewed the influences
! exerted upon negroes for forty Years
without expecting even more trouble than
| We have had. Suddenly freed from the