The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-16
WOULD HE HAVE EQUALITY

Would the negro desire social equality, If that
possible? Could the negro wisely accept social
equality if it were rendered by the white race?
Suppose that the negro recognized the profound
differences that exist between the races. Suppose
he knew that Professor Rood puts it. the two peo-
pies are separated developmentally by chasm of
twenty thousand years. in other words. that the
chronological physiological anatomical differences
between them may be measured by twenty thousand
years of development.
An intelligent negro individual If educated to a
plane with the white that he could appreciate
the scientific disparity between the races, might hes
tate long before accepting mscegenaton, the logical
and inevitable elimination Of social equality.
He might well distrust the quality Of the hybrid
product. Intermixture would result in disturbance
If not lowering of the Caucasian quality. That the
effect would find any compensation in a raising
of the negro is nowhere evident.
The negro is developing at q rapid rate. Would
not miscegenation retard his development? There is
evidence in the history of that development is
best fostered by racial individuality. Those periods
In which races have dwelt apart have produced the
greatest progress. Wall up people within mountain
ranges for two hundred years, cut of outside blood,
and the result is distinctive frightening Of quality.
Minge peoples efface Individuality and the result is
for time at least retrogression
This broad principle of individualistic develop
ward, to be responsible for the immense inequality
existing between the white and the black man. the
former having been Graded isolated and protected
by natural fortresses, while in the great fat plains
of Africa individual and tribal development i'm
possible because Of the lack Of natural protection.
The American negro has been transplanted,
brought to a environment, with all the racial
and physical disadvantages which attended life in
unprotected country and without promise of the nat
ural protection under which, If the ndivdualistic de-
velopment theory be true, white peoples have pro-
crossed. And manifestly, in the light of what short
experience have already had with the transplanted
people, their natural and anatomical differences,
cept to color, cannot be obvated by mixed breed
ing. The mulatto shows less force of development
than the pure strain, which has produced almost
without exception the high-class individuals.
Obviously the negro's development depends en-
vironment; which is equivalent to saying that he
must be helped but not spoiled. Environment does
its work slowly. Development may perhaps be as
sisted; not forced.
Linking his development with that Of the superior
cannot be accomplished There is too great q
disparity in the rates of speed It is doubtful whether
the intelligent representative OF the negro would
favor the experiment. even though the white man
consented.
Speaking of the rapidity with which the white
man is distancing the negro the Medical News OBJ
serves: "f the negro is advancing, which, thanks to
the noble efforts made at Tuskegee and similar in
situations, he surely is, what in the meantime Is the
Caucasian doing? Advancing? Yes, with his plant
brain capable Of permitting progressive develop
ments from birth to death, he Is laundering ahead
with a rush and speed which alien race can hope
to follow"