The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-25
NEGRO REJOINs TO PARxHURsT.
Immigration Likely to Give Us . Worse
Problem 1han the Negro Question,

Immigration Likely to Give Us . Worse
Problem Than the Negro Question.
Caswell G. Henderson 10 ono of the best
known oolored Republicans in the county
OF New York and occupies q substantial
place In the community. Mr.. Hendersons
friends speak Of him a. man OF discretion
and Of capabilities. He said yesterday:
1t Is really too bad that the Rev, DR..
Parkhurst does not desire to take I'D his
residence In the Southland. Methinks he
would be made Governor OF Mayor OF some
popuious State or city, as q reward for
his learned dissertation on the colored
man. whom he styles niger That word
niger. by the way. stands in the same
sort of III r-pute that Nick Chimney,
'Sheeny,' &c., occupy as terms Of derlsion
and contempt applied to individuals Of
certain races. 1t must be that the rev.
erend doctor went In poor company in
the Southland to have added to his vooab-
ulary word that is pure slang, under
whatever authority one may seek for it.
He gives a. ono excuse that the colored
man himself uses the term. In doing
this he acknowledges that the colonel
race is an authority for the word of such
fitness and standing that 1t IL recognized
as such by him. This being 20, it is only
a step for the doctor to recognize the fitness
OF colored mel In other directions
But the facts In the case are that the rac
employ the term nigger' only to express
derision. The number Of them who use
II are few, very few. Go among the Italians,
the Irish. or the Jews. and you may hear
among certain classes the terms Chimney
press derison or contempt. But these terms
from the lips OF those OF other races are
taken as insults. So 1t 10 With the colored
race. More than three-quar ters Of the
race fairly hate the term. and no greater
given than to apply that term to them
Therefore 1t is With much surprise, not to
say disgust, that note that DR.. Parkhurst
has added this word to his vocabulary.
Il had always expected better things
teaches the universal brotherhood OF man
and the fatherhood Of God. Can It be that
he is receding from the best dictates OF
his heart and conscience, or ie he losing the
courage of his convictions? Emphatioally,
II God teaches universal brotherhood, as
Sanitation Of an intimate kind IL not only
suggested but required.
Furthermore, before DR.. Parkhurst gave
his expert opinion on the unftness OF come
colored mon for oitizenship, he should
foreign immigrants who swarm to this
country to the number Of eSSol4 yearly,
a large number OF whom are recognized by
every intelligent person as the very scum
OF oil Europe. Let me say most earnestly
probs@ that "s Vii snake into net SSHns
the so-called negro problem, In the former
problem you will find the origin OF strikes,
labor troubles, misma ma cement in State and
city government, bribery, corruption, dyna-
mite plots. riots, and fut 1t is un-
necessary to add more to prove. the unfit
ness Of large mass Of the immigrants for
citizenship, assimilation and America MIA
ton.
"Dr. Parkhurst would no more lit his
hand to put into practice assimilation OF
present Americans than he would try to
fly. He couldn't lose sight Of the facial
Identity and speech OF tho Italian, the
Irishman, or the Hebrew, and il he felt
to he would feel prejudice for each one in
whom he saw the physical traits Of the race.
Yet DR.. Parkhurst Is arguing against aasim-
ilation Of only the lower Glasses Of the col
ored race, az II those classes constituted
the whole race.
Again. he says 1t is a very serious prob
lem to see two races multiplying and gain
this great land q ours. Il is a most solemn
problem, one that saddens e u tthoushtfY' i
is it that the oolorsd race is growing up side
by side only with the white race? Surely
not that Of the colored race. Ali I wish
DR.. Parkhurst could walk In a colored mans
shoes for just one week. to receive his
rebuffs. his disappointments, his checks
to healthy ambition his heartaches, dc.
The following week he would be much
changed, a converted man.
'The basal fact Of the negro problem
is prejudice, which ia as unreasonable as
II is difficult to understand. Wipe that
out and you have no problem. The ideal
American who commended for principle
and right before the Revolution, and Tor
justice and opportunity for all in the OWL
war. has almost passed away. The present
get back to the old standards that laid
the foundation Of this great country, and
let us avoid the error by which Rome fell
a sapping away Of manhood In its fullest
and broadcast sense.