The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-14
NEW AGITATION OF AN OLD


The National Sociological Society, which
has been meeting at Washington. has made
its contribution towards the solution of the
race problem" by appointing a mixed COM
mittee of three prominent white men and
three colored men Ito cooperate with any
commission which may be appointed by the
federal government, and to assist in keep
ing facts. plans. arguments and efforts for
the solution of the race problem before the
general public and before the government"
1t is not likely the federal government viii
appoint a commission to advertise to the
world the fact that the country has a
troublesome social problem on its hands,
and as for keeping the problem before the
public, many persons think it is kept suffi-
GENTLY before the public without the in
PREVENTION of the government.
In addition to appointing this committee
of agitation, the society adopted resolu-
tons declaring:
That it is the duty of the government
to afford adequate and equal protection to
each and every citizen in the full enjoyment
of every right guaranteed by the CoEsti-
tuition and the laws of the land, and that
the perpetuity of the republic is dependent
On fidelity 10 this principle. That under our
form of government there can be no recog-
milton of a master class and a subject
class, nor can the government co~untenance
the idea of a master race and a subject
race, but must regard and treat all as
equals in the eyes of the law" Mob vio-
lence is deprecated, and colonization, expa-
trfation and segregation are condemned as
unworthy of consideration as solutions OF
the race problem. Faith Is exp assed in
the increasing intelligence. industry and
thrift of the negro. inasmuch as during
the past forty years of freedom the ne
groes have, in spite of adverse circum-
stances OF an unusual character. made
rapid progress. The records show that
they pay taxes on more than 5000, 900. 900
given to their ecclesiastical and charitable
Institutions"
All this is true enough, but 1t does not
bring out a new point nor throw any light
on an old subject. The substance of the
resolutions has been stated a thousand
times by the press and pulpits of the coun-
try, and no fair-minded person would think
of controverting them. The society evil
IDENTIFY means well. but If it thinks it has
discovered a new solution of the race prob
lem it takes itself too seriously. Congress
has done about all it can do in the matter
by the constitutional amendments and civil
rights legislation. and for the rest the
country must wait.
There is one statement in the resolutions
which shows that great progress has al
ready been made toward the solution of
the race problem in a natural way. The
resolutions state that since the abolition
of slavery the negroes have made such
progress that they now pay taxes on more
than $9OO.O0O.O0 valuation of real estate.
In the face of such a fact as that no person
need fear that the race problem is not
solving itself on right lines. People who
are acquiring real estate at that rate have
no time to bother about social equality,
and colored real-estate owners will make
good. conservative, law-abiding citizens. A
problem that is working itself out in sc
healthy and satisfactory a way should not
be agitated too much, lest It's solution be
retarded. Patience. time and education are
the great factors in the solution, and they
are working.