The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-04
+. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1908.
Professor Bassett and the Negro.

Professor Bassett and the Negro.
The Board Of Trustees OF Trinity Col
lere. N. c., by a vote of is to q refused
10 accept the resignation of Professor
Bassett. who recently came into noto-
riety on account of a saying Of his IN
public print that Booker Washington
was the greatest man. save Leo, pro-.
drced in the South in 100 years.
we are much surprised at this action
OF the board, and we do not believe that
Ii represents tho dominant sentiment or
tho white people of North Carolina. Wo
have read the article of professor Bas-
eett with some care, and we are shock
al at the view he takes OF the negro
question. The opinion. which ne eA-
presses about Booker Washington, is by
noIrneans the only Objectionable express
ston, nor the most Objectionable eS-
weston in his now famous article. His
remark about washington was quali1led.
&y"A man whose mind runs away INTO
baseless OPTIMISM said he is apt 10
noint to Booker T. Washington as pro
frct of the negro race. Now, WashlnG-
ton is a great and good man, Chris
Gtian statesman, and take him all IN an,
the greatest man, save Lee, born IN the
south In a hundred years; but he IS not
Sa@typical negro. He does not even rep
$resentthe better class OF negroes. he IS
an exceptional man; and, endowed US Nc
is, 1t is probable that he would nave
remained uneducated, but for the phllarl-
fhropfc Intervention of white men' Inc
race. even the best of them. arefso 1ar
hehii1d him that we cannot in reason look
for his reproduction In the present gen
Grafton. It is, therefore. too much TO
hope for continued appearance OF such
men in the near future. 1t IS also 100
mich to set his development up as a
standard for his race. TO expect It IS
Etc insure disappointment"
4 IL that had been the only objectionable
saying In Professor Bassett's article 1t
might have been overlooked for 1t Is
the mere expression of an opinion con-
corning one who is conceded to be the
greatest man of his race that this cotln-
try has produced. But Professor .Bas-
sett shows further on In his article and,
tn6eed. throughout the entire article, that
his views on the negro ques ton are by no
means orthodox from the Southern stand
point. For example, he has no WORD
Of censure for President Roosevelt Tor
entertaining Booker Washington at his
fable. although he alludes to the incl
dent, and his only comment thereon is
fiat the incident was seized upon by the
5watchful party leaders to make political
capital with the. masses. But worse than
all, in referring to proposals that have
been made to deport the negro or to
COLOMBO him, he says:
s#"But neither solution will work. The
only solution reserved for us is the adop-
ton Of these children of Africa into our
American life, in spite OF our race feel
ing, Of which the writer has his share.
They will win equality at some time. we
cannot remove them, We cannot XIII
them, we cannot prevent them from ad-
yancing In civilization. They are now
weak: some day they will be stronger.
They are now ignorant and passion
wrought; some day they VIII be wiser
md more self-restrained Do not know
lust what form the conflict viii take. II
may be merely a political conflict It
nav be more than that. am persuaded
that It is in many respects the old con-
Eflict between Roman Plebs and Roman
fnatricians over again. 1t ought TO be
shorter than that struggle and the Issue
ought be more fortunate than the Issue
OF the Roman conflict; for the American
life is richer and better than oRman
life"
THAT is, indeed. startling and shock
ing expression frcm Southern man and
teacher in southern school. Professor
SBassett says that these children o.
Africa arc to be adopted into our Amerl'
can life with view to making them oul
MI
without any qualification whatever, We
therefore, infer and must infer that he
means to say that the negroes are Y
bc drswn into our political life and oul
!sccia life. and affiliated as the equals
Iof wn!tes and as II to emphasize that
line seys that the conflict now going o,
between the races is In many respects tn
Iold conflict between Roman Plebs ant
IRoman patricans, and that II ought t
lbs shorter than that struggle, and tina
The issue ought TO be more fortunate
Lust what he means by this Is again
matter OF inference. but the Irresistible
conclusion is that the struggle is to re
Jplt In the breaking down of all wall
liz division between the white race an,
|.he negro race. II Is a fact OF Roma,
history that the plebeians finally becam
TART and parcel of the political and socia
ia OF Rome; that the Pleheians file,
many Of the most important offices, ant
nat there was indiscriminate marrsg
setween them and the Patrcans
EIf that is Professor Bassett's plan. 1
+ II ii. favor Of ccddling the negro wit
sayisw 70 making hin, the political an
cial equal OF the white man, heis not
Ii and proper person 10 be Isseain@ III