The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-23
FATHER PRINTON TAKES
ISSUE WITH TILLMAN
Protests in Name of Humanity Against
Senator's Statements.
10 the Editor of The Globe.

1 % the Editor OF Inc Globe.
In your issue of Saturday you print
portions of an interview given by SEN
ator Tillman in Minneapolis in refer
epce TO the negro problem in the South.
The country is too we'll accustomed to
the senator's style and sentiments on
that subject to be surprised at the tenor
of his reported remarks. We have heard
him often to the same effect-from a
distance. But when he comes among us
to work off what seems to be, in his
case, a perennial surplus of race pref
udice and bitterness, it is in order for
those who take an interest in the race
question to notice what the senator
may say.
1t may be, as Mr.. Tillman claims,
that the SOutherners are best qualified
TO solve the race problem in the South.
ana that they should be left to do so
without interference from outside. But
on his own admission the problem may
easily become a national concern, and
by the very terms OF the constitution
II Is, to some extent a national con-
Germ already. 1t is a national concern
TO safeguard and preserve those funda-
mental principles of liberty, indicated
Tor the colOred as we'll as the white
man, at the cost of the Civil war; and
when the senator from South Carolina
comes among us and equivalently tells
us that 1t is none of our business what
his own or any other state may do in
It's treatment of the negro, he is point
ing the way to what may ultimately
turn out to be treason against the con-
sutution, and every citizen has the
right to raise his voice in protest
But it is not on this ground that
would ask your permission to enter my
humble protest against some of the re-
NNl- ffrNflN IL.
senator. Apart from all questions of
constitutional or political interest 1 de-
sire, in the name of humanity and of
Christianity, to object to the narrow
and eminently unchristian spirit of
some Of the senator's remarks Take
the following for instance, as quoted
IN your columns:
AS l have explained there is no dan
ger OF conflict or of any serious trouble
between the races in the South so long
= the negro distinctly understand, as he
must understand for all time, that he is
an inferior being to the white man, and
must forever occupy a subordinate posi-
llon. care not by what process of edu-
cation or environment the black may try
to render himself the equal of the white
man he cannot do it. He is a coarser
grained creation. 1t is racially impossible
mat he can become the social or intel
lectual equal of the white. If it were
possible, why, in all the centuries that
are past. mas he never demonstrated his
There is place for the negro in the
SCUM. Me need his labor. Wholesale de-
portation of the negro, even We're this
POSSIBLE; would be disaster. 1t would
Upset the commerce of the world"
1t is hopeless to argue about the
possibility of race betterment with one
who sets out from the assumption that
no betterment is possible. And it is
strange logic to urge that because the
negro IN the past has never proved
what he has never had an opportunity
of proving. He should therefore, be
considered not only incapable of prov
ing II under new conditions in the flu
ture, but should be shut out from all
chance of using the new conditions and
opportunities that have come to him,
lest, perhaps, after all, he might sue
coed in proving that he does possess
the capacity which we deny him. In
deed, 1t looks as if those who argued
so were afraid of having their cherish
ed assumption of hopeless race infer
1ority put to a fair trial.
But it is not with the senator's ar
gument 1 am chiefly concerned. NV
objection as man and a Christian
and teacher of Christianity is to the
1dea OF condemning any race to look
upon Itself as hopelessly and inevi-
tably condemned to inferiority and for
bldden even to entertain the higher
thoughts and nobler aspirations which
naturally lead to higher levels of NOR
al. intellectual and social life. The ar
ttude is not humanitarian. and it is
not Christian. The equality of all men
and of all races to attain the level of
moral and intellectual and social prog
ress which Christian life implies is
one Of the fundamental postulates of
the gospel, and no Christian, who
would also be a civiIizer, could con-
siStently join with the preaching of
christianity to any people a demand
that they should regard themselves as
shut out from even the highest ideal of
human progress which the gospel
brings to their knowledge.
Pastor St Peter Ciaver's Church j