The independent., 1903-07-09
the NEGRO QUESTION
Henry Ward Bsscher's Letter to the Louis
willie Courier Journal Recently Pub
Iished in The Outlook

lished in The Outlook
In The Independent. of March 19,
1903, we published a communication
from Mr.. De Hart, of Jersey City, N.
j., relative to the negro problem. His
views were combatted by number
of writer's, whose communications
were printed and in number of 9TH
ers which The Independent did not
use. In the issue of April % was
printed the communications of ]. III.
NJ. E. ]. Benton, and S. G. Shelter,
at which time this was said editorial
Iy in a note: "The Independent de-
sires not to devote too much space to
this negro discussion, believing that
the real problem is humanity without
regard to nativity or color. But it
gives space to the article above and
the ones following. and trusts that
the incident may close. Mr.. De Hart
seems to have aroused the ire of sew
eral gentlemen-but his heart will be
found to be in the right place, even
if his views of the negro question are
attacked"
Not long since a communication
was received from Traverse A. Sprag-
gins, also of Jersey City, whose views
are similar to those expressed by Mr..
De Hart-in the ain a rational dis
cussion of the subject, but contain
ing some statements which could not
fail to arouse bitter discussion and
one which could hardly fail to arouse
antagonisms between men who are
equally anxious for the good of man.
kind.
The Independent admires the sharp
conflict between bright minds-tha
flint against the steel-but prefers to
avoid those profitless discussions
which result only in hatred and ac-
complish nothing in eradicating evil.
So, with considerable reluctance-be-
cause Of our rule to give as far as
possible all earnest men a hearing
we decide not to print Mr.. Spraggins
letter.
The article below is quoted from
The Outlook of May 80, 1903, and in
the main expresses the ideas on tho
negro question entertained by the
editor of The Independent for the past
twenty years. 1t was printed from
the original manuscript by The Out
look, received through the kindness
of Major j. B. Pond, Mr. Beecher's
lecture agent. It was probably pub
lished in the Courier Journal at the
time, being dated at Louisville, KY,
March 80, 1885, and Is as follows:
Courier-Journal: The interview
published this morning in your paper,
while in the main correct, has mis-
taken my views on one OF two points
which / beg permission to correct.
The statement that I said that South
Carolina might almost have been JUS
titled In rising against the voting
colored population and massacring
them is far from my feelings or opin-
ions. The question before me and
the interviewer was on the counting
of votes. said that in a case like
Carolina | could we'll understand why
the white people refused to count the
votes fairly. | did not think that they
were to be justified in false count,
or suppression of the vote, or an in
timidation of the voter. But | said
that, considering the evils suffered
under legislation of colored men, just
emancipated, ignorant of government,
late he slaves of white men, but now
put over their masters by their num-
bers, taxing without wisdom, issuing
bonds without skill or prudence,
did not wonder that the white pop
ulation resorted to unfair means to
suppress their foolish legislation
Even that was wrong in morals, an,
the savage idea that they were justi.
fled in massacre is revolving senti
ment.
Allow me to state explicitly nv
views of the past and present rela-
tions of the colored people.
/. The state Of slavery III the south,
before the war, with all it's softening,
was evil and only evil, both in it's eff
fects upon the blacks and the whites
alike, and was, on the whole, both in
morals and in politica. economy, ex-
ceedingly bad. A terrible price was
paid for the destruction of the slave
system; but it was worth to posterity
hundred times what it cost.
II. The putting the vote into the |
hands of an ignorant race was an as
founding event in political history. 1t |
came not from belief of their fitness
for suffrage, but from a conviction |
that it was necessary for their de-
fense. The tentative legislation of |