The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-01
FRIDAY MAY NJ. !. !, 1903 800.
IAN EXTREMISTS VIEW OF
THE NEGRO.

IT is the policy Of this paper to print
communications on various topics Of pub
clio interest In order to show tho Grlft of
n Thought. IN pursuance OF that policy we
printed In yesterdays pa per a cotnmuni-
N cation from Or. NJ. eter, Of Salem, Va.
on the negro question. In which he takes
1.-The ground and attempts to substnntiate
VI his position BY Scripture. that the negro
4 is a beast and without n soul. IA
Sag Dr. Je.er's communication seems to us
mot only Unreasonable, but harsh and
s3 pruel OF course, we did not mean to
Il give it even taie scmblance OF approval
iSby ad,nittinglit toour columns. It was
Il printed to show to what lengths extrom :.
x lists will 60. It was printed to bring the
I extremists face to faco with tho negro
question. i 3i8 80,
i We do not think that Dr. Jctcr means
10 be cruel or harsh, for he writes asrone \
who IS conscientious, md as one who Is
convinced OF tho trut1lfulness VI his posi-
81 lion. But Il Is utterly uncomfortable to
Ids that man who has been brought up
5IIH6E oOuLI SSpSGlaiiyit "t'ot
had he tender care Of q black NANNY.
1 ana who has had many an example Of
pious men and women In the negro race,
can come to the conclusion that the ne
gro IS not human being; that he As only
4 hi CHER order Of the brute creation, and
that he has no promise OF the life to (
come There are brutal negroes;3 there
are negroes who seem to be almost ns /
brutal rs the brutos. But there are bru-
TIL white men also. and we cannot Judge
n whole race by individual members Of
that race. FL, Az
XII However. It Is not that phase OF the
question which we would discuss, FOR in
Mn abstract question like this nothing can
: 3be proved absolutely. We cannot prove
4 that the WATERMAN has a soul, for sthat
ii matter, or that there Is a life beyond
The grave for him. 1T is at besn a mat.
tei or faith, a matter Of inner ic6hselpus-s
ness. 1t is the practical part Of FDr
Jeter's article that commands the at
4 tention OF the white people of the South
II the negro is a beast, he should be
treated as other beasts nre treated. Flo
* should be held8in servitude and worked
i for the white mans benefit and profit as
& other beasts OF burden are worked fIo
\ ehould have no civil or political rights;
5ghe should not be given instruction, except
such instruction as will make him more,
valuable as ID beast Of burden. That Is
the inevitable conclusion of DR.. Jeter's
proposition. and he seems to believe that
K that course should be pursued.
But II the negro is not a beast; II he Is,
Indeed. human being, even though an
inferior hth1ian bling, endowed with in-l
tellect. Having aIspIritunl nature. and be-
Ing part of the human family, he;
should be treated as a human being; he
should be given the rights OF human.
beings before The law; he should be given
4 I'll tho rights OF citizenship where he
Shows himself capable of exercising
B them discrectly and he should be given
the chance to. live and enjoy life and
improve his condition and Mt himself for
the duties OF this life and Mt his soul
! for the life to come.
There is no middle ground We must
treat the negro as a beast OF burden or
treat Vim as a human being. ,st