The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-04-01
AN EXPERT VIEW.
The Medical News, Of New York,
on the Race Issue
TIE NEGRO VIEWED MEDICALLY

THE NEGRO VIEWED MEDICALLY
The News Says Unless All the
Facts Are Weighed, the
South May be Done
Great Injustice.
The Medical News, widely known
journal published in New York city,
is aroused by the recent discussion
Of the race issue to comment upon
Negro Supremacy frcn Medical
Standpoint" In an editorial upon
that subject in its issue Of February
IS the Medical News states that in
leading papers Of the North and
South have appeared editorials Of
great acumen and power, but none
seem as yet to have dealt, except in q
superficial manner, with the race
problem as seen from a biological,
chronological or medical standpoint. "
The News continues:
One cannot intelligently answer
the question whether the negro can
take a place in the social and econo-
mic progress of the nation without
being in possession Of the main NOR
biological differences between the
Caucasian and the African, since
these are the fundamental bases for
mental and moral discrepancies be-
tween the races.
That the negro more nearly ap-
proaches in body to the Quadrumana
or anttropold apes is shown by the
following points: The arm is abnor-
mally long-in the erect position it
often reaches the knee-p pans, and on
an averge exceeds that Of the Cauca-
sian by about two inches. The facial
angle, which is granted by all to have
definite chronological bearing, even
if the function of the frontal lobes is
still but little known, average 81 de-
grees in the Caucasian and 20 degrees
in the black. Coincidentally with
this is the fact that in brain weight
the white man exceeds the negro by
fully 10 ounceS-almoSt as much as
he in turn exceeds the highest gorilla.
Another point of difference anatoml-
cally is seen in the lower extremity
this is not so well developed as the
white mans, the foot is broad and
fiat, the great toe prehenslle and
! divergent, the heel often projecting
so far backward as to merit the term
lark heel"
1t is needless to dwell longer on
the well known difference which ex-
lists, or to urge that they demonstrate
distinct race of mankind and show
conclusively in the negro an inferior
type. Among the fair-minded this
is automatic.
Some years ago we were all alarmed
over the yellow peril" Now the
''black peril" confronts US.
The article quotes the late Prof.
Ogden S. Rood, OF Columbia. as ask
ing: How can there be any ques-
tion Of superiority or inferiority be-
tween two peoples who develop men
tally are separated by a chasm OF
20, 900 years." Eugene r. Corson, in
his contribution to the Wilder Quar-
ter Century Book, states that as re-
suit Of most careful study Of the
census, and dependent upon personal
observation in the city Of Savannah,
he is confident that tuberculosis and
alcoholism are madin stultifying in
roads on the making negro, poor,
weakened product, thai he is, Of mis-
cegenstion.
Sir Spencer St. John says of the in
habitants of Hayti: After resi-
dence Of over twenty years IN this
island l am forced to the conclusion
that the negro is incapable Of hold
ing an independent position. Haytl
shows no sign OF improvements the
other hand, it is constantly retrograd-
ing, and without external influence
the inhabitants will soon fall into the
stage OF the dwellers Of the Congo. !"
The Medical News thus continues its
comments:
If it is true, as some have perhaps
well said, that the time is ripe for a
recognition Of the negro, in substance
rather than in theory, earnest thought
should be given by those who would
liberally interpret our laws, and they
should be well versed in the opinions
OF such men of science as we have
quoted They must know and recog-
nize that profound differences do exist
that one race is 10000 years behind
the other They must know that
ethnologically, physiologically, anato-
mically, the negro and Caucasian
must always be widely different. If
the negro is advancing, which, thanks
to the noble efforts made at TuskeGee
and similar Institutions, he surely is,
what, meantime, is the Caucasian do
ing? Advancing? Yes, with his
plant brain case, capable Of permit
ting progressive development from
birth to death, he is laundering ahead
with rush and speed which no
alien race can hope to follow.
Unless these facts are weighed IN a
true balance bitter injustice may be
done the South. 1t is no doubt true,
as Carson assumes that the irrevoc-
able law OF the survival Of the ft-
test" will wipe the negro away, but
this will take centuries. There il a
real and immediate peril, as the Sena-
tor from North Carolina has well said.
Science. education, religion, phllan.
thropy may well focus their bright
rays upon it, and unless our leaders
follow where these trend the South
will surely suffer.
\ Sad Accident.
A. Cncna Fla at a Charayari Dar-