The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-25
SUNDAY, OCTOBER %,
THE NEGRO PROBLEM.

HE lNEuEo ff\oDl- LIN.
We print in another column a thought
full and striking communication on the
much discussed negro question, which is
worthy OF careful study and considera-
zion. Our correspondent is Southern
man of education, a minister of the Sos
pei who has labored diligently among
negroes In the prosecution of his minis
terial work, and his experience in this
direction gives his communication the
greater force. So far from being negro
hater, he has the kindest feelings for
the race, and the object Of his commune
cation is to suggest some plan by which
1t may be elevated and it's moral tone
Improved.
He declares that the negro problem is
a moral problem. and that to use educa
ton, whether academic or manual, as Il
solution is but an attempt to light the
fire from the top. He admits that the
negro Is capable of learning, that he can
master the tasks of the school-room, or
the laboratory, or the training school,
but he holds that it is yet to be proved
that such learning raises him one whit
in the scale of humanity, and that, UNI
der the present system, what we have to
look forward to is a negro civilization,
skilled in the manual arts, and trained
TO speak and write and yet, withal, de-
void of public conscience, and with no
standard of honor or chastity.
This is only another way OF stating the
proposition which has so often been stated
III these columns ami elsewhere, that
education which dota not incIude moral
framing is one-sueu and dangerous, and
simply facilitates the work of the crmi-
nal, sharpening his wits and putting i'm
proved implements OF crime into his
hands.
1ne proposition is we'll stated by our
correspondent when he says that tho
negro probiem resolves Itself into the
task Of cultivating public conscience
within the race. the inuiyluuai expression
OF which is selt-rcspect and the sense
OF opusatIon To the whole body social.
Generally speaking, there is no moral
standard among negroes. This is a broad
statement. and it sounds like q harsh
statement but it is true. Inc nesro
race has made no social laws for itself,
such as the white race has made for
itself. Except in rare instances in some
OF the larger cities, there are no grades
OF society among the blacks There Is
no qualification or morals among men or
women that determines the social status
~ ts 1a g
social point Of view, no disadvantage to
be unclean, or even to have been con-
victed of crime.
Our correspondent says that the State
must approach this problem through the
medium OF family life, since the family
life is the unit of society. 1.-The first
fact that confronts US in the study OF this
phase OF the problem" says he, lis that
chastity, the highest OF domestic virtues,
1s TO the great mass of the negro race a
quality neither possessed nor priced. Its
possession is not considered requisite
for acceptable service In the person of a
teacher OF religion. and It's loss is a vcnIal
offense, If it be an offense at all, in
the unmarried woman"
The source of this corruption. he con-
tends. and rghtfully contends, is the one
room cabin, where father, mother and
children live and eat and sleep w!thou,
any walls of partition between the sexes.
The graduate of such home he de-
clares, goes into life either with life and
body and soul tainted with an unnatural
crime. or with a mind ievercd 10 frenzy
Therefore. he urges that the real begin.
ming OF The solution must be IN the
home. There must be separation Of the
sexes in the home, Since neither the
instincts OF the negro nor the public con
science of his race have taken any steps
It is his conclusion that the State must
make and enforce this demand.
The remedy which he proposes is an act
of General Assembly, providing, in short
that II any persons Of opposite sexes who
are above the ages Of twelve years, ant
not married to each other shall occup!
the same apartment for sleeping pur
poses, or for changing their apparel
they, and each of them, as Well as The
persons In possession and control OF
such apartment. shall be deemed guilt,
OF a misdemeanor. aud shall each be
fined not less than 50 nor more than $40
for each offeuse, Some necessary ex
oeptions are made, and II is further pro
y.ded that ~ the offender under thi
statute shall prove 10 tho satisfaction
of the magistrate that no Is not able L
provide the required room space for tn
minor, then said minor shah be sent I,
the aimAhopse, and the support Of sucI
minor shah be taken from the schoo