The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-07
Mr.. Graves Address.

ana COMPREHENSIVE epiloluc VI tIO
whole so-called race question was
ever before compressed within an
hours talk, and it is Superfiuous to add
that Jhe rounded rhetoric and moving
eloquence were Mr.. Graves own. De
liyered by such a man. in such man
ner and under such auspices, the adj
dress could not be otherwise than no
table ard Is certain to inspire wide
spread renewed interest in the subject
under discussion.
Our northern friends, who necessa-
rily, must study this great question
through The haze of distance, have
been given an intimate and Vltalized
view OF the south's predicament-for
that is the W, d. II. Graves has,
with his def strokes on the high
lights, enabled them to put themselves
in the place Of their brethren OF the
south This is WELL for it is large
question. a grave question, ana any
thing but a sectional question:, though
a section OF our common country be
most directly concerned in it. The
problem. if it will be insisted that it
is such, is not even bounded by the
nation. II concerns humanity itself.
1t requires no historical analyst to
demonstrate how largely and vitality
the loWly African has figured and is
figuring in our national destiny, but
We dare say that Mr.. Graves succinct
review along this line struck many OF
his hearers as a revelation in the phil
losophy of history. If the sins OF the
fathers are visited upon succeeding
generations in politics and sociology,
then the republic has atoned in blood
and treasure. IN strife and ern1ity be-
yond figure or word to express, for the
cardinal sin Of slavery, and the south
is but now lifting her head from
sackcloth and ashes
Admirable as is Mr. Graves hand
ling Of the whole subject, and as inter
esting as has been mis- elucidation OF
il. The Constitution, in common. we
believe. with an overwhelming major
itv of southern folk, takes issue with
his proffered solution. In the first
place. we believe Mr.. Graves eXagser-
ates out Of all nationality the menace
Of nine million negro inhabitants in
the United States, although we are
not calling in question the gravity OF
certain phases Of the negrO's present
condition in the south. We do nor
believe here is anything in the racial
logic Of civilization, under the record
OF history. that proves the impossl-
bility OF widely divergent peoples liv-
ing and working together for decent
livelihood and material advancement,
and that with minimum Of social and
political friction. IL the very nature
of modern progress civilization is het-
erogene0us. and becomes the more SO
tie higher it's development Even the
effete and seIni-barbaroGs civilizations
Of Asia, with all their castles OF rel-
gi0n and society, have from time inns
memorial been cosmopolitan in their
labor. trade and commerce. They
draw no race lire in The matter Of
breathing Il common air
Abstractly. the proposition Of racial
segregation is race bigotry, worthy of
the dark cges. Where, in this enlight-
ened time ard land. is there an
irrepressible conflict and deadly
irI econcilability between habitant
races? Seven million negroes there
are III the southern states, living
alongside of but few more whites,
ard if d volcano is under their feet,
the surface evidences are lacking.
To al appearances they are getting
along very we'll together and mutually
prospering True, things are not all
that we should like to have them. but
there is being evolution along sound
lines. nobody IS prosecuted or OPP
pressed because Of the color of his
skin, nor is tie door Of opportunity
closed to any one for this reason, if
the phrase be sarely Interpreted
Doubtless there are many negroes
IL the country. north as we'll as south,
who are pining for negro Utopia.
BY the same token, there are more
white American citizens in -he coun-
try pining for Ell Dorado, The reason
in both instances is social although
the negro is quick to persuade himself
that it is racial. The Negroes wrongs
are fancifuI and sentimental. lie has
every substantial benefit OF citizen
ship here. if he Will work and practice
the prudent virtues that make for the
white mans well-being. He can &C
uUiGe property Dy tNl III 'ii'u i've III
peace and plenty. The trouble is that
the mass of negroes, like too many
ne'er-do- well whites. arc naturally in
clined TO wait for Elijah's ravens, and,
lean from the waiting, imagine they
have race problem TO solve
AS we have said it is only the
worl i-old social problem, but with
some minor racial aggravations. per
haps. People Of this class, be they
white or black, are restless and gen
orally social malcontents. ready to
Jump at any chimerical scheme of re-
lief. particularly ar emigration
scheme We dare say that if some
one would organize a fund to trans
port Would-be emigrantS to darkest
Africa with a cash bonus attached. he
would find that the negroes would not
follow. The negro may talk a good
deal about his race grievances. but he
knows The south is his congenal hab-
itat. and here he will stay.
Mr.. Graves claims that, by actual
authoritative statistics, the negro no
longer makes the staple or cereal
crops OF the SOUTH and leaves the
inference that the south has reached