The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-15
MoFRIENDs TO THE NEGRO
Bassstt and Others Who Keep Stirring Up the
Race Problem.

To the Editor: l notice some friends of
Prof Bassett apparently of the same
stripe as he isl, are demanding he be al
lowed to explain. No doubt Bassett would
be glad to explain if he could, but just
how to explain the assertion that Booker
Washington is the greatest man born in
the South, except General Lee during the
past one hundred years, is something that
he finds hard to do. His predicament re-
minds me of a joke Senator Vance used to
tell of man who killed another in
Texas.
Fifty and more years ago Texas was
a great resort for murderers and fugitives
from Justice. Once across the borders of
her territory, they became lost in tie
great wilderness and no law or ayenger of
blood could reach them. Senator Vance
said this man who had slain fellow man
lived in Texas, and when his friends
gathered around him and advised him to
run. rum" he replied: I'D like to
know where am going to run to, amt
already in Texas
Bassett seems to be in a bad fix and
would doubtless be glad for his friends,
who seem anxious for him to explain, TO
also furnish him with the explanation
one that will satisfy the white people of
North Carolina and the whole South.
If left alone, the negro would give no
trouble. He knows he is q negro and as
a rule is contented to remain one. 1t is
just such men as this man Bassett. Prof.
Sledd and the Northern Method
list Bishop who recently was reported as
thanking God because Roosevelt invited
Booker Washington to eat "'possum and
taters' with him in the White House;
that cause trouble and bring discord be-
tween the races They are not true
friends to either race, but are sewers of
dragons teeth which in time may cause
trouble, and serious trouble. Every line
written and every step taken by silly and
misguided white men to place the negro
on equality politically or socially with
the white man only tends to work harm
towards the negro. The white man was
made in every respect the superior OF the
negro, and he will continue SO despite
the efforts Of these ''negrophollsts,' to
prove to the contrary. In striving to up
lift himself, to accumulate property and
to make himself useful citizen. the ne
gro will always find the white man his
ready and willing helper. 1t is only when
Brown stamp, that he assumes to be equal
with the white men, that he becomes OBJ
noxious to the white man and brings down
upon himself just condemnation.
We all feel that Booker Washington Is
a good man and is doing a noble work
The whole country is helping him and
wishing him all the prosperity and sue
cess possible. The utterances of such
men as Bassett, however, are well cal
culated to hinder and retard his progress
than otherwise The White House episode
showed weakness in him to be regretted,
and the affair at Hamlet did him no good
He will do we'll to consider hereafter and
not allow himself to be caught in such
traps again. Washington certainly de-
serves the sympathy and respect OF all, II
he conducts himself Alright in the work
which he has undertaken. The field be-
ore him is vast, and the harvest white.
DR.. Dubois, who is probably better edu-
Gated negro than Washington, in his book,
entitled "The Souls of Black Folk says
that ten per cent of the negroes OF the
South are intelligent. Eighty-one per
cent shiftless and dependent, and nine per
cent wholly vicious" This certainly IS
| not at all encouraging, and shows what a
tremendous undertaking Booker Washing
on has before him.
1t remains to be seen what he Will do
md what he will accomplish. Liberia has
been failure San Domingo is stencil
n our nostrils, and in South Africa the
Xaffir is a problem John Bull seems not
2ble to solve. A writer on the subject
Of the Kaffir recently declared, all efforts
@ get them to work proved futile.
They he declared; rest most OF the
ime. work part of the time and talk all
he time"
The negro is here, i'll the South. and
with the lights before US We think he Is
very fortunate to be here We do not
wish to drive him away or to del any
way with him, except gently ana kindly,
5ut as long as he remains in the South
he must remember he is a negro and not
1 white man and whenever he SO far for
gets himself as to ignore this fact then
t would be better for him to pack his
rip and move to more congenial cline.
nd Prof Bassett and men Of his ilk can
slack UP, put sheep skin on their heads
md move with him. if they see fit. If
hey stay here and continue to throw
irebrands among the negroes, they may
be in danger of tar and feathers after
awhile Respectfully,
l.. yINSON.
Littleton, N. G., Nov. u. 1908.