The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-03
DR.. Mitchell on the Negro.


delivered yesterday before the Baptist
Minister'S Conference, of this city an
address entitled Proposed Solution OF
the Negro Problem" DR.. Mitchell dealt
particularly with the proposition OF MT.
John Temple Graves to deport the whole
negro race. It is hardly necessary to say
that he Is opposed 10 the plan. First OF
all he says that while the separation
of the races is physically practicable,
that Is to say the United States governs
ment Is able to take the negro race up
bag and baggage and transport 1t across
the seas, is morally impracticable, for
the reason that the negro is an Integral
factor In the Industrial system OF the
South, and that the southern people
would not be willing to send them away.
He notes the statement OF Mr.. Graves
that the negro no longer makes the staple
or cereal crops OF the South, but insists
that the plantations in the Mississippi
bottom are worked to-day almost wholly
by. negro labor. as they have been for
generations past. DR.. Mitchell was reared
on cotton plantation in Mississippi; his
mother still lives there, and he is familiar
with conditions in that section of the
South. Not long ago, he tells us, large
planter in that section in talking to him
of the negro's future, remarked: $50 far
from wanting to get rid OF the black man,
we wish to get as many as possible to
settle here upon our plantation Dr.
Mitchell feels sure that to uproot the
negro from the Industrial situation in the
South would precipltate a collapse only
family Swallowed by the Moors from
Spain. Indeed, he thinks that it is provi-
dental that the South has two distinct
industries suited to the two distinct races
which dwell upon its soil--the negroes
in the cotton field and the white laborers
in the cotton factories. He thinks that
the two should work In harmony. as the
factory is dependent upon the field.
Again he feels sure that the deportation
OF the negro would be opposed upon po-
litcal grounds. fright or wrong" says
he in that connection. '.the negro has
above him the palladium of the Constitu-
ton Of the United States. and much Of
the Americans reverence for that instru-
ment of government would shield the
black brother in his asserted right"
Mr.. John Temple Graves is an orator
and very plausible speaker. His
speeches at the North on the subject pro-
voked applause for the moment and at
tracted wide attention, but his plan is
utterly ,mprachcable. Tho negro Is here
and he is going to stay here. He is not
going away OF his own accord, and we
as a Christian nation are not going to
send him away. We may finally deter
mine to Danish all negroes convicted of
crime. but those negroes who behave
themselves will stay here. and will be
we'll treated. s
Nor does DR.. Mitchell agree with those
who advocate the policy of repression. !"
with those who say that as a means OF
keeping the negro under, he should be
denied the right of education. He insists
that enforced ignorance upon the part
OF the African cannot augment the
wealth. quicken the Intelligence, or adj
vance the moral progress of the whites
in the South. and he says that II one
the body and the ens!avement OF the
mind, the former would perhaps be pre-
ferred. That being the case. DR.. Mitchell
| Is sure, and we agree with him, that
| the American people are going to give
the negro chance to get an education.
| If the southern people will do 1t, the
northern people will help: II the south
| ern people refuse TO do 1t, the northern
| people are going to do it on their owr
account. We have absolutely no doubt
on that subject. The negro Is not q
slave; he has been emancipated and we
cannot as a nation dodge the Constitu
| tion and by indirection put back the
shackles which have been torn away anc
thrown aside.
Instead of taking the school from the
colored men," says Dr.. MITCHELL In con
cluslon, "Iet us take away the saloon.
He believes that by means OF such school.
az Hampton. the Virginia Normal ano
Industrial institution at Petersburg anc
the Virginia Union University, at Rich
mond. negro teachers can be trained II
such way as to get better results from
the public schools,
lie thinks that religious bodies In tn,
South can devote more energy to tn.
practical elevation OF the negro in help
Ing to train teachers preachers and othe
leaders for the race.
He insists that race responsibility mus
be cultivated In the negro,
He also insists that all should recogniz
that the spirit OF Justice must determin
tho final settlement of this perplextn,
problem.
1t is inspiring TO hear words like thcs
from u man who Is learned and practica
and good. The difficulty with most q
US is that we think too much about re