The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-05-09
our WASHINGTON LRrrER.
Intsrestilg Paets Relating to the .cAurel
.--.a and tue Negro.


.--sz1 and the Negro.
In an interview with priest who
has devoted considerable time to mis-
sion work among the colored people Of
the South, gathered some information
which might be of interest to Catho-
lies in general, especially, since it is
to their attention with any degree of
detail.
AS resident of the South for thirty
years, and an interested observer Of
the progress of the Church in this Sec
ton Of the country, shall take the
liberty to add my own knowledge Of
this subject to the matter herein dis
cussed.
OF the 100000 negroes in this
country only 10000 are Catholics.
These are found principally in the
cities, except in Louisiana and Mary
land, where they have some strength
in the country districts. There is now
in existence a missionary society which
is doing exclusive work among the
negroes. The success Of this work
has been most satisfactory and would
have been even more so but for the
want of means and missionaries. One
feature that draws the negro to the
Catholic church, wherever he has an
opportunity to observe it, is the at
tendance of whites at their churches,
and the utter disregard of his color
when he attends white Catholic
church. In protestant churches this
is altogether different. A white man
church, and colored man feels out of
place in a white church. The object
lesson which the colored man receives
in Catholic church is rarely lost up
on him. The only difficulty is that
opportunities for presenting this object
lesson are not as frequent as they
might be.
There is constant talk in the press
of the race problem. In the opinion
of Senator Stewart, Of Nevada, there
would be no race problems in this
country, if the Catholic Church had
charge Of the education Of the foreign
races. The senator argues from his
experience with Catholic Indian mis-
sions, and maintains that the Catholic
Church is the only religious body in
this country that has had any success
with the Indians. In fact, he said at
one Of the meetings Of the committee
on Indian affairs of the senate that if
he could have his way. he would turn
the whole Indian school system over
to the Catholic Church.
AS to the race problem, there is
really no such problem. There are a
few politicians who attempt to create
problem by incessat agitation of
question Of which they know very lit
tie. The southern whites understand
the negro thoroughly. They are raised
with him from childhood, and are as
ISOLATED with him in the daily work of
life. AS a consequence deep friend
ship exists between the two races.
But the politician steps in with his
pernicious meddling and aims to de-
stroy this amicablc understanding. He
shouts for the drastic fifteenth amend
ment to the constitution. But, while
the constitution may. in his respect,
he drastic, it is also plastic, as
tine recent decisions of the supreme
court have amply demonstrated. In
other words, the race problem is, by
these decisions, left in the hands of
the southern whites, where ii properly
belongs.
The elevation of the negro is an
other question that has been frequently
discussed. This was attempted first by
means of Il constitutional amendment,
which aimed to make him the equal Of
the white man, whether he was equal
or not. The public school was tried
next, with very little better success.
The industrial plan of Booker Wash
ingtOn is the last and unique stiOnably
the best. effort made in that direction.
1t is in line with the methods of the
early Catholic missionaries, who
taught the barlnrous nations of Eu-
rope the elements of agriculture and
of mechanics, and led them on to q
settled and civilized life. The absence
of religious teaching in the Booker
Washington plan is, of course, a seri-
GUS flaw. Religion is, after all. the
principal agent in the elevation of
man, and. to leave that out of consid-
GRAFTON, will make his elevation more
or less problemetical. The Protest
ant bodies, and especially the Method
lists and Baptists to whose membership
the negroes chiefly belong. have done
faithful work among the colored peo-
pie. The percentage of church men,
bership to the population is greater
among them than among the whites.
showing that they are naturally re-
ligiOus people. Their ministers are,
however, as a rule. very little above
the flock in intelligence. The Bible,
as interpreted by them. becomes a
wonderful book. Add to this the pri-
vate Interpretation of the members,
and the result is something awful.