The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-11-03
Dire Predictions of q Conn
ing Conflict Between the
Races-=Struggle Will Go
on as Long as One Race
Contends For Absolute
InferiOrity Of the
Other. DareS II O t
Name the End
(South Atlantic QUARTERLY

(South Atlantic Quarterly
Whatever be his view of the negro pro-
blem the average American knows that
in the last five years there has been a
notable increase in the general opposition
TO the negro. This development has oc-
Cured in both the South and North. In
the South it has manifested itself more
~strenuously than in the North. We see it
there in restrictions on the negro vote, in
the passage of laws for Jim Crow cars,
in an increasing resort to lynching, and
in q general augmentation of that sensi-
tive disposition on the part of SouthernerS
to take fire at the hint of a negro out
rage In the North it is seen, but not
nearly so plainly as in the South, and it
is especially noticeable because ia that
section it was supposed formerly not to
exist at all. 1t is manifested IN occasional
acts of violence. as the recent Jynchlng
in Delaware, and IN a growing opinion
which one finds expressed IN newspapers
and in private conversation with Northern
men. This opinion in the North is most
strongly held in the large cities and it Is
noteworthy that in most of the large
Northern cities there is a rapid increase
of the negro population.
The causes of this development are per
haps numerous. But there are three facts
which lie at its bottom and which are
worthy of special consideration. These
are; inherent race antipathy, the progress
of the negro himself, and the fact that
the negro problem is, and has been for a
long time, a political matter.
Race antipathy is as old as the negro's
residence in America. From the earliest
days he has been regarded by the whites
as an inferior man, and a man with
whom unrestricted communication on the
part OF the whites is degrading. Eleven
years after the landing of the first negro
in Virginia this idea received a striking
Illustration in a decision of the highest
court in the colony. 1t was decreed, says
the %chronicler, that Hugh Davis be
soundly whipped, before an assembly of
negroes and others for abusing himself
to the dishonor of God and shame of
Christians. by dehling his body in lying
with a negro; which fault he is to ac-
knowledge next Sabbath day" In 1925
Rev. John Blacknall, Of North Carolina,
was lined fifty pounds for marrying a
white mar and a mulatto woman. The
commingiLg which we then set our hearts
against in regard to things sexual we
have also opposed in regard to most other
matters of life. There must be no social
equality. no eating together. no joining II
amusements, and finally no mingling in re
iigious worship. This feeling has not al
ways appeared on the surface. 1t has fire
Quently been so well covered by indiffer-
ence or opportunisn, as to be nearly IN
visible. but if one will but scratch hare
enough he will find j. beneath this outer
covering.
This antipathy is not mutual. 1t is no
the white man against the negro and the
negro against white man. It is not dis
tasteful to the negro to eat his dinner
or to go TO churches or to theatres Will
HAVE EQUALITY. THE RACE FEEL
ING IS THE CONTEMPT OF TIKI
WHITE MAN FOR THE NEGRO. 1t i
the reaction Of the superior against tn
touch Of the Inferior; for the white MAJ
has nc doubt of his own superiority. l.
IS DOUBTFUL IF H AVERAGE
SOUTHERN WHITE FARMER WOULl
ADMIT THAT THE HIGHEST NEGRt
IN AMERICA IS SUPERIOR TO TIL
SOUTHERN HIRED MAN WHO l
WHITE.
The development of the negro since tn
war has been calculated to intensity thi
natural race feeling. Singularly enoug
both his progress and his repression unde
YIN II iSSNoL u oSh ~ ~
on MIN the hostility Of the whites. H
repression might well do this because
has stood for his lapse into a lower stat
after the removal Of the supporting han
OF the white man. This lapse has nc
occurred in all sections of the race-pe
haps it has not occurred with a majorlt
Of the race-but there can be no deni
that some negroes today are more wort,
less than any negroes in slavery. Tt
master was always a restraining hand c
the negro, holding back at both extreme
He kept the slave man from going I'M
tie higher fields of intellectual develo
ment; he confirmed his lack of high NOR
purpose and he weighed down his self-r
spect and his individuality. all of whiC
were checks on the best negroes. {
tile other hand the master was
check on the lowest tendencies Of t
negro. He restrained his designations;
sought to save him from disease; he tri
to make him honest and peaceable; a
he was very careful that he should Il
be IN idler. The removal of the maste'
authority has produced a marked chan
on each of these extremes. The upp
class negro has seized with surprisi
readiness his new opportunity. No sen
bic man in the North or in the South W