The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-03
PAPER OF DR.. S. c. MITCHELL VI J.

Tells What Doors Are open 10
the Colored Man-Deporta-
ton Not Practicable.
Results of great Importance to the State
and the South may spring from the actlon
taken Yesterday morning by the Bapust
ministers of Richmond after g. long and
In some respects brilliant discussion OF the
attitude to be assumed by the denomina-
ton toward the negro.
1t was tho unanimously expressed opinion
OF the conference that tho church should
take some stand, and endeavor with the
best OF It's strength to assist In tho work
OF solving the growing negro problem that
IS weighing down the South. A commit
tee composed Of some Of the most promi-
nent ministers of the city were appointed
with directions to report to the CONFER
euce some practical suggestions. Ih1s re-
rort will probably be made next Monday:
The conference will then take the matter
up, and finally formulate some paper OF
resolution to be presented to the Baptist
General Association of Virginia. when
meets next week In Staunton
Take DEFINITE STEP.
IL tho association looks with favor upon
tho movement it will in turn call upon
the Southern Baptist Convention and this
body will take the first definite step. Inc
proposition is that 1t appoint a
permanent body to be known as
the Commission Upon the Negro, which
shall give careful study to the onditions
and from time to time proposes steps to
be taken by the denomination toward
remedying the evil. The committee OF
Richmond ministers already appointed Is
composed of DR.. j. B. Hawthorne, Of
Groye-Avenue; Rev. M. Ashby Jones, OF
Leigh Street; DR.. 8. c. Mitchell, OF Rich
mond College; DR.. w. r. L. Smith, OF the
Second Church, and DR.. c. L. Gardner, OF
Grace Street.
The discussion by the Ininist ers was In
cident to the presentation by DR.. Mitchell
Of a papor on 1.-THE Negro Problem
Among those who spoke were: DR.. HaW-
thorne, MIR. Jones, DR.. Gardner. DR.. John
William Jones, DR.. Gardner, DR.. John
were unusually fine
The paper Is declared by the ministers
to be one Of the finest ever heard IN tins
conference DR.. Mitchell took issue with
Mr.. John Temple Graves and declared
that his excoriadon Of negroes IN the
North is doing injustice to the South.
Mr. Graves idea OF deportation as so.
luton Of the negro problem was said by
DR.. Mitchell to be utterly impracticable-
The other suggested soution-repression-
he declared to be both inexpedient aud
tnJust.
EDUCATION AND RELIGION.
The golden mean lies between these two
extreme views Of which I have spoken,
said DR.. Mitchell. The negro can neither
be deported nor repressed, but by means
OF the slow and sure forces OF educa-
ton and religion he can be made more
useful In industry and more moral IN
oh,
is nothing dramatic, not to say tragic;
but it Is Just, humane and feasible-in
a word statesmanlike. 1t Is, OF course,
understood that by education and reli-
Rion for the negro T mean very prac-
teal things. His education must be both
mental and manual, and his religion must
be wholly moral. Fitness for life is the
thing desired. His education must look
toward thrift and his religion toward con.
duct A vicious conception of what edAl-
cation is has had much to do with con.
fusing the South in dealing with this ter.
rible problem. Give up trying to tit 9
6aurs armor to Ham, and let Hams In
herent capabilities have their own free
play In development, and things will be
better.
-FOUR DOORS OPEN.
Before the negro there stands foul
doors, through which he may perhaps
force an entrance: ~ thrift; co edu,
cationi G) religion. and ~ politics. The
pity is that he bolted first for the last
door-politics. But this mistake IL cor
recting itself. and the negro is begin
ming to knock at the doors of thrift
education and religion. He sees that sui
frage Is a privilege to be gained only
by tho worthy. reckoned according t
property and intelligence, This burrow
a. fycd M
to press into the gateways of thrift. edu
cation and religion. Every life ought t
EN- brace four things-livellhood, growth
service and savings. When the negrt
grounds his hopes upon getting an hon
est livelihood, growing in skill and moral
!ty. rendering meet service to societ.
and laying by something for q rainy day
there will be less demand for sensations
appeals to passion In working out TIL
momentous problem.
In the plan of moralizat1on to which
refer, there are certain concrete an
practical courses. which all patriot
men may aid, and aid to-day. What ar
some OF these?
TAKE AWAY SALOON.
~ Instead OF taking the school fror
the colorod man. let us take away tn
saloon. undoubtedly his worst foe. II
stead Of applauding the white servant
hotel who refused to make up the be
Of Booker II. Washington. lot us scor
the white man who sells whiakey to Il
negro. Many lynching Is brewed in
bar-room. Under the fairest condition
this child-race. SO clogged by appel
and passion. finds 1t difficult to get @
well In the world: and when the negro
FM ~ n IA