Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-06-03

@S SHE current number of The North
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s1N93 ~ R. COlquhouD, a distinguished
-LN-[S5 British statesman and author.
IsS eeS8C Since 1871 Mr.. ColquhOun has held
SEEA~H important positions for his gov
ernment in China, India and Africa and has had
wide experience with inferior races. Therefore his
observations and reflections should command re-
spectiul consideration, and be read with profit by
those phanthEOpists of the North, whose knOwl-
edge Of the negro is still largely theoretical.
Mr.. COlquhOun recently visited the United States
for the purpose Of studying the negro at close range
and he finds the trace problem black cloud hang
ing on the horizon Of Americas brilliant future''
The negro element forms One-ninth Of the popula-
tiOn Of the country, while in 1870 it was Oneffth
This decline Of the negro element is due to the for
eign immigration that continually increases the
number Of the whites as the natural increase Ofthe
two races is about the same. In Mr.. COlquhOun's
opinion these figures show that the negro race is by
means dying out, but that on the other hand its
increase is steady. But in the view OF this pract
cal English observer the race is not progressing.
While the bulk Of our population moves, our eight
million negroes remain practically stationary. The
great mass is recedng in many respects. The gulf
widens day by day aud is infinitely wider now than
in slavery time. The negro made distinct progress
under the discipline Of slavery. ''HOw many mill
lions who have read Uncle Toms Cabin" Mr. Col
quhOun asks, 'have ever reflected what that vener
able man would have been like il he had been liv
ing out OF slavery on his native African swampsi''
Mr.. COlquhOun is thoroughly convinced that the
negro lost more during the period OF recOnstruc-
tiOn than he gained By his freedom. This loss was
in character development. It is "inevitable when
ever q strong people puts in the hands Of a weak
one weapons which the latter do not understand
and can only WELD with danger to themselves.'
Northern benevOlence gave the negro, or attempted
to do 80, the higher education, which was unsuited
to him, and did more harm than good.
After reviewing 10 detail the new forces operat-
ing under emancipation, Mr. COlquhoun concludes
that ''taken = whole, the Southern negroes are
further from, instead Of nearer to, the ideals Of
American citizenship. In the South they are Sc
gregating in the Black Belt, while in the border
states they are cIOwding into the larger cities In
both parts they cOngregate In DISTRICTS where too
often reproduced the worst features of the old
slave quarters without its wholesome restraint and
supervision
The result is that the negro character shows un-
mistakable signs Of retrOgression and that the re-
latiOns between the two races are by no means as
satisfactory as in ante bellum days. When left to.
his own devices the negro reverts to q conditions
almost OF sSvagery, as has been the case in Hayti.
Liberia and in other countries.
What then is the remedyi How is the negro
problem to be solvedi Mr.. COlquhOun answers
these questions with one word discipline" or as
he elaborates, 'the cne thing needful is the ele-
ment which, triumphing the evils Of the slave
system, was working out the salvation Of the negro
against his will"
''Let the fact be acknowledged by both races,v
he urges, "that the negro belongs to a different
plane to the Anglo Saxon, that he is inferior men
tally and morally. The iusiOn social or otherwise
OF the two races Is impossible. The idea is repul-
sive. No student Of ethnology could desire it 9th
erwise."
The negrO's inieriOrity is not a theory but con.
dition This being the case, instead Of trying to
Eft the inferior race to the American Constitu-
ton" Mr.. Colquhoun would generously interpret
the constitution to suit the needs OF the inferior
race" he would treat the negro as a man Of alien
race, untitled for self government the full rights
OF citizenship, but as man, Notwithstanding.
This is in full accord with the opinions Of the peo
pie OF the South, who have practical knowledge Of
the race problem. An inferior race in a Denoc-
racy is an anomaly, but one from which, So iar as
the negro in this country is concerned there is no
escape. The negro needs paternal government
and the problem is how to combine such a govern
ment with that Of republic The problem has
however, been met II regard to the Indian and in
our colonial possessions Mr.. ColQuhOun would
settle the question as he would settle the ones
lions which viii RISE in connection with the infe
ricr races, in our island dependencies The sug
gestion is worthy Of the consideration Of the Ameri