The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-08
The Press on Bassett
CONTINUED from Ninth Page.)

that Booker Washington is the greatest
man born in the South IN century. eN-
cept Robert f. Lee. Mr.. Bassett IS pro-
lessor OF history in Trinity college, at
Durham, and some of the North Carolina
papers are loudly demanding his dismissal
from the faculty on the ground that man
holding such views is unfit to teach
Southern young men.
The virginian-Pilot finds itself unable
to share in all this indignant outburst,
because it is unable to take Mr.. Bassett
or his views seriously. In northern uni
velsities there has developed within the
last few years what, for lack of mora
definite term may be called the yellow
pcdagogue. Usually an overeducated man
OF mediocre parts who cannot win genuine
distinction by ability and originality, the
yellow pedagogue seeks to win notoriety
by some startling procurement, how
ever absurd. He predicts that the WORT,
is coming to an end or says that Shake
speare isn't worth reading, or something
equally rational, and so becomes a sew
en- days topic in the press. This seems
to us a not unreasonable explanation Of
the Bassett phenomenon, and we accord
ingly decline to grow apoplectic.
Nor do we believe that because of his
views, as expressed in his magazine, Mr..
Bassett should be expelled from the fe.
Guilty of Trinity College. He is entitled
to regard Booker Washington as second
only to Robert E. Lee, if he really thinks
that way about it. That opinion hurts
nobody and convinces nobody-and least
of all is it going to convince the young
men in Mr.. Bassett's history class. The
college young men OF today is intellectual
a very independent proposition. He does
not take his opinions of men and things
without question from anybody. Accord
ingly Mr. Bassett's views are much moro
likely to do harm by bringing him into
contempt among Trinity students than by
bringing the students around to his way
of thinking If this should occur. Mr..
Bassett's usefulness as an instructor would
be impaired. if not destroyed, and his re
signation might very well be asked for
on that account.
But as for Mr. Bassetts estimate of
Booker Washington, ii it amounts to am
thing it is only in that it shows that he
has not the mental balance and outlook
necessary for sane instruction IN history.
We have no purpose to decry Washing
ton, but the fact is that he has been
largely over-valued by others than Mr..
Bassett. His views as to the negro prob
lem are in no sense original On the con-
trary, they are precisely the views held
and expressed by Southern white leaders
for twenty-five years Washington has
gained fame through those views because
he had the courage to adopt them and
stand almost alone among negroes against
the mouthy demagogues. black and white.
who were talking social equality and other
nonsense
Therefore, Mr.. Bassett is merely ao-
surd in rating Washington next to Rob-
ert E. Lee. And the absurdity of the
estimate is its best antidcte.
We incline more and more to the opln-
ion that the Southern press and people
make mistake in taking seriously peda'
gogucs of the Bassett and Sledd variety.
They are harmless and at times amusing.