The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-30
lNDrrrERENcE OF THE NEGRO.

The Chattanooga Times has an editorial on apeculiarity of the coiored race which may be a surprise to those who know little of that people. Speak, ing of the Steele colored orphanage in that city it says that Mrs. Steele has been laboring in this city among the poor. caring for negro orphans and waifs for twenty-one years, and during that entire time she has probably not received as much as $1oo from colored people of this or any other city" It says also that the white people of Chattanooga and elsewhere contribute Iiberally to the support of the institu- tion. Then it adds:
 Negro ministers, teachers and busi- ness and professional men appear to have no sympathy with the movement notwithstanding the home has saved from lives of cririe and Restitution by making them useful and providing them with comfortable homes. It was stated erroneously in the local depart ment of The Chattanooga Times Times e .ne churches had contributed liberally to make a glad Christmas at the coiored orphans home" which Is not a fact; $5 would probably cover everything sent by colored people--schools and churches combined-to the home. colored min isters do not visit the home; they do not commend the work to their con- gregations and with only one or two exceptions they show the utmost m difference to the good work Mrs: Steele has done and is doing at this tnstitu- tion. Possibly this Indifference. this lack of appreciation for great work is explainable by reason or the 1acs that Mrs. Steele has never sought aid for the home from colored people; but that does not excuse 1t. Possibiy when there comes change in this respect the negro himself will begin to feel that he Is growing in moral stature and that he Is ready to begin in earnest the solution of the problem of which he himself is the most serious figure, and which up to this time has been studied. with few exceptions solely by the white people of the country.
 The fact that Mrs. Steele does not apply directly to the colored people for help for an institution that is doing SO much for the unfortunate of their own race is no excuse for their appa- rent indifference. It has been in ex- istence as The Times states for twenty one years and 1t is impossible that they should not have realized the good it has done and their obligations to 1t.
 There are two reasons for this indif- ference, one racial and the other the result of circumstances and conditions. It is one of the strong characteristics of the negro race that they are not im- pressed as white people are by what others are doing for them. They &C., cept the favors or benefactiors as a matter of course, without troubling themselves about the source, or feeling that any return is due from them. In short. they accept the good gifts or services, but do not appear to feel that there is such a thing in 1t as recipro- city.
 But in our opinion this apparent or real indifference Is the result of gen. race. In all the long years of their bondage they were not called on or expected to provide for or look out for themselves. The master or mistress fed and clothed them, tended them when sick or old and helpless, and, in word. removed from them all sense of responsibility. That condition was so bred In them that it became part of their nature, and remains so. The conditions referred to by The Times are common to the race everywhere. and we suppose will not be changed until negro nature Is changed.