The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-07
PHASES OF THE RACE QUESTION.

PHASES OF THE RACE QUESTION.
II seems TO be Impossible 20 keep the
race question in the background. When
it is disposed of in one phase it comes
to the front in another. on Thurs
day, in the General Conference OF the
Northern Methodist Church. now in
session at Los Angeles. Cal. memo
rial was offered that the Committee
on Episcopacy consider the advisable
ity OF the election of negro bishop.
The statement in the dispatches, as
10 how the memorial was received,
wasn't very definite but the inference
is that its reception wasn't cordial.
OF course. a negro bishop. although
his work might be confined 90 negro
members OF the church, would stand
on footing OF equality. socially. with
the white bishop. and there would be
pressure in favor of inviting him into
white homes. That would he a source
OF trouble. because there would be
many who would object, and out of the
objection would come bitter feelings.
The memorial wall. no doubt, receive
dtlEHllpu 4IOlll AIE AVtiAfAEAAAEf aliA
there is doubtless considerable curl
osity as 10 what Il VIII do with 1t.
There are, OF course, many thousands
of negro members of the Northern
Methodist Church. The wise plan
would seem 10 be for them 10 have
complete church organization Of their
own.
A few days ago Lieut.. Boyd of the
United States navy, who was conduct
ing recruiting station in New Or
leans, was ordered away from the sta
ton because he refused to accept ne
gro recruits. His instructions were to
get the best and most desirable men 70
be had, and as he considered white
men the best and most desirable he
rejected all applications from negroes.
That policy did not suit the Roose-
welt administration, though of course
it is not known whether the President
was afraid that discrimination against
negroes would cause him to lose votes
in the presidential election or whether
he favors having negroes in the navy.
rejecting negro applicants Lieut.. Boyd
complied with the wishes of his SUI
perior officers, though, perhaps. he had
no instructions TO accept only white
men. The truth undoubtedly is that
negroes are not wanted in the navy
by naval officers. The officers object
to them for the reason that the whites
and blacks don't get on well together.
On ships on which there are men of
both races there is, 1t is said, a great
deal of friction The whites don't
like TO occupy hunks adjacent to the
hunks Of the blacks and they don't
like to be In the same mess with them.
In the army 1t is an easy matter to
keep the two races apart, but that
cannot be done in a crowded ship. In
recent years. so 1t Is said. the naval
officers have been quietly getting ne
groes out of the navy mainly by not
accepting any negroes as recruits. but
now that Mr.. Roosevelt is a candidate
to succeed himself it seems that, owing
TO the fear of losing negro votes in
doubtful states, negroes as recruits are
again 10 be accepted.
OF course, If that policy is contin-
ued the navy is going to suffer, be-
cause young white men Of the South
will not enlist, and il they will not
II will not be long before white men
of the North will stay out of the navy
for the same reason.
There is no doubt that the sentiment
in favor of keeping the two races sepa-
rate is easing. There are men in
the Northern Methodist Church and
among those who control the navy
who seem to want to bring the white
and black races in closer touch, but
they will not accomplish their purpose
and will only make trouble by trying
to do so.