The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-08-12
THE NEGRO PROBLEM
seriouB Mistakes Made by the United
States Government
IN REFERENCE TO THE MATTER

1t Is the Problem OF the Ages, and
Not to be Settled I'm a
Decade or
Century.
The following is the first section OF
an open letter from Ex-Governor D.
II. Chamberlain, formerly or this
State, to Mr. James Bryce, a member
Of the English Parliament The sec.
Ond section will be published next
week. The letter Is we'll worth read.
ing:
The Rt. Hon James Bryce, Nj. p.
No. Sc Portland Place, London, Eng
land-My Dear Mr.. Bryce: l think
you will understand, after our conver-
sation last summer, with what in.
creased interest l have re-read and
pondered your great philosophic-for
less than that J. cannot call it-Ox-
ford RomaneS lecture OIL 1.-The Re-
lations of the Advanced and the Back
ward Races of Mankind" The Unit
ed States are undoubtedly the theatre
OF one Of the most notable exhibitions
which history anywhere presents Of
this problem; for here about 5000, 900
OF the black race: almost wholly Afri-
can, are placed alongside of, inter
mixed with, about 100000 Of the
white race, chiefly Teutonic. This
population is disposed over the terri
tory OF fifteen States Of the Union,
though more than one-half of the
whole number Of negroes are found in
six Of these States in two States the
number OF negroes largely exceeding
that Of the white race; and in the
State of South Carolina the ratio of
negroes to whites being as to 2; in
Mississippi as to 5, and in Louisiana
as to 9.
ONLY THIRTY-EIG YEARS AGO
this entire mass Of negroes, or their
Immediate ancestors, were chattel
slaves. To the original, we'll defined
characteristics of both races have thus
been added all the peculiar influences,
and habitudes, and results which chat
tel slavery, in its modern meaning,
produces. Pride of race and the hab
1t of domination, on the part of the
white race, stand over against the
consciousness Of race inferiority and
the habit of submission, on the part
OF the negro race.
Here, in It's brlefeSt statement, are
presented the factors Of a problem
whose complexity and difficulty have
never before been equalled. | wonder
If your study, so much wider than
mine, has found its parallel Mine
certainly has not.
The sudden, catastrophe transition
OF this mass of negroes from slavery
to freedom was marked by one special
popularity which Is not often or sutfi-
ciently consldered; mean jhe fact
that the transition was to DO appre-
ciable extent effected by the enslaved
race itself. Here again my study
does not disclose another instance any
where OF the emancipation from chat
tel slavery Of people or race without
exertion on the part of the enslaved
people or race. Usually this has been
the chief force in the struggle But
Till the close of our war Of secession,
till the actual and complete trium ph
OF the armies OF the Union, the negro
race OF the United States, which was
In slavery, lifted no single hand,
struck no single blow, for it's own
freedom. The significance OF this
TACT is tremendous as an indication of
character and capacity.
ANOTHER PECULIAR FEATURE
or element Of this problem is the fact
that the masters here did not consent
voluntarily in any degree TO the eman-
clpation Of the slaves. 1t was strictly
forced upon them at the point OF the
bayOnet and without any pecuniary
compensation. This, too, is fact of
great Significance as determining the
temper and attitude of the master
race at the outset Of what we call our
negro proplem.
Before go farther let me point out
how largely, almost strictly, artificial,
or man made, are the elements of this
problem in the United States Meth.
er nature nor providence, TO use our
common terms, has placed the negro
race and the white race in the close
contact in which they now live here.
The negro has been forcibly trans
planted by the white race from his
native land to our shores, from the |
"lld freedom OF the land OF his origin |
TO the slavery OF this country. So, |
TOO, as l have already remarked, his |
emancipation has come not from his
own natural efforts or struggles. but |
wholly from Tie intervention and
force of a people dissoc.ated from him
IN locality and ali,n to his habits, his
peculiar character and his character.
lstlc Impulses and passions. Again,
the negro here has had political rights
thrust upon him without his demand
for them, without his knowledge or
appreciation OF them, and without the
least preliminary training or ex.
perience in using them Contrast all
these with the relations OF any other
backward race with an advanced one,
In any other land or age, and the
popularity Of the problem here will
be seen; and not only its popularity.
but it's compleXlty and difficulty.
A PROBLEM OF TIE AGES.
Now let me quote few lines from
the conclusion Of your Romanes lee
ture:
II have sought, you say, to cali
your attention TO a great secular pro-
cess In the history Of the world, a pro.
cess the steps in which are reckoned
oy centuries and whose magnitude
the political or commercial
luestions which claim our thoughts ,
rom day to day. 1t Is a problem