The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1904-02-13
=: UNPOPULAR RACE
BY JULIEN GORDON {MRs. VAN
RENSSELAER, cRUGER).

|
the Caucasian Society Leaders Of the
Country. Claims the Southern View
of Race Is Hypocriticai.
| A recent experience has given me
food for reflection. The printed re-
mark that if Mr.. Booker T. Washing
ton called on me he would be well
coined in the drawing room, brought
upon me from the Southern newspa-
pers-many of them deemed reputable
/ "a landslide of contumely, torrent
of vulgar abuse, as unexpected as it
| was astonishing That merely for ex-
pressing an opinion, ones person,
works. habits and family should be
made targets for the lowest innuendo
and the coarsest insult, might amuse,
we're it not for: the melancholy illum-
| nation that it casts upon depths OF
ignorance and Of folly.
! To the writer it seems as revolving
that white men should have Afro
| American mistresses as that white
| women should have Afro-American
| husbands. Yet if. indeed. race preju-
dice exists to the extent that we are
told it does, how is it that the COM
| mingling of the races-which we are
forced to observe-has been so gener-
al? Why has it not been more alb
! horent? Is the hypothesis mere n.y.
pocrisy-cant, pure and simple?
The question of human equality it is
futile to discuss except before the
law. It has never existed; it cannot
exist, either in the present or in the
future. One does not ask ones Chi
nese laundryman to dine. But one
would hardly invite a Confucius to sit
in ones pantry.
A rabid senator has lately announced
that the Afro-American, being abso-
lutely devoid of moral fiber, must be
denied education. He accuses him OF
bestial traits, but will not permit him
such spiritual and educational advant-
ages as might benefit his character
and raise and restrain his brutal ten
denotes. Could one reach darker
nadir of unintelligence? When one
hears such TRADES, one realizes that
selfish, personal advancement does not
depend on the possession of the rea-
soning faculties:
What the Negro requires is what all
other races have required-tlme. ms
is the day and hour of little nations.
The trumpet of the downtrodden has
sounded. The unknown and unheard
are making themselves felt. Upheaval
is in the wind. There are mutterlngs
and STRINGS low roar OF mighty
forces. resistress, pushing for Hight
These people want air, life, and, what
is more precious. life's liberties. He
who refuses to heed the warning is
doomed to ultimate confusion. The
boon of life may be doubtful. that OF
liberty is positive. The love of life is
temperamental, the mere matter OF a
high or low vitality, but the desire OF
liberty is universal. Liberty means
opportunity. This race will have to
work out a new and more valuable
emancipation.
They are certain to solve their own
problems These things take much
time---senerations will be required.
Let us not quarrel with nature. The
Givinities are at work.
The Afro-American has aptitudes-
special gifts. He is frequently deft
and clever with his fingers. He has
IMAGINATION, humOr, a natural elo-
ouence. He has poetic and muSlcal
Gifts. and he has manners-manners
which are extinct to-day, unless IN
Italv and China We have seen black
head walters who had "le grand air
did not shamble, like some .polltl-
clans. They held themselves like mas
tiers of ceremony at courts-a respect
able calling much missed at our official
entertainments. The Afro-American
has q certain tact and finesse. useful
qualities for conduct.
He may accept a passing hand, but
should scorn a permanent crutch. He
must cease to toddIe; he must step
out. learn to walk unsupported ana
alone: not with brag, brawl and mu-
tinv but in silence with discretion
and calmness. Especially must he
seek industrial and economic advance
ment. There will be discouragement,
but the end is certain. With material
prosperity the rest will come-as IL
has come to other peoples.
Let him get rich.
Already we near u OH AhtSLSS"o
movement. A hundred thousand COL
ored folk have formed a company to-
organize a march northward. Land
will be secured, fabrics started, depart
raent stores and hotels opened. we
bid these pioneers God speed. They'
or their descendants, will rise, sue
coed, have voice in public affairs, as
all must who pay taxes-for this
should remain the test for the iran
chise, not erudition.
These changes are but matter OF
few decades. He who will not be Limo
NAV see the writing on the wall. And
as to the future of the Afro-American
race-what is needed is patience and
forbearance, a truce to hatreds, and
great tenderness for the oppressed, un-
developed ones who are struggling up
ward. ex tenebris. in fearful world.
Julien Gordon, Mrs. Van Rensselaer,
Cruger, in February Cosmopolitan.
Rev. Thomas E. Sherman thinks the
race problem should be left to the
South for settlement That would be
like turning lamb over to the tender
mercy of wolf -..-.
Isidor Rayner, the newly elected
e., 1faVY -