The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-14
DR. STAGG SPEAKS ON NEGRO PROBLEM Booker WaShington'S IheOryOf Education is Erroneous DIFFERENT tTHNlC TYPES Black Man Can Never Be the Equal of the White Cruel to Let
 Him Cherish the
 Hope.


 c1arksville, Tenn. June 1s.-(Special.)- Rev. Dr. J. W. Stagg. pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Birmingham, made notable speech here today on the negro problem in his commencement ad- dress before the students of the South ern Presbyterian university His address was philosophic discussion of the race question, in which he pointed out that the negro could not thrive in America; that all efforts to make him the equal of the Caucasian would be as they have been. unsuccessful. that Booker Wash ington's theory of education for the ne- gro is based upon erroneous conceptions, and that the only solution of the problem lies in colonizing the race In Africa un- der the leadership of those members of its race who have strain of Caucasian blood in their veins.
 The church in Birmingham of which 0p Stagg is pastor contributes more money to the educa ton of the negro than does any other Presby yterian church in the south Dr. Stagg is himself a trus- tee of a negro school at Tuscaloosa, Ala
 The address, which was listened to with keen interest here. is as follows:
 "The greatest question now before the American people is not that of the gov ernment of the Hawaiin Islands or of the Philippines, nor is it that Of con serving the Monroe doctrine, or the ques- ton of the tariff. made acute now as 1t is by the position taken by the Pres ident and those in authority in the Pan b1 success of either the democratic or the republican party The great issue be- fore the American people is how to con- serve the interest of nine million colored children who live within these United States To conserve their interest by being kind, but what is better by being absolutely just, is now. and always has been, the most difficult problem to make the American people see that solution is an absolute necessity.
 I've have had prepared all kinds Of so- lutions Since the days of the Missouri compromise the negro question has been pre-eminently before the American peo- ple but in no case has it ever been dis cussed seriously Events are shaping themselves now in such a way as to de- nnand that a solution of the question be arrived at Therefore 1 deem 1t proper to discuss this question from the view point of a problem of our times that VIII require trained minds to work out.
 Great Radical Ideals
 Tn order to get at sensible view of the race problem, we must begin fur 1her back than the existence of the Arr can on the American continent. To give the picture correct prospective It IS necessary for us to draw the outline or the great racial ideals that have been worked out in the history of man and In which, so far, the negro has had no part
 tra1 Ar Asia in the years after the flood, there .dwelt race of men, the sons or Janhet who were destined to spread by ,emigration over large parts or me earth' to occupy Europe. America ana Austra- lia, and to rule the growth or the human race. They are sometimes called py scholars-Aryans For ages they were shepherds in Asia and never dreamed or the great future that lay before them Finally. they were split into nVe hranches; one remained in India and Tour crossed into Europe.
 Greek ard Roman.
 "rrhere may be some dispute as to which arrived first whether the Ceitlc or the Greek and Roman wave. shal not take time to discuss the priority or either but shall assume that the Greek and Roman were first. The nations com nosing this wave were quite different. The Crock was essentially artistic the Roman essentially political, practical and realistic. The Greek founded states, n,anted colonies and diffused culture The Roman imposed laws, opened high ways of commerce and made the world an ernpire. There was one common idea that iay at the base of Greek and Roman life alike. that idea was the glorification of the state
 nPhilosophy requires us to examine into the cause that gave birth to the unrivalled monuments of Grecian gen ,,,. and Roman power. That examination will lead us to the conclusion that Ireeh and Roman history, Greek and Roman life were based upon national priue' me idea of a great state predominateu' for acts of courage, for devotion and loyal tv to one's country. for facts to inspire our own people today, we turn to the ms torx of these nations. The highest cul- ttvation of all innate powers belonged to the idea of free born Creek yet, tnese nowers were never to be developed TOT personal ends every man belonged wholly 10 the common public life, ana Individual power and talent had Vaiue only as they related to the state. The state was all; the man was nothing. rms Is seen in those glorious fabrics whlcn seem. as Plutarch expresses It, En, dowed with the bloom Of perrennlal youth"
 "A stranger entering Athens would not have recognized the mistress of Grecian art. but to the humbleness of her pri- vate mansions the magniticence or her uublic buildings made a dazzling con erast The Acropolis lowered above the