New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-20

G1OuCtttCn
Negro. BY william A SINCLAIR. A NJ, d, NJ M; - :
With Introduction by IhoInas o ss snail
Maynard & Co.
The negro Is fortunate in having his case
argued by sc able and earnest an advocate as
DR.. Sinclair. himself a negro. born IN slavery
A man OF education, his book bears ample
~,,,+nass and one who has devoted his life to
the education and uplifting OF his race ne feels
keenly the wrongs and injustice SUFFERED py Inc
Afro-American, and makes his plea WIN
strength and ardor that must compel attention.
eve, 81 his arguments do not Invariably carry
conviction
The authors main theme Is q justification Of
the enfranchfsemsnt OF the American negro
basing bis claim on an exhaustive presentation
Of the civil history Of the race In this country
recounting what Il has done fer the benent OF
America. both In industry and on the field Oh
battle showing itH demonstrated capacity lot
advancement and demanding recognition OF
its accorded rights and privileges. The volume
Is strongest on its historical side DR.. Sinclair
follows the story OF the negro through the IN
stitution Of slavery and its abolition. through
the reconstruction period and the days Of the
BLACK Code" bringing # down 20 the recent
sdoption OF new constitutions in various South
am States. whereby the war on negro suffrage
pever relaxed since the adoption OF the Fifteenth
Amendment TO tho Constitution, has been made
effective through legislative enactment Inc
author Is wealer In some OF the CONCLUSIONS
which he draws from the facts which he has so
capably errayed. and perhaps weakest. If 1t
may be permitted 20 have recourse to an HibAr-
utcisrn 81 writing Of the African IN some of the
statements that he has omitted to make. It is
IA fact a very one-sided view of the negro that
we get IN reading Dr. Sinclair's book. The black
man is held I'D 10 US Victim of injustice and
81 ,ESu fu1f q q object of
disapproval or condemnation HIS shortcom-
tngs are ignored or glozed over and attributed
70 the treatment he has received Dr.. Sinclair
says;
The institution Of slavery, bad and debasing as
& for the negro in one way. was PROBABLY even
conscience Of the whites tat even n9w toF5g years e
signs Of recovery from Its bsnefuI enecH
Doubtless the whites would reply that the
great masses Of the negro population show quite
as few signs Of recovery from its baneful effects.
This of course, IN 10 wise dirninishes their rs
sponsibIlity for the present condition of affairs
nor for taking speedy and effective means to
remedy It Probably they conceive that the
least likely means Of fitting the negro for these
rights of citizenship which he nominally pos
Eesses would be In actually investing him with
them. Racial prejudice is at the root OF the
trouble ard racial prejudice never has been, and
never Will De- SIAGic1DS4 ny Ae6lSAdGOAA- LIS
only cure for It is In education and assimilation
Not by any means racial assimilation. but the
assimilation by the negro Of white civilization,
which can only come about by his education and
the recognition OF his rights citizen. The
education of the negro IS accordingly the white
mans first duty toward him. and the question
Immediately arises what Lines shall 1t BEST
be conducted
Dr. Sinclair takes issue with Booker T. Wash
fngton and his theories Of industrial training,
believing. but scarcely proving, that the adj
vancement OF his race be most speedily &C
conapushed by giving the brightest members Of
it al the education they want and turning them
loose to educate their fellows in turn His plan
IS too much like that of planting seed a few
scattered spots of naturally rich soil and
pecting TO get the same results as from a caro-
fully prepared and fortified field. He is not OPP
posed however. to an educational, or even a
property, Qualification for the suffrage In the
Southern States. provided it is applied to white
and black alike. and he argues from figures
which he quotes that such qualification or
publications. would efectually put at rest the
1bear Of negro dorrnnation"-to-dayy yes; but
j for tomorrow. The assimilation" of the
negro is not going to be accomplished by his
mere acquisition of sufficient book learning to
pass the tests that would not also exclude the
bulk Of the white vote. It is this that the South
tears, and that causes 1t, however unlawfully
70 keep the negro from the polls To prove the
safety and value OF the negro vota, Dr. Sinclair
sndeavors TO show BY the election returns of
1896 that Mckinley would have been defeated
and Bryan elected but for the votes cast by
negroes IN the States OF California Delaware
Indiana Kentucky, Maryland and West yir-
GINA While this may, and undoubtedly does
the negro a voter to those who
bold to the principles advocated by The Tribune
t is not at all likely 70 strengthen his position
"a the South