Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-08-19


cd as a workman until he has not only
lost the field in which he once had
no rival, but is in danger OF losing
even the ability to compete for its re-
covery. Southerners Of every class and
calling, without exception. bear witness
to the depressing fact that, leaving
out the small upper fraction, the Negro
race has not advanced at all in moral
ity.
They unite further in the opinion
that education such as they receive
in the public schools. so far from ap.
without any appreciable beneficial Of.
feet upon their morals or their stand.
ing as citizens. But more than this:
universally, they report a general de-
pravity and retrogression Of the Me-
groes at large in sections in which they
are left to themselves, closely RESENT
bling reversion TO barbarism.
ut is a fact, which no one will deny.
that the crime of rape was substan-
tally unknown during the period of
slavery, and was hardly known dur.
Ing the first years of freedom; II Is the
fatal product of new conditions.
Twenty five years ago women In the
South went unattended. with no more
fear Of attack than they have In New
England. Today, no woman in tho
South goes alone upon the highway
out OF sight Of white men. except on
necessity. and no man leaves his won.
en- alone in his house II he can help II.
Over 500 white women and children
have been assaulted by Negroes within
that time"
The chapter on. lynching Is as in
structive as IL is interesting. and while
the author does not defend mob JUS
tice" but on the other hand condemns
II In strong terms, he gives some good
reasons why we should put ourselves
In the Southerner's place before judy
Ing him. II what we read from pages
DC to 102 be true-and we have no
reason 10 disbelievc it-hov can we
blame the people for going to almost
any measure of defense!
Let us suppose that a fSortherner
goes with his family Of da ghters into
the South, and settles therE and let US
suppose that one OF his Girls is out
ragged as the child was wlo Is men
toned on page 1O1! With al his north
ern respect for law-what would the
father do In such a case?
Wouldn't he treat the sroiler OF his
child as he would n ravencus beast?
Perhaps he wouldn't help to burn
him, but 1t would be only because he
had no faith in the effect of such q
punishment on the community. II this
Northern father thought that II would
serve to protect the rest OF his daugh-
tiers, II Is safe to say that he would
not stay his hand at any measure no
matter how barbarous that measure
might seem to disinterested persons.
At our safe distance 1t Is easier to
moralize than to be absolutely just.
Mr.. Page treats OF disfranchisemen
with candor. He recognizes the fact
that the white race is superior to any
other. at least, intellectually.
"The case of the South rests frankly
on the present demonstrate inferiority
OF the Negro to the white race. Its
superiority Is dogma OF the white
race wherever It may have established
Itself. and, without doubt, as Mr..
Chamberlain recently pointed out in his
address at Birmingham, this profound
conviction has been one of the sources
of its strength.
ut was the fallacious teaching OF
equality which deluded HIN 1.-THE Ne
gro) into dropping the substance for the
shadow. Today their wisest leader is
trying to emulate his great teacher,
Armstrong. and lead them back to the
field which they so carelessly abandon
cd"
Mr.. Page quotes from one Of Lin
coins speeches in which he said:
Il am not nor ever have been in
favor OF making voters or Jurors of
Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold
Office or intermarry with the white PEG.
pie; and l will say in addition, that
there is a physical difference between
the white and black races which,
believe. will ever forbid the races living
together on terms of social and political
equality"
The Old Time Negro" Is a very
pleasing chapter to read. doubly SO for
those who have themselves seen in the
ha .Ia
existed between some masters and
some slaves. II this book does not
solve the problem 1t discusses, am
sure ID will enlighten many readers and
help us all to be more tolerant in our
Judgments.
1.-THE Negro: The Southerner's
Problem" BY Thos. Nelson Page.
Cloth; l2mo. Charles Scribners Sons.
New York. s1.25 net.