The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-23
THE NEGRO IN THE NORTH
People Not as Friendly Nor as Just to
Members of the Race. as are the
Whites of the SOuth-Race Hatred
as Shown at Springfield.

49, NA~
Whites of the South-Race Hatred
as Shown at Springfield.
1t was to be expected that the news
papers Of the southern states would
be filled with lectures on the display
of the mob spirits at Springfield, Ohio,
The opportunity was fairly theirs to
return many old compliments about
the wrongs of the negro, and they
naturally improved it. 1t is Just to
say that for the most part they have
improved it in good temper with dis
cussions of the northern attitude tow
ard negroes we'll worth the considera-
ton of northern communities. THE
Montgomery Advertiser" perhaps in a
~pardOnable spirit of teasing, asks:
What is to be done to assure to the
negro in the north the rights of citizen
ship?' and suggests that, since the
local and state authorities seem unable
to protect him, it may be necessary for
the federal government to interfere for
the maintenance of his rights. THE
Charleston News and Courier" declares
that the Springfield deed is "a blot on
1.-The name of Ohio, it is a disgrace to
American citizenship. There is no fear
Of negro domination in Springfield"
AnglO-Saxon civilization, it points out,
was not menaced there by the black
man., but the mob was animated by
race hatred pure and simple. Both
say what is perfectly true, that, despite
the southern determination to hold the
negro in an inferior social and political
position, the mass Of the southern peo
pie are personally more friendly and
lndustrially more just to the negro
than are the northern people.
Booker T. Washington has frequent
ly called the attention of northern au-
diences which professed great friend
illness for the negroes to the Industrial
h~ardships inflicted upon them here.
There is good aso for saying that it
would much become our agitatOrs for
the imposition of political penalties
upon the south first to devote their
energies to giving the negro a fair
chance at the north. Today the south
despite it's political discrimination, Of
fers the negro a far better chance than
the north to make a living, to secure
an education and gain that position as
a useful and respected member of So
ciety upon which real equality must
finally depend, no matter what the
statute books say about it. Northern
antagOnlsm to the negroes is often at
tributed to their low character in our
cities. That doubtless has its inf1u-
ence, though it is to be remembered
that their low character is in a meas
ure u to the ban upon skillet negro
labor n the obstacles which a negro
meets here in maintaining any but a
10 " character.
The negro community at Springfield,
however, is largely composed Of skilled
artisans. The average of inle.:gen -,
character, thrift and wealth among
the negroes in Springfield AMI vicinity
is said to be higher han that Of any
other community of negr les of the
same size in the country. The indus
tries of the town have long be r. open
to negroes, many of whom h)id ilrpor-
tant places, own property aid are
highly respected. The low r class &C
whites are envious of their advance
n on more than une occasion have
seized on the excuse of some offence by
a worthless black, which would have
resulted in an :ed trial and ser
ttl CO if commit ed by a white man. TO
vent their hatred indiscr: Intimately ard
desu.y not merely the negro shanties
but the decent homes of respectable
cOlored men.
The friends of the negro in the north
should give more of their attention to
his surroundings here. The associa-
tons interested in his Advancement
might we'll make Investigations Of con-
ditions in the negro quarters of our
cities, encourage Settlement work in
IlIC1Al III StllNC " cpSh up avenues ~
skilled employment for the young col
ored people who find few fields Of up
lifting labor. While the enthusiasm Of
emancipation possessed the country
the north offered a certain hospitality
to the negro. but the tide Of interest
has ebbed. The frequently complained
of indifference of the north to viola
tons OF the constitution in the south
is far less indicative of lowered ideals
than its forgetfulness of his welfare in
the north, for, while southern denials
of justice may be logically intolerable.
in spite of them the negroes are steal
lily gaining in intelligence and wealth
and character and so far securing the
substance of what they most need that
they a endure for a time the loss Of
/ the shadow. But in the north more
and more they are deprived of the sub
stance n left with only the shadow
New York Tribune.