New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-09
THE NEGRO IN THE NORTH.

| THE NEGIIO IN IHE hOA'AH'
| 1t was to be expected that the newspapers
| of the Southern States would be filled with
| lectures on the display of the mob spirit 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 discussions of the Northern attitude tow
ard negroes well worth the consideration OF
Northern communities. The Montgomery Ad-
vertiser," perhaps in a pardonable spirit OF
teasing asks: "What is to be done to assure
Ito the negro in the North the rights of citi-
"zenshipr' and suggests that, since the local
and state authorities seem unable to protect
him. il may be necessary for the federal gov
eminent to interfere for the maintenance or
his rights THE Charleston News and Courier
declares that the Springfield deed is "a blot on
| 'the name Of Ohio, it is a disgrace to Ameri-
"can citizenship. There is no fear OF negro
domination in Springfield" Anglo-Saxon CIV
ilization, it points out was not menaced there
by the black man. but the mob animated
by race hatred pure and simple. Both say
what is perfectly true, that, despite the South
ern determination to hold the negro IN an In
ferior social and political position, the mass
of the Southern people are personally more
friendly and industrially more just to the negro
than are the Northern people
l..
the attention of Northern audiences which pro-
fessed great friendliness for the negroes to the
Industrial hardships inflicted upon them here.
There is good reason for saying that it would
much become our agitatOrs for the imposition
of political penalties upon the South first to de-
vote their energies to giving the negro fair
chance at the North. To-day the South. despite
its political discrimination. offers the negro
far better chance than the North to make
living to secure an education and gain that
position as a useful and respected member of
society upon which real equality must finally
depend no matter what the statute books say
about it. Northern antagonism to the negroes Is
often attributed TO their low character in our
cities That doubtless has its influence, though
it is to be remembered that their low character
is in measure due TO the ban upon skilled
negro labor and the obstacles which a negro
meets here in maintaining any but low char
acter.
The negro community at Springfield. how
ever, is largely composed Of skilled artisans
Ths average of intelligence, character, thrift
and wealth among the negroes In Springfield
and vicinity is said to be higher than that of
any other community of negroes Of the same
size In the country. The industries OF the town
have long been open TO negroes, many or whom
hold important places, own property and are
highly respected. The lower class of whites
are envious Of their advance and on more IMAM
one occasion have seized ON the excuse Of some
offence by a worthless black, which would have
resulted In an unnotced trial and sentence II
committed by white man. TO vent their hatred
indiscriminately and destroy not merely the
negro shanties but the decent homes Of re-
spectacle cOlored men
The friends of the negro In the North should
give more of their attention to his surroundings
here The associations interested in his ad-
vancement might we'll make Investigations of
conditions in the negro quarters of our cities.
encourage Settlement work in them and strive
to open up avenues to skilled employment for
the young coored people who find few fields
of uplifting labor. While the enthusiasm OF
emancipation possessed the country the North
offered certain hospitality to the negro.
but the tide Of interest has ebbed. The fire.
ouently complained of Indifference OF the North
TO violations Of the Constitution in the South Is
far less indicative of lowered Ideals than Its
forgetfuness of his welfare in the North, for.
while Southern denials of justice may be log
ically intolerablo in spite of them the negroes
are steadily gaining in intelligence and wealth
and character and so far securing the sub
stance of what they most need that they can
endure for time the loss of the shadow. But
in the North more and more they are de-
prfved of the substance and left with only the
shadow.