The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-01-26
PROF. ROBINSON
TAKES ISSUE
WITH TAYLOR
(By ] W Robinson.

70. s.
! have read with much interest
the article in which Mr.. Taylor
gives a description of Jamaica AZ
ter carefully reading the article. i
came to the conclusion that the
title is missioner, fof IL seems
@ me that it should be called 4.
description Of the native negroes of
Jamaica. / do not know what OBJ
lect Mr.. Taylor could have In Civ
ing the readers of your worthy paper
such a vivid (s) and minute de-
scription of the negroes OF Jamaica.
! am aware that the statements in
that description can not directly ef-
feet the negroes Of Janliaca. / am
not a native of Jamaica, but / am
closely identified with It's native pop
ulation. lIr. f'aylor's article does
an injustice, not only To the natives
e that little island. but ii no doubt
aims at casting d reflection upon the
negro race Throughout the entire
globe.
| shall not attempt to deny the
statement made BY the writer, Mr..
Taylor, but ] do think that he should
have at least given your readers a
passing glance of some Of the better
conditions, which he evidently must
have observed unless he was totally
blind to all that is elcvating in my
race. He would have us believe
that all of the negroes Of Jamaica
are drunkards, and that they all live
m little huts that the majority Of ]
them disregard the sanctity Of 4
marriage life: that they ali live ON
rented parcels of land of two or
three acres each,
1 have had the pleasure Of having
personal acquaintance OF some dur
alton with some Of the citizens Of
Jamaica. AS a matter Of fact Mr..
Taylor no doubt knows that a large
1er cent. Of the negro population Of
Jamaica are as good citizens as may
70 found in the British Empire. He
evidently must know that there are
of Jamaica negroes who
'wil and control large estates, humid
eds of prosperous merchants and an
quail number Of professional men,
many Of whom have been abroad to
complete their education. He can
lot be ignorant Of the fact that many
i the most important offices are fill |
ID by negroes. among which are
Judges of the highest courts, besides
representatives to their local legis-
atures. A conscious reader can
ven discover some things worthy Of |
from this gloomy picture |
# this peasant class Of the natives
# Jamaica. He says that they
lonor and almost worship their |
King, Edward VII. Why should |
hey not honor their King? Does
lie not give them the full enjoyment
Il English citizenship? He says
hat they 90 to church every Sunday
md out Of their scanty means they
llways manage to save penny for
,he minister. He states that they
ire peaceable, but not very ambitious
Ambition may have different
meaning to different individuals, if
ne means to convey the idea that the
Jamaican negro does not aspire for
higher things, he is certainly mis-
taken, for he not only aspires, but
has actually attained some of the
most important positions of his gov
eminent. The writer SAYS that
these negroes can make a living on
two -or three acres of land--that
does not look so very bad. But he,
would also have us believe that all
Jamaican women are immodest, but
+ wish to remind him. and he evil
IDENTIFY knows it to be fact, that
tltit tEG tHUusdAluS Vi NOultli
among the Jamaican women who are
as chaste, refined and thrifty as any
women who may be found among
any other people, not alone on that
little island, but in any other civil
lied country. He says that most Of
the present generation can read and
write little, but they have no free
schools. .sThey have to pay for
what education they get" To be
sure, their thirst for an acquisition
Of knowledge at so great a sacrifice
is worthy of emulation. As to their
vices and moral weakness, the writer
need not go TO Jamaica for
examples, nor need he eonfne him
self to the negro race. The negro
does not ask for any SPECIAL favors,
but in the name of Justice give him
a fair play. No good can come
from a constant parading Of the