Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-20
STEAD DEFENDS NEGRO
Mrs. Terrell Interviews the
English Peace Advocate.
AFRICANS AS SEEN IN AFRICA
Every Chance to Catch Up With Their
Fellows.
SQUARE DEAL FOR THE NATIVES
White Brothers Becoming Genuinely
Alarmed Over the Rapid Progress
Of the Dark Races.
SQUARE DEAL FOR THE NATIVES


had a good long start and lays claim to
superiority over another. so to insure
this supremacy forever and let the race
which has had hard luck and few chances
get along the best 1t can and take what
happens to be left.
Mr. VIM. T. Stead, who is nothing If not
original and emphatic. never said anything
with heartier enthusiasm than when he ex-
pressed this opinion in Washington few
days ago. 1t would be hard to find man
more generous and broader in his attitude
toward the dark races of the earth than the
editor of the English Review of Reviews.
Since he has the courage Of his convictions,
and strong, fearless language at his tongues
end with which to express them, it Is de-
cidedly entertaining and refreshing to hear
him talk on the subject.
L was so deeply impressed with Mr..
Stead's interest in the dark races when
met him in London two years ago that
determined to interview him on the race
problem in this country as soon as he wrote
me he intended to visit the United States.
But l soon discovered, when, in response to
an invitation. 1 called upon him and his
wife at their hotel. that interviewing Mr..
Stead on the race problem in London and
performing the same feat in the United
States two different propositions. We
had hardly exchanged greetings before a
tall, thin, nervous gentleman appeared, to
WnOm i was introduced by MI. STEAD, VINO
stated that he was the editor of an Ameri-
can magazine. Evidently divining my in
tentions the American editor dealt my
hopes crushing blow on sight as follows:
The World Between Them.
'Mr. Stead and 1 have divided the world
between us. He has the eastern hemisphere
and l have the western. Mr.. Stead can say
anything he pleases about affairs in the
eastern, can express himself about problems
affecting colored people over there, or any
thing else. but he must absolutely refrain
from discussing that subject here.
why. 1 wouldn't discuss the race prob
States for worlds" quickly interposed Mr..
Stead. THAT would be exceedingly indeli-
cate and improper. l couldn't think of out
raging the proprieties to such an extent.
But surely you will have no objection If
1 talk a few minutes with Mrs. Terrell
about Africans way off in South Africa"
My gratitude to Mr.. Stead for finding
way out of the difficulty was boundleSS.
And having secured from his American
friend a half-reluctant consent to this ar
rangement. Mr. and Mrs. Stead and l re-
tired to their apartment to discuss Africans
in South Africa, still vowing not to touch
the race problem in the United States with
a ten-foot pole.
"In the first place" said Mr.. Stead, plung-
ing into the subject with the directness and
vim so characteristic of him. Il believe that
Africans In South AFRICA ana England ana
everywhere else in the world Except in
the United States, of course" l injected by
way of reminder-"should have every pos
sible advantage and chance, so as to enable
them to catch up with their fellows belong
ing to other races more fortunate and adj
yanced. l do not believe that a protective
tariff should be placed upon white people,
so as to enable them always to keep in the
ascendancy. If they cannot hold their own
without extra aids and props, they should
occupy the place they can hold in fair
and free competition with others. If any
body should be shown special consideration
and given extra aid, it Is the representative
of an oppressed and heavily handicapped
race which receives many kicks, but gets
few boosts. What impressed me most while
l was in the Transvaal was that the Beers
worried terribly about what would become
of them if Africans were educated and
caught up with them. They did not express
the fear that Africans might be inferior to
them. but they were greatly agtated over
the thought that the natives might possibly
be equal or superior to them, If they lad
fighting chance. If You give these Africans
the same educational facilities which We
enjoy and open the doors of trade to them
and admit them to the various professions
the Beers would ask me, what will become
of us?' If you can't hold your own, with
your superior heredity and environment and
your splendid opportunities, when you are
obliged to compete with these Africans, 1
would tell them, you deserve to fall "
But you would not think of applying this
doctrine of equal opportunity and equal ed
vocational facilities to the race problem in
the United States, would you, Mr.. Stead?"
l inquired.
Perish the thought" was the answer.
II am simply talking about the Africans in
South Africa
How are colored people treated in Eng
land?' l inquired.
Color Question in England.
"Well, they are usually treated like other
bain thn
Those who attend the universities are
treated well, both by the students and the
instructors. Several of them have won
prizes, you know. A number of black
men have studied at the Inns of Court and
have been successful barristers in Eng
land By the way, one Of the members of
the common council of London is jet
black man, who halls from the Trinidad
Islands. 1 believe When l told some of my
Boer friends about the black barristers
have had in England and the black council
man from the Marylebone district in Lon
don they grew red in the face with excite
ment and rage, and one of them exclaimed
holly: Conditions like those are enough to
start a revolution!
What do yCL think of social equal
typ" asked.
"'Social equality indeed" repeated Mr.
Stead in tone which was half fun and
half scorn. There has never been a day
in my life when I felt like arrogatng to
myself superiority over any human being
1 believe that social equality should be
divorced from race and color just as much
as 1 believe that political equality shonli
be separated from sex. Whenever l ad-
vocated square deal for the natives, the
question of social equality was invariably
sprung by my friends in South Africa to
confound me and cover me with confusion
and shame How would you like to have
your daughter marry black man.? some
body would be sure to ask with conf
dence of tone and a defiance which indl-
Gated plainly they thought they had
caught me in the meshes of my own
heresy and folly at last. Well, 1 should
not want my daughter to marry coster-
monger for that matter, SO long as he re-
manned a costermonger and nothing more.
But II that same costermonger should
educate himself and become a cultured
gentleman, 1 should not have the slightest
objection to receiving him my sor-in-
law So far as my daughters marrying
black man is concerned. doubt very much
that should urge her to seek such a mate.
All other things being equal believe peo-
pie are happier when they marry in their
own social circle and race. But know
a jolly, lot of black men l should jolly
sight rather have my daughter marry THAI
some white men l know.
the Broad Race Question.
LET me. tell you about meeting which