Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-11-30
Race Problem
JOHN GRAHAM BROOKS SAYS
AMERICANS ARE NOT
TT"

Berkeley. November 15.-Thc gravi.
~ OF the race problem and the Amcrl.
can attitude of buastfulncss and lack
of understanding were the subject of
a talk this morning delivered before
the students Of the University of Cali.
fornia at Harmon Gymnasium by
John Graham Brooks, the noted econ.
omist and authcr of The Social I'm.
rest" and other books on sociological
problems. Mr. Brooks has been doing
expert work in the Department OF
Commerce and Labor for the past two
years md is president of the National
Consumers League and the American
Social Science Association. In his
speech to the students he accused the
United States Of pandcring to the low
est instincts of the ignorant In its
treatment o. the race problem, as pre-
scented by the American Indians, and
warned the students that the solution
to the wCightier difficulties involved
in handling the immigrant races could
rot he reached In the same manner.
, lie said. In part:
when James Bryce was visiting
, ne in the East, we talked over the
great race problem which America
has to face. Bryce said to me that II
Was the students of the country who
would he her salvation, as their great
or knowledge would give to them
greater sympathy and understanding.
There are over fifty nationalities in
this countr., and the problem which
calls for a golutiOn Is to get into true
friendly relations with them. We can
not go on with the old brutal idea of
mastering them.
9 americans are braGgarts. The for
ClgnCrs who come to this country in
lariably sCOff al MS because We boast
too much. We are not cit" There
gre others IN the world. a fact which
the American Is prone to forget.
l- II have cr me into contact with your
lace problem here in the West, and
] have seer things that have never
seen in the East. The problem Is
'nOrc pronounced here than In the
Fast, and believe firmly that the
race problem Is of more Importance
than any other. | think that 1t is OF
more importance than the labor prob
lem. although have given that moro
attention.
There Is not social settlement
that have observed where the work
Crs have not succeeded In attaining a
true understanding of the foreigners
with whom they have come In CON
tact. The outsider does not meet
with this personal contact, however
end 80 fails to appreciate the man
from another land.
Due to this lack of understanding
Gnd feeling of superiority, our treat
Incnt OF the Indians, for instance, was
characterized by stupidity, brutality
and unfairncss. We gave them bad
whisky and then called them bad peo
pie. BY our policy of attempting to
dominate instead of to understand We
have made of them what they are
We must beware of pursuing this
Course with our larger race problems
Our students must save us and put
Ecacc in the place of antagonism IN
the solution of that greatest of al
problems, the race problem. You
have firm foundation in the training
which you have received training
which teaches you to approach al
questions fairly. am convinced tina
u you meet this question with all du'
fairness you will succeed where w
Of the present generation have fail
on "