The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-03-24
THE WHITE
MANS BURDEN

We are OFTEN D-ElO lc OAi iva
rors n read with burning inols
nation OF the faIlings Of Others. wnich
are less grievous han those Of which,
we are guilty. familiarity treeIs
contempt. L the things that COM
before US every day make Little IN
preston upon our attention We are
apt to be stirred to generous I'M
pulses by an appeal Of the need o!
distant humanity. while those who
live about us make small claim upon
our sense OF responsibility.
Many years ago ] saw an old negro
man walking in painful lameness,
and. while I was close 10 him, he at
tempted to step up on he curb stone
after crossing the street His strength
was not sufficient for this exertion,
and he fell to the ground. He was
G. negro. and. being rather tndifter-
emit, rs most OF US are apt to be. to-
ward people OF that C / stood 10
watch how he would recover himself.
so that | would not Do put TO tho
unpleasant task of helping him rise.
While | hesitated. a gentleman a
over to the old man and carefully
lifted him TO his feet All honor to
that gentleman! / walked away In
shame; and | have eve lost the
impression which my cowardice made
upon me at hat time. hope |
never shall. II has not since been nv
good fortune TO lift an aged. suffer
ing negro who had fallen to the
ground, but / think l would not
hesitate to do II now.
| was guilty OF a very serious ne
glect, which was but a type OF a more
, serious neglect in which all OF us
share. This is indicated by the SEN
timent expressed by the Apotle Paul
in that oft-Quoted verse from the
Epistle to the Romans: Il am debtor
both to the Greeks and to the Bar
b~arians: both TO the wise and TO the
unwise." For declaring the gospel,
he acknowledged as indebted. not on
ly to the Jews, but also to those who
were regarded by the Jews as vastly
inferior to themselves-the gentle
peoples of the world, be they wise or
simple. Being a Jew, and a Pharisee
Of the Pharisees, this was a very ra-
dical statement that he made, and
he could only have done it under
the influence of the gospel Of Jesus.
In all the history Of the world.
when they have entered into history
at all, the plack people Of Africa have
been dependent upon others. There
| is nothing to indicate that they have
[ ever been capable of self-government;
and we may justly think that it has
been SO through the providence OF
God. There are some who believe
that this is in fulfllment of the pro-
| phency in the ninth chapter of Gen
esis that Canaan, the son of Ham,
shall be the servant Of Shem and
Japheth.
AS there is in individuals, so there
IS il races. a difference in the capa-
city Of intellect, In the possibility of
character, and in the measure of re-
! ligious development; and it is the
duty Of the stronger TO uphold and
! strengthen the weaker.
We have had many generations or
experience with the negro race in our
country; for a long time as slaves,
and now for more than four decades
as free citizens. And it is certain that
few races Of the human family could
have had the opportunities that the
cOlOred man has had here and not
stand high In progress Of mind, heart
n outward wealth. This proves tina.
the negro race is incapable of much
in their w power and capacity, and
that the sustaining hand of the Whit
man is. as a rule, an Indispensable
factor in their life. 1t cannot be far
amlsS TO say that the negro's vir-
tues are largely reflected from the
white man, and. likewise, that his
faults often follow his white broth
er'S example.
Yet, as a people, we are out OF
sympathy with the negroes and have
little vital interest in their spiritual
and moral well being. This
J Largely due to our natural
} race prejudice, and We can find many
! plausible pretexts for our indiifer-
ence. But however much we may be
justified from a worldly point Of
view in keeping ourselves aloof from
the negro personally, there is no ex-
cuse that will stand in the sight of
God Tor not carrying out the precepts
given to Us as to our attitude to-
ward all men, be they bond or free.
white, black or yellow.
All men are made in the image
of God, and can claim an equal right
to His promises for this world II
Tor the world to come. In His sight
we are no more entitled to become
heirs OF eternal salvation thar the
black man. For the same Lord over
all is rich unto all who call upon
Him" But "one t difereth from
another star in glory" And there
remains the Indebtedness which is
placed. In the providence OF God.
upon the white people of this land
to instruct the negro by word and
example. Are we more favored by
Go din many ways than the negro?
Then much is expected Of US, for
Christ said: He that is chief among
you, let him be as he that doth
serve" and Ito whom much is given.
OF him shall much be required"