St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-10-20

were it not for immigration of negroes
from the South. The fact is negroes do
not thrive in Northern cities as in South
ern fields. The climate, city life, sharp
competition, drive the negro to the wall.
He is effected with many diseases; the
death rate is high in large cities they
crowd the hospitals.
The negro problem in the North is a
faint echo of what it is in the South.
Many things may cause the spirit of cool
ness toward the negro such as is observ-
ed in some localities. The North wants
the black man to begin to stand alone
now, to begin to show the qualities of in
dustry, morality and honesty.
WHO IsTo BLAME FOR THE NEGRO PROB
LEM?
But whether the negro problem of
which we are thinking is that of the
North or South or both we may well ask
who is to blame for there being such a
problem before us? Certainly not the
black man. He did not come forcing him.
self to our shores. We are to blame.
The white man is to blame We brought
him here. 1t is problem we ourselves
have made. And this problem like every
other problem will never be settled by
hate, abuse, unfairness or any increase of
venomous prejudice.
SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM.
First. What have people thought
about as the way to solve this problem ?
Colonization. When 500 negroes left
not long since for Liberia many hailed
that as prophecy of the true solution.
But they forgot that as many brand new
negro babies "were born that morning
before breakfast" Colonization won't
work. The negro does not want to go.
You would have to use force to get him
there and more force to make him stay
after he arrives.
Immigration. Not as a cure of the
disease but to ease the patient, some
Southern states desire Immigration. Till
man says that in 1900 the negroes in
South Carolina outnumbered the whites
by 225, 900, in Mississippi, by $4,000;
Georgia, Alabama, louisiana and Florida
have small white majorities." What is
desired by many Southerners is that
there shall be an influx of white immi-
grants so as to offset and nullify the
negroes power of franchise. But this is
considered mere temporary expedient.
Distranchise. This is the special aim of
such extremists among the Southerners
as Tillman. Distranchise the negro. In
an address before the South Carolina
House of Representatives. Tillman said
There is nc cure for that cancer except
the repeal of the Fifteenth Amendment of
the Constitution of the United States"
This amendment is one that forbids
discriminating against any citizen of the
United States on account of race, color
or previous condition of servitude.
think myself that that amendment when
it was made and put the ballot in the
hands of the black man Immediately at
the close of his period of slavery,
wrought harm. 1t was done too soon.
But now after he has had the right of
franchise for these forty odd years it
would be harmful to take it from him.
The negro of the present is making pro-
gress towards another type altogether.
Restrictions AROUND THE BALLOT.
There should be an educational test
before the ballot is placed in any mans
hands. This test should apply to blacks
and whites alike, shutting out the unfit
Both educational and property owner
ship tests are in vogue in South Carolina
today and that is not far amiss. The
educational test especially meets the ap-
proval of the fair minded whether white
or black.
But these intellectual and property
tests are not enough for the ultras such
as Senator Tillman. They are glad of
them as temporary matter, but desire
above all things that the ballot shall
be entirely taken from the negro. Why?
The negroes are educating themselves.
They are taking advantage of all pos
sible opportunities for an education.
They are also working to acquire proper
| ty. So there is the fear that ere long
there will be enough negroes who can
pass the educational and property right
restrictions, so that they will gradually
have hand in the government.
Take the negroes in general and they
are not the equal of the whites in indus
try, education, morals, honesty. But
they are equal before God in the sense
that they are equally entitled to life,
liberty, the pursuit of happiness, fair
show and little brotherly attention.
God created them as we'll as us, and the
negro can aud is being gradually lifted
up into state of usefulness and good
citizenship. There is no inherent reason
either why the negro cannot become
equally industrious, honest, moral, and
intellectual as the whites.
HELP HIM CLIMB
The heights to which scores of their
number have climbed is a guarantee of
the possibilities and potentialities of the
negro race. One of the chief merchant
tailoring houses Of Boston, one that
rents tor $4,000 year is owned by
the negro J. H. Lewis. He employs both
white and negro workme1. Another
negro, Gilbert H. Harris, conducts the
largest wig making establishment in
New England. His trade is exclusively
white. Another negro has school OF
pharmacy in which all the students are
white. A dentist, Dr. Grant, was former
ly in the faculty of Harvard dentistry
school. He has reputation in his pro
tession tor cement he invented. Miss
Maria Baldwin, colored, is principal of
Agassiz school of Cambridge attended
by 600 white children.
But we are told that with the excep-
ton OF progress made by what might be
called the upper stratum of the negro
race, the race has actually degenerated
| since the war 7 admit thera &c eo.,o