The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1910-01-07
DR.. C. 2. Roman,

EJnnOSTdpnyJ EluuOSSuy, EIhHOlOSJi
Ethography, Ethology and Ethno-psy-
chology are cognate medical studies
and their discussion not only interests,
but effects the medical profession. A
knowledge of these subjects is neces-
sary for the physician who would un-
derstand his profession fully, and
maintain his proper socio-economic po-
sition.
know myself" wrote the Grecian
philosopher of old.
"The proper study of mankind is
man." echoed the English poet a thou
sand years later.
In every age and in every cline,
man and his relation to man has
formed the themes for the highest
manifestations of intellectually. Art,
literature, philosophy, craftsmanship,
yea. civilization itself, are but phases
of these wonderful themes. Thus, BIZ
ography is one of the most enhancing
subjects and ethnology is an open Sc
same to public notice.
These fundamental truths apply
with peculiar cogency to the colored
medical men to-day, when the per-
sistent agitation of the race question
is slowly, but surely, undermining the
foundations of u success.
Current literature fairly teens with
the discussions of the Negro question;
and commercial exploitation, or politl-
cal advantage, or personal notoriety Is
the usual actuating motive. AS a o n
sequence few of these articles exhibit
hat careful regard for accuracy or
philosophical poise that should charac-
terize profitable chronological study. In
fact. they seem arguments to establish
preconceived notions, rather than In
uuiries after the truth. Spectacular
rhetoric, rather than sound conclusion
seems to be their goal.
Two illustrations will suffice: In
Hampton's Magazine for October, I'M
der the startling title, exit The Black
Man" Judge Harris Dickson, author OF
the "Unknowable Negro" "The Negro
in Politics." etc., wraps himself in the
robes of chronological prescience and
f~oretells the physical doom OF the
black man in America.
The opening paragraph is typical OF
the whole article, and of these articles
generally. The dogmatic assertion, the
lurid rhetoric, the startling conclu-
sions, the abuse of the Negro, the ad-
captandum vulgus appeal, and the de-
nunciation of those v%enturing any OPP
posite opinion-all-are here,
Forty years ago the Negro was the
healthiest man in America. To-day he
is the weakest, most predisposed to
disease, the man with the least resis-
tive power. Heredity and the white
mans regulations made him what he
was in '65; heredity and the Negro
mode of life makes him what he is
to-day. The causes stand out like
%sign-boards, so plain that a voluntary
ignorance alone can refuse to compre-
hend."
The entire article is a splendid illus
tration of an ingenious method of reas-
oning so often employed by lawyers to
carry their point-special pleading
taking a part of the facts and repre-
senting them as all the facts.
Indeed, the Judge is himself, an apt
illustration of what he so euphemisti-
Really calls. voluntary ignorance"
It is doubtful if either one of the
four sentences of this remarkable para
graph is true, l know of no way to
test accurately the truthfulness of the
first two sentences and will simply en-
ter a demurrer and pass on to the third
which happily "a be tested histori-
cally and philosophically.
The blacklist chapters in the long,
dark story of Mans humanity to
Man" are the American chattel slav-
cry laws of the eighteenth and nine
teenth centuries. A Southern man,
either black or white, who would drag
forth from the limbo of the past the
white mans regulations" Of slavery
days, must be strangely lacking in
patriotism mr. fnlI of voluntary ignor-
ance." All who wish may examine
these melancholy monuments to mans
all too successful efforts to make his
brother mourn. You will see there
upon what kind of foundation rests
the judges declaration about slavery
promoting "stricter observance of fam
lily ties" and understand why he throws
a sop to the cerebus of justice by ex-
claiming, "This is not intended to de-
fend or idolize slavery" To keep the
white mar from shame and the black
man from bitterness, let us all keep
u faces to the morning and forget
the regulations Of those "agonizing,
cruel slavery days"
The Negroes physical vieor Of ante