Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-04-20

mate can best perform the labsr Of DO
south. He IL q vital factor in ths
production Of cotton.
One OF the chief characteristics of
modern civilization is the idea OF
conservating our resources, both
natural and human. The movement
is now to check the rapid destruction
Of the forests and to transform every
atom of the coal we burn into heat.
In the north we surround our labor
ing classes with schools and allow
them voice in the government In
return they have a greater productive
capacity and nations prosperity is in
creased.
The negro also, as a laborer has
certain definite amount Of energy
which can be either wasted or utilized.
Not having proper educational
facilities his labor does not rank with
the trained labor of the north. More
over his productive capacity is being
more and more lessened because of the
fact that he is growing more and more
dissatisfied with his lot.
Deep in his soul as in the soul Of
every man. regardless of race or color,
there bnrns little spark-the spirit
of right. No matter how cruelty he
may be oppressed or how savage his
nature that spark is unquenchable.
He knows that his rights of citizen
ship which are to be found in the
federal constitution have been torn
from him by the race which has ever
done him wrong. He knows that the
school house door is not opened to his
child. He knows that his industrial
position is inferior. He knows that
his life and property are not always
safe. That little spark, the spirit of
Indignation. With all the instincts
of his still savage nature he follows
the example of hatred which his white
brother has set. He draws himself
apart and lives his life in a secrecy
from which the white man is exclud-
ed. At times his wrath bursts forth
through the thin crust of law and
order. Already race riots are frequent.
In such state of discontentment he
can not be useful citizen and the
nation is being deprived of an i'm
mense amount of wealth and labor
But of more serious consequence
than this is the fact that when the
spirit Of disconteutment has developed
sufficiently the negro will become
serious menace to the white man.
You may smile but unless we treat
the negroes fairly to-day posterity
will suffer. Tho sins of the father
shall be visited upon the sons even
unto the third and fourth genera
tions. As yet the negroes efforts
of resistance are feeble for they have
not yet learned the strength of united
action. Individually the negroes are
strong but - q race they are weak.
But as timS passes they will overcome
this disadvantage which is a char
acteristic Of all races in their youth.
Leaders will rise up among them.
Already Du Bots has advocated rebel
lion. They will grow strong as the
Japanese have done and as the Chinese
are doing. We fear the great yellow
peril in thu west. But think of the
black peril in our very midst. Think
of the strength of a rebellion Of the
ten million negroes to-day and con
ceive if you can, of the strength of
rebellion in several years when they
will have doubled Canada's popula
tion. Armed with the ''holy cause
of liberty" they will be we'll nigh
invincible. What embarrasses the
situation still more is the fact that
the nation born OF the Declaration
of Independence cannot consistently
oppose them. If the peasants of
France were justified in rebelIing
against the despotic government of
France, if our forefathers were justifi-
ed in revolving against the tyranny of
England surely the American negro
is justified In fighting for his rights.
When people forgets the funda-
mental principles of its government
another race in a lower stage of de-
velopment is far better fitted to con-
troll that government.
But it is not yet too late. All this
can be avoided if we do our duty to
the negro by treating him fairly. If
we apply the spirit Of altruism, that
smoldering spark, the spirit of right
will not burst forth into a fame of
righteous indignation, but will in
spire him to rise up and call us
blessed.
Yes. repeat it, it is our duty.
This the twentieth century. litter
acy, Incidence and vice should be ell