The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-04-14


The esteemed Hartford Courant is
inspired with new hope TO learn from
Booker Washington's late article in
the Independent that the race problem
in the south presents no insuperable
difficulties; 20 its mind the whole situ-
alton assumes new phase when
Washington tells the story of DAr-
ham, where negroes have banks and
foundries that are patronized by the
white people OF North Carolina where
the negro officials OF d negro bank
establishment were Instructed by the
white bankers how to open books and
deal with their customers. aud pro-
ceeds to say:
"Some of the largest buildings in
Durham We're built by negro who
learned the carpenters trade At Hamp-
ton and is now a general contractor.
Two negroes have prosperous brick
yards. and one, who turns out 10000
brick a day from his $1,000 plant,
owns 100 acres of land within the
city limits and has $4,000 worth Of
other real estate. A negro bank In
Durham has resources of 100000 and
deposits of $4,000
Now our esteemed contemporary
misses the point entirely il II assumes
that facts like these are confined to
one community or one state in the
south--the authority that is accepted
in the case Of Durham has frequently
offered like items from other locali-
ties and declared that they We're all
typical OF general conditions and We're
faithful as to state OF feeling pre-
vailing throughout this section. A
showing equally good might have been
made and has been made repeatedly
for Jacksonville, Fla, and Atlanta,
Ca We might refer to any OF the
growing cities of the south, and their
name is legion. for like evidences Of
the claim often made that the negro
is protected when he deserves counte-
nance and all his reasonable desires
can be met without opposition from
the white people OF the soufh.
Yet a great noise is made because
the negro is not encouraged 20 enter
into politics and is practically dis
| franchised." as some insist on putting
ii. We admit that the negro would
hurt Us and himself in this section
II he resumed that political iIterest
which was formerly SO disastrous 10
all the parties concerned: will not the
Courant respect the wisdom OF Wash
ington in this connection as in the
other? Self-government is a duty for
which our race sneeded centuries OF
Experience; If the negro could qualify
for the proper discharge OF such
duties in a century. the greater por-
ton of which was devoted 70 an es-
cape from the habits Of the irresponsi-
bic savage. including carinibalism.
under the guidance 81 slavery. then
We must conclude that our race was
most help'essly dull: that the negro
was most miracuIously capable. OF
that instruction By slavery was worth
all the experience and all the instruc-
ton that could Tessibly come % an
other IN freedom. Accept one OF
these assumptions. or else admit that
the negro Is unfit to assume the duties
OF citizenship in America. Where he
Is still in the majority, should we al
low him 10 govern nsg
There never was "a race problem
in the south exdpt as theorists and
doctrinaires from New England made
Il deep enough 70 deserve attention.
The southern people have always been
capable Of solving this and all other
problems incident 10 their conditions
and circumstances NV that for some
yeas they have been allowed TO deal
with this problem will not the cou-
rant admit that all the evidence sup
ports the claim that II Is being solved
wisely and we'll? Why, then, allow
demag0gues to lament that the amend
ments 70 the consultation are made
Of no effect? Make them effective and
we shall again have problem only
% be met As the southern people met
Il during the err Of reconstruction.
and that would mean the ruin OF the
negro.-Jacks0nyille Times-Union.