Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-28
RACE WAR COMING.
Dr. Giddings, Sociologist, Declares En-
Reinstatement of Negro Mistake.

preaching 50th anniversary of the
emancipation of the slaves, Prof.
Franklin II. Giddings of Columbia uni.
versity, the we'll known AmercaD
sociologist, declared that in the light
| of the last half century the enfran-
chisement of the negro appeared to
| be a mistake. He went further and
| maintained that political rights h ID
! been a hindrance rather than a help
| TO the negro. He predicted that q
great race conflict would come in this
country when the negro reached a
plane where he could back up his de-
mand for equality
Prof. Giddings is OF the opinion thai
| the Civil War did not solve the prob
| lem of slavery that conditions in the
South are as bad as ever that the
black man cannot win social equality
through political liberty. and that
with the gradual progress of the ne
gro to the point where he will becone
a real rival of the white man, a race
problem will arise that will be more
dangerous and harder to handle than
the situation the Civil War had TO
meet
Revolutions said Prof, Giddinss,
always leave something to be desired
and much to be done. 1t is possible to
revolutionize institutions, but it ia
hard to revolutionize habit.
Il admit that the negro has made
some progress, that he has become a
property owner, a small farmer, and
has come to enjoy some of the privi-
leges eff the white man. But | cam
not see that the negro has made any
political progress, and | cannot see
that he is likely to make any in the
near future. am not discussing
whether this is right or wrong. T
merely wish to make clear the point,
irrespective of its ethical considera-
tons, that there is no likelihood that
the negro will be permitted to vote in
considerable numbers where he may
control results for a long time to come,
or that he will enjoy the same privi-
leges as the white man. The South
does not intend to allow such a con-
ditien to come about. And of ono
thing we may rest assured; the North
will never make another attempt to
force the South to yield the negro
greater privileges.
Theoretically, the black man is en-
titled to vote, but the state praeti-
educational requirements, reading
clauses, and other methods of elimi
mating him. without violating the
letter of the Federal law the state is
able to prevent the negro from cast
ing vote. OF course, a few whites
are eliminated along with the blacks.
but the great bulk of those disfran
chised is composed of negro citizens,
and the designs of the state are thus
carried out.
Those working for the advance
ment of the negro are making the
same mistake that is involved in the
too hasty enfranchisement of the
negro. They will never get very far
if their program is so shaped that it
stands or falls with the success or
failure of the snegro's demand for
political rights. They should rather
consider the practical and immediate
future apart from the voting program,
whatever they may feel about the
critical view of the situation.
1T is my theory that 1t was a great
mistake to enfranchise the mass of the
negroes Immediately after their
emancipation. condition of con-
flict and ill-feeling arose which could
have been avoided. 1t would have
been much wiser and it would have
encouraged a more wholesome atti-
tude on the part of the white men OF
the south if the ballot had been held
out to him conditionally, as something
to be attained after he had reached a
certain social, economic and educa-
tional stand. Then q gradual process
of acknowledgements could have been
introduced. beginning with the best Of
the race and thus offering an incen-
tive to the rest.
Such a process would have saved
an enormous amount of race conflict.
The bulk of the black race has not
yet arrived at the stage where 1t can
vote side by side with the white man
without great friction. The favored
few who have come under the influ-
ence of DIR. Booker T. Washington and
DIR. Du Bots and the property owners
and men of achievement are the eX-
ception. The mass, however, has not
yet reached the level where it may be
trusted with political power where if
may control voting majority. Every
effort should be made to give tho
negro all possible educational oppor-
tunities but political privileges should
be granted only as he is benefited by
those opportunities.
There is a considerable likelihood
that for a long time to come the
prejudice shown against the negro in
the skilled trades will continue. In
many places in the north he has been
effectively driven out. In the South
he is not in such great danger be-
cause he has many opportunities there
TO work for his own people.
Il have mentioned these considera-
tions as q general impression. | have
not made a special study of this spe-
cial aspect of great problem. | feel
certain, however. that the race problem
is far from solution. | am also GER
tain that the problem of the future
will be even greater than that of the
present. The white man considers the
black man so inferior to himself tina.
he does not oppose him or give him
much consideration as rival. But
with the improved opportunities of
the negro, with a better education and
extended privileges, he must newt
ably claim a place alongside of the
white man as his equal. If he should
De able to back up his claim on the