The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-04-05
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE
NEGRO?

FOR some inscrutable purpose,
known only 10 nimseli, uod, in his
INFINITE wisdom. has peopled the
earth with different races.
Differing In color these races also
dlfIer in many characteristics, and
the history OF the world is largely
made up Of race antagonisms.
whole pages of the Bible are given
70 n recital of a total extinction or
expulsion Of races by races, and pro-
fame history is largely a recital of
the same story.
m driving out one race by another
race hatred was so intense that in
many instances neither the women
nor the children were spared, and the
vengeance OF the victors was only
satisfied by total determination.
For almost. II not quite, a century
We have had an acute race problem
In this country, but the prejudice and
animoaities that it has engendered
have been no greater than in the Old
World.
Even IN conservative England, aft
er the Norman conquest, a prejudice
existed between the conquered and
the conquerOrs lasting for centuries,
aud Il was long considered a disgrace
lor the proudest Norman knight to
marry the richest Saxon princess.
peopled largely by the English
race. We have almost completely an
AFFILIATED the red man in America. We
have driven him from mis- possessions
and stolen his patrimony..
We have shown everything but
hroiherly love for the visitors of 9th
- natiOnalities.
see how we massacred the China
men IN some of the western states,
aud We have frequent collisions with
the Mexicans on our borders.
The prejudice against the negro
has taken on a political issue. but the
records will show that it has been
confined 70 no particular section.
Before and since the civil war the
prejudice against the negro has man
lfested itself as strongly and acutely
in one section OF our country as in
another. and slavery ceased to exist
ia iho north only when it ceased to
he profitable.
When Mr.. Jefferson proposed his
urdinance forever abolishing slavery
la the United States, slavery existed
in New Hampshire. New York, New
Jefscy. Rhode island, Vermont, Con-
neflicut. Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Delaware. The only reason that it
I'D not exist in the western states
Was because there were none-the
vest vas unpeopIed, except by the
Indians.
~ cotton could have been profita-
hly Grown In the states named we
have no doubt but that the emancipa-
zion Of the negro would have been
longer deferred.
Be thls as Il may, we can say with
historic exactness that the first states
man IN this country seriously pro-
posing the emancipation of the negro
Vas OF the south. and himself a large
slave. holder
The FIRST newspaper having for it's
main purpose the abolition of the
slave. was established in the south,
and the man who is now hailed as
the Great Emancipation was of south
ern birth and southern antecedents.
But that Is neither here nor there
n Il but the recital of an old story
We cnumerate these instances mere
~ % show that II slavery is crime
every mans hand in the south is not
lifted against the negro.
"What are we to do with the ne
Erog" il he question now demand
ing consideration at our hands.
The negro was stolen from his
home In Africa by our ancestors and
brought here and placed in subjec
tion. SO he is here by no desire mol
xolition Of his own.
Perhaps this was all foreordained
Perhaps this was Gods process OF pu
rlhcation leading the negro up to the
loftier heights of civilization ant
Christianity
There are many things that can bt
aaid In praise Of the negro, and We
are willing TO accord him everything
Go which he is entitled.
We - docile. He cherishes no re
sentiments. lie fosters in his hear
ma spirit OF vengeance. He is with
0ut venom lie has no admixture o
Indian or spaniard in his blood. Dur
ing the whole period of slavery there