Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-06-07
RACE PROBLEM.
mn. N. 9. EVANS SEEKING soLU-
TON FOR RACE PROBLEM
IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Nv V. p. THOMAS.

BY V. +. TEOMAS.
Mr.. NJ. 8. Evans, an Englishman Nv.
ing in South Africa, 10 In the United
States studying the race problem lot
the purpose Of knowing. II he can
how much like the race problem In
the United States to solve, should 90
about solving 1t in order to establish
a system best suited to insure peace
between the whites and blacks and to
provide opportunities for both races
to develop, unrestrained by race
prejudice and the consequent race con-
flict said to be inevitable wherever two
distinct races live in the same terri
tory, along those lines Of human en-
deavor each of the two races in South
Africa might prefer to follow.
Mr.. Evans Is trying to get first hand
information regarding the complaints
and grievances over the treatment OF
the negro people by the white people
in the United States, especially In the
southern states, from which section
most of the complaints come, and to
learn If the negro people are making
the best of their opportunities under
| their present admitted disabilities.
Mr.. Evans has been in the states
five weeks and has been making per-
sonal inquiries and observations IN
many places, and he declares that
good deal of the information which he
has been able to obtain is to the effect
that the negro complains too much OF
disabilities and does not avail himself
enough Of the many opportunities for
lettering his social and economic con-
dition which plainly lay all around
him In the United States and espe-
cialy in the southern states, where
cheap lands are in plenty and his la
Dor in greater demand than he can
| supply the demand for it. Mr.. Evans
believes that the negro should employ
his wanted labor more diligently and
! not spend the earning Of this labor so
carelessly, but should apply it more
wisely to the uses OF land ownership.
profitable commercial affairs and busi.
nesses among his own people. He
feels convinced that the cooperative
inclination among the negro people
is far below the wise point, and that
If they would stick more together and
understand better the necessity OF
general race cooperation in the pur-
suit Of race welfare, prosperity and
progress. this course would soon un-
dermine the foundation for many of
their complaints and grievances.
Mr.. Evans says that some Of the sto-
ries he has heard of the treatment
colored people receive at the hands OF
their white netghbors in many parts
OF this country show cruelties that the
average European would be unwilling
to believe any civilized white man
could ever allow himself to commit.
ard that If they are true. these cruel
ties must be ascribed to moral STAN
dard and temper among the whites
here that no European would find 1t
in his heart to apologize for or con-
done.
Mr.. Evans does not take much stock
in the returns made by the U. s. Gen.
sus Bureau with respect to the num-
Der of homes and farms owned by the
colored people, saying that he has not
been able to obtain any satisfactory
reply to the question he has repeat.
eddy asked as to the amount Of mort
gage resting against these homes and
farms returned as owned by the COL
ored people. He believes that the ne
gro is different from the white man in
characteristics as we'll as In color Of
skin, and that no matter how much
the negro may attempt it he can never
be the man that the white man Is by
nature. On account of this belief, Mr..
Evans thinks it us best fer the negro
and the white man alike that they
should not try to live together, on
terms of equality in any place. The
negro should be off to themselves in
the United States with some good and
conscientious white men to lead them
and help them tu develop the best
that is in them s a :ace.