Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-18
SAYS NEGRO |SA =
WRJ,,vGED PERSON
Madison Speaker Declares Key
TO Many Evils Is Held by
White Race.
Especial to the Evening start

MADISON, March 19.-H. Paul
Douglass spoke on the NEGRO" at
the Observation-Disclosures Lenten mis-
sionary lecture i'm James Hall yester-
day afternoon. Mr.. Douglass is cor
responding secretary for the Ameri-
can Board of Missions, and is fami
liar with all questions of race. The
assemblage was presided over by Mrs
James A. Webb, ir. Rev, Minot Nor
gan, Of Summit, led in prayer.
Mr.. Douglass stated that the prob
lem that eonfronts us in relation to
the negro is fundamentally not race
question. but the elimination of social
evils. which are responsible in a large
degree for the present condition OF
the black man. He said that those
Who had invaded Africa and South
America for work among this class
founl them not lacking in many Of
the characteristics which go to build
up a successful nation. 1t was his
opinion that after we have thrashed
all other conditions that have a bear
ing on the State of the negro we
could then resort to race as rea-
son for his deficiency. if at that stage
he is found to have any. The race
problem, he said, includes all others.
On the outskirts of Newark, Mr..
Douglass stated, there is a colony of
Italians and negroes, who tire COM
panions in misery. They are existing
under very adverse conditions. The
fact that the province Is outside the
city limits makes all accommoda-
lions poor. 1t cannot be said that
race is the only reason for the condi-
ton of these people. The negro is
below the nations standard, but he
has shown a rich capacity for inn
provement In some instances he has
cut his illiteracy in two in the past
ten wears. The condition of the negro
is due to an overwhelming mass of
remediable wrongs and we know the
remedy.
IN all outside population of the
United States, European stock eX-
Guided" he said, there are about
twelve and one-half millions of
these ten millions are negroes. In
some the Southern States they out
number the white population. The
trouble without colored people is that
they have little confidence in them
selves. But they cannot be expected
TO have confidence in themselves when
we show no confidence in them Their
social heredity is dependent upon us.
"Jf any race on the face of the
earth can be made better there ought
+o be a way to make all better. In
treating with the negro ii is essential
that thorough education should pre-
cede any effort on the part of the
church. They want education, with
deliberate social direction.
"The negro's greatest contribution
20 the American people is his religion.
There is room for Improvement In the
negro church but in what church is
there not room for Improvement? The
negro is very cheerful in his religion.
His cbeerfulness is a natural asset.
lightweight per cent. of the negroes
of the United States are either Meth
odists or Baptists. The other per
cent. is divided among the other de-
nominations
when all other arguments fail peo-
pie raise the bugaboo of race amalga-
nation. One will say DO you want
your daughter to marry negro Any
Derson who tries to answer this ques-
lion is a special brand of fool. There
is no such thing as actual equality
between men. but the human dregs
are equal IN nearly all cases To use
one of my remarks, the bottom of
ii is lever.