The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1917-10-12

the negro. moi a practical one. He
has been more an object Of churlt-
able experimenting than Of practi-
cal dealings a. between man and
man. In spite OF a seeming equal
ity, both indusirially and socially,
the negro has never really assimi-
lated with the northern people. In
limited numbers he has been toler-
ated. and even occasionally wei
med; but AZ soon as the numbers
increased 10 the point Of competition
with his white brother, all interest
In hts welferc has ceased. except ne
we have stated. among the specula-
live philanthropisls.
And Il is perfectly natural that
the north should fail 10 understand
he negro nature. The northern
white man takes large stock In such
irtues as efficiency. thoroughness,
tic. To these must be added a
ense OF fair play and equity.
These account In large measure for
The strong union sentiment among
the workers OF the north.
Now all Of these qualities are
Dure Greek 10 the average negro.
ne has. II Is true. a certain pride
IN efficiency and thorouehness. a
certain sense OF fair play and
guilty: but these are different 20
hose Of the white man as moonlight
Is TO sunlight In spite Of his late
litter experience. the negro has
1cver yet been able 10 see why he
vas not Pcceptcd as a man and
brother by the people Of the
north, who for nifty years had pro-
'cssed 10 be his warm friends.
The difference between the north
I'm and southern attitudes on this
question lies entirely In the point Of
view. Tho norlherner has persisted
IN Regarding the negro o. a fellow
man who Is entitled b. the same con-
sidcraiion rs himself. The only
'rouble with this view Ia that II WIS
. distant view. and not a view AZ
close quarters. The southerner. on
The contrary. knows him 30 be In
the nature Of n younger and weaker
brother, who must not only be adj
vised and counseled. but II necess-
cry restrained and controlled.
The late labor disputes In the
lorth In which. the negro played
such a lamentable part. serve 10
portray the negro character Ps
nothing elcse has or can. White
mr1 placed in negroes position In
'hrsc cases would easily have avoid
III friction. That the negro suffered
WIS due not 10 the wrong attitude
" his opponents, hut 10 his own
tier Ignorance Of the principles in
yolved in his conduct. Add 10 this
he white mans ignorance OF the
iegro nature, and the only surprise
h that matters were moi more SER
iuus than they were.
With all his two centuries Of civ
u faiion. The negro. excepting in rare
instances, Is still a child In the
school Of civilized life. Like the
normal child. his wants loom large
IN his mental vision, and like the
'hild, also, he can see no reason,
when the opportunity presents IL
self for gratifying those wants. why
h. should not do so.
Now that the negro IL coming into
competition with northern labor,
u will be we'll for the northern peo-
pie To gain q more correct knowl-
edge Of the negro nature. The men
who deliberately throw masses Of
negroes In competition with white
lnborers are acting with an utter
disregard for the interests Of both
these classes Of labor. Neither now
understands the other. Given time
and opportunity Ia hamoniEe their
views and arrive at n clear under
standing Of the rights Of each. their
relations will be- as pleasant as they
are and have always been in the
south, where each class knows and
thoroughly appreciates the good