Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-08-24

group may usually be guagcd by the
opportunity it has had. Can any one
who has studied tho achievements of
the race scientifically and historically
say like Sir Harry Johnston conscien
tiouSly say that given Opportunity,
the black man has not proved him
self apt in any field of human on
dcavor? Study the works of the
great Anthropologist, and you will
come to no other conclusion than
that tho black man is bound TO play
prominent part in the new civiliZa-
ton as he had done in the past.
That being so, rCprcSSivc measures
and an attempt to confinc him, as a
race, in an air-tight compartment is
sure to end disastrously II is true,
General SHUTS says that the relations
of white and black should be strictly
based upon tho Christian ethical
code. That is Il bare commonplace.
No one will tell You that any nation
in modern history has Intentionally
ignored the Christian moral code in
its relations with weaker peoples.
The good intention is always there.
But how to suit action to intention
creates the difficulty. TO take typi-
cal cases, Germany, according to her
self 4 highly advanced Christian ma
ton. went under in the hour of temp.
tation, and made Of Belgium terri
tory Il shamblcs, and mankind has
characterized that act unsparinGly.
Belgium herself had once before
erred with respect to the Congo, and
it is believed she has repented in sack
cloth and ashes. Why, the great
80,
as hard as 1t can to refrain from
wronging its colorcd folk: but, up to
the present, she hasn't gone very far.
Yes. the Christian ethical code is All
right. But, when it comes to its
practical application, We arc not
aware OF Il single European State
that can safely bid the others remove
the beam from their eyes.
AS an instance, Mr.. Frederick llar-
riSon'S great rctort with respect to
the American suggestion for England
to set her Irish House in order may
be quoted. Says he:
"What would Americans do If we
interviewed in one Of their dilcmlnas
say. if our cN-MiniStcrS, doctors and
preachers were to summon them with
Il passionate appeal to raise up their
100000 Of cOlOrcd citizens to
equal human dignity. to wipe out the
lational stigma on the commonwealth
that every man Or woman born with
a dark skin is born into the shame
Of exclusion and the life Of Il Dariah
racc?"
The second panacca of General
SHUTS IS that there should be scpa-
rate representative assemblies for
white and black in South Africa.
Says he:
1--WE have found that the ideals,
which apply to our white civilization
largely do not apply to the natives.
and that to give n political existence
on any equal basis to white and black
alike does not lead to the best results
The practice is being built up in
South Africa OF creating parallel in,
stitutions and Of making the natives
run on different but parallel lines
to the white. 1t may be that on
these lines We may be able to solve a
problem which might otherwise prove
to he entirely insolublc.'
If this means that each shall be
autonomous along its own BORDERS
we'll and good. But if it means that
laws that are mado for taxation and
with respect to the repression of Of
lenses ana property rights Sillll NC
enacted by the whites for the blacks
without the latter having a say in the
matter, and. secondly that the blacks
shall have no voice whatever in the
making Of any laws affecting white
mon, then all one can say is that
not even the Christian moral code
can save the Gre. South African
Dominion from eventual disaster, or
for that matter the TmDirc itself, il
| it should adopt such onc-sidcd
policy.
g.