The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-14
SOLUTION OF NEGRO PROBLEM

New York. June l4.-TThe solution
of the negro problem In the Ifnitef
States may he found in Haiti. the
Black Republic and not In thi?
country al ali, Al any rate. the solu-
ton is much more likely TO be found
+ in Haiti than here in the opinion
OF the Rev. Arthur Il Gray. =. D.
secretary for Latin America Of the
board Of missions Of the Protestant
Episcopal church. who has Just re
turned from an extended trip through
'he Islands In the West indies group
and Central America
There IS 4 Fvay ~ partial solution
~ the resrc problem which is en-
tirely free from theGriZinG and con-
cerued orly with facts" said rr.
Gray I'll preteuds 30 accomplish only
a certain amount Of what ought 10
Re aoue-Tine. with The aid Of The
negro and the white man, must do
the rest
Tin Haiti may be found The begin
ming Of this partial solution" con
tinued Or Gray. by concentrating
on work in mat island the church
can accom- piish more for the negro
than any other way"
| Periodically. Dr. Gray finds that
the negro problem is really the white
mans problem.
! The thread OF his argument Is this:
/ II is not the black man who makes
I the difficulties, hut the white man.
| The alarm which is felt on all side.
| whenever this problem comes up for
I consideration ls due to the Anglo
Saxon's proficiency, not to say rupcr-
proficiency, rather than TO the bla tx
/ mans deficiency The glow moving
! body is the average body and this is
a world wherein the average body has
/ fhe right of way. Our laws and Gus
I toms arr based upon the rule IF the
/ average man.
Yet another paradox In his argu-
/ ment, our ancestors TO speed M The
development OF the New World, ira
ported thousands Of their slower NOV
ing brethren from the west coast
Of Africa BY the irony of fate, they
got their glow m owing brethren Il
enable them to go faster Thus thf
negro problem is the white man;
problem. Q. r. D.. as Euclid might
lucidly remark.
Ia any effort to solve this prob
lem continued DR.. Gray. I'VE mus
remember that the United States /
white mans country, tust as japan
Is for the Japanese, China for TIN
Chinese. Africa for the Africans
There is no use I'm blinking 10 shu
. out the fdct ana taking Er All b0
Quently about the home of the free
We can gladly make peoples OF othel
colors comfortable in this country
guests Of the nation. and they meet
feel no loss Of seif-respect if they
can have a home elsewhere.
Haiti, occupying the western thirt
of the island Of Hispanola. is lant
Of inconcelvahie fertility. The 2.500
900 people who live there today coult
he increased to ten million withou
taxing the resources OF the soil Giver
IA fair chance in such a land III,
, negro wifi increase in wisdom and b.
capable of self government and maxi
a home for the black race IN III,
western hemisphere.
"A good beginning has been mad
, in Haiti by the United States govern
ment through the splendid lot o
/ marines sent there to teach the peopl
how 10 administer their finances pre-
serve law and order, care for the pub
lie health and run their own schools
The church must now send men ant
women there to help our coloret
brethren find themselves. Just wha
forms OF activity the church Will en-
gage I'm there is not for me TO SAY
but | earnestly hope that II will TAX
the form OF industrial schools
III the nation wide campaign upo,
! church is new entering--a campaign