The New York herald., 1922-12-24

an efficient type has become fixed. A
fairly sound. analogy may be drawn from
the humble poultry yard, even for the
evolution of civilization. The Rhode Is
land Red is bird of mixed ancestry but
IS become fixed type; so is the Black
Minorca- But no poultryman will ad-
vOcate mating the two breeds.
II it be objected that 1 am wandering
from the specific problem it must be noted
that it can best be considered as merely
part Of the larger problem. and that
the remedy for the threatened evil (if there
be any is applicable more widely than
merely to the negro section of it. Mr.
Hilaire Belloc (alone, so far as I know
among publicists) has pointed a possible
way out in suggesting that the immiscible
races must agree to keep apart-with
respect, justice and friendship for each
other. but with a strict refusal of any
merger.
Utopian? Perhaps; but steps may OBJ
viously be taken toward bringing that re-
suit about. by education and a rational
control of life" especially in such cases
as that of the negro. as shall point out
Mr.. Wood eourageously goes to the
root OF the matter in his discussion of what
most of us win prefer to call miscegena-
ton. And he is fully justified in placing
the greater blame for that upon the white
man. THE furtive commingling." says
he. as a fact that increases" One OF
the best pictures of the process and of its
tragic consaouenceS fs s,i,,ar In tha form,
of fiction. in Mr.. H. a. Shands's remarkable
novel. white and Black" Unfortunately
it needs no proof. Furthermore. any OBJ
server possessed of common sense and a
knowledge of the imperfections of human
nature. and of it's incomplete self control
will admit that such furtive commingline
will continue wherever the races live SO
closely intermingled as they do in the
South. 1t happens, of course. everywhere
but is comparatively negligible in north
ern cities or where there are but few
negroes
On the other hand. no white man, and
probably no enlightened. thoughtful negro
desires to see this process continued Here
and there some colored brother is bold
enough to advocate it. but he is. think
less entitled to speak for his race than
such men as the late Booker Washington
or DIR. Motion. II is also possible that as
negro racial self consciousness increases
becoming more and more aware of itself
it may happen that a justified race pride
may arise: that the negro may come tC
realize that the more he respects himself
as a negro. the better man he will become
II is pitifully true that the greatest curse
Of the black man is his desire to become
white. If he would progress ne must out
grow that desire. Education leading toward
that end should be the chief aim of negro
leaders.
But practically. what can be done tC
stop, or at least TO minimize. this racia
commingling? Mr. Wood justly remark.
that we cannot accept an unending sue
cession of intensifying race conflicts. riots
lynehings. klannings and retaliatory muir
ders.' Apparently he thinks-howevel
little he likes it-that the only way out il
by interbreeding. And, unhappily. tina
seems, in truth. the thing most likely tC
happen-unless an enlightened humanity
can sufficiently discipline itself TO preven
that end. 1t iciH happen. unless intelh
gent, concentrated effort is able to direc
the blind forces of evolution Man. tn,
late John Burroughs argued. is becominl
himself "a biological legislator" Here /.
a specific case which cries out insistently
for conscious direction and control Of
natural forces Is it impossible?
1t is not impossible. I believe. If boti
races can be educated to a point wher,