Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27

M
Negro slavery developed into an in
etitution in one section In equal certainty, 1t
fell definitely away In another section after q
brief period Of experiment. But in either case,
and in both, the issue rested upon the union
of these component parts or upon their dis
union.
A case in point: The soil of New England and
its climate were against any practical adj
vantage rising from ownership OF the Negro.
Therefore slavery was abandoned-an unpToht-
able business expedient. However, slavery did
survive, in effect, for many years in New Eng
land by virtue of its lucrative ship-carryng trade
between the African coast and that of Southern
United States. A cargo Of Negroes was not TO
be refused readily by the thrifty Yankee sea
captain Of the period.
But in the South slavery developed, as we
know into an institution of political, social and
industrial power. Cheap land and the importa-
ton of the Negro account for the great planta-
lions of baronial bearing, for the leisure Of the
gentry for hospitality and high living. Indeed.
these combined to so act upon the imagta9-
ton as to account for a great majority of the
claims to nobility of birth and descent that tre
so glamorously dear to the most Of mankind.
Transferred from its logical sphere Of In
dustry to the realm of religion and morals,
slavery became the cause of the crusader, most
fercely militant Of the forces of righteousness
And the Puritan of the North became the
agitator against this wickedness and the agita-
tor became the rampant aboltionist. very
interesting human point here is that, obliged
for one cause or other to forego thing, any
thing, the one SO despoiled becames virtuous
in his defeat and intolerant beyond measure Of
those who stin possess the condemned thing.
So with the North in respect to Negro slavery.
Not wholly from that fundamental human trait,
nor in large part, but there the element was,
working, induhitably.
Vicious and inhuman, from any angle, slavery.
The North declared It, The South admitted it.
I7raff 10 10 fEa A
with its effects Of hatred and false claim and
Out-and-out lying on both sides Of the bOun-
dairy line. That just now, is not important.
Today, In Washington, official seat of a united
government, skirmishes straight out from that
conflict are carried on daily by way of innuendo
and the slanting eye. That, too just now IS
not important Time is taking care slowly,
Of these bygones.
The true matter Of moment lies in the slow
growing belief that the basic day-by-day truth
about slave-trading and slavery must come
to the top must step out into the open. This
is the momentous need. And just this sort
Of information and tuitiop is bsing offered to
the public.
Here is a case In point, distinguished case
In point:
ELAVE-TRADNG IN THE OLD SOUTH. BY
Frederic Bancroft, author of Life of Will
liam III. Seward" etc. Illustrated. Balti-
more: J. H FtIrst Co.
RoCUAENTED and of scientific frst-hand
~ approach Is this comprehensive survey Of
the matter in question. Sources CT information
were sought by Mr.. Bancroft in New Orleans
Charleston, Richmond, District of Columbia
and other focal points of slave trading. News
paper advertisements Of the period are shown
here In facsimile announcing slave auctions,
bills Of sale, financial reports of sea captains
upon their slave cargoes. Pictures of slave
sales and of the quarters to which the Negroes
were confined while waiting purchasers and
masters. The book is Illustrated for the pur~
pose OF making visual every possible circum~
stance bearing upon this business. From such
exacting search and summary certain facts
stand clear. Facts that have been the theme
of many a hot dispute and lasting enmity.
Here is one: Families were separated in this
enterprise. Another, children were sold away
from their parents, young children and those
not SO young. Another, the breeding of slaves
was practice, comparable to the breeding Of
horses for speed or strength, of COWS for milk
and butter capacity, Of pigs for sweet bacon
and Smithfield ham. 50 the pickaninnies were
with many owners q crude form of eugenicS
by way of mating healthy forbears. ShockIhgI
Yes, but that is not the point. The truth is
the significant point
Chapter by chapter MIR. Bancroft prrsues the
subject through the rise and growth of this
enterprise, stopping at high points of circum-
stance and sequence, of cause End effect. He
pictures Charleston at the height of its trade
and our own District Of Columbia as "the very
seat and center" Of the business Memphis
and New Orleans receive attention due their
Importance In this respect. At the last of this
engrossing investigation Mr.. Bancroft submits
estimates as to numbers, transactions and
values
Why such ardors of scholarship and research
upon this particular theme? Why such con-
crete organization of indisputabIe detail into
this comprehensive study? 1t is all over. Why
not let the past alone? That is the great point.
There is no past, just as there is no present.
Both belong to all that which is to come And
here lies the deep value Of this exceptionally