TheUltimateSolutionoftheAmericanNegroProblem 10134944

Th e U lt i m a t e S o lu t i o n
o f th e
A m e ri c an N e g ro P ro b le m
E D W A R D EG G L EST O N
R I CH A R D G . BA D G E R
T H E G OR H A M P R E SS
B OSTON
C ONT E NT S
C H A P TER . PA G E
.
I Th e B ir t h a n d Ear y H is t o ry o f M a n l
Th e Missi n g L i n k— Th e o w n es s o f Sl M eta
m o rp h o s is— Ma n l P g
’
s Ear y ro ress a n d
M e n tal
l pm t D ev e o en .
Th N t e l M ldi g f th R
a u ra f m ou n o e ac es ro a
C mm P t ty p o on ro o e
L if d H bi t
e an f P i m i t i M a s o r ve an .
N ti A f i
a P pl
ve r can eo es
E id v f M t l I f i i ty
e n ce s o en a n er o r
E id v f M t l I f i i ty (C ti
e n c es o d)
en a n er o r on n ue
B gi i g f N g
e nn n Sl y i A m io e ro a v er n er c a
Th A t t i t d
e f C h i t i i ty T w d Sl
u e o y r s an o ar av er
i C l i l Ti m — O th
n F t
o on a es er ac s
V III H h L w
a rs d R g l ti
a f N g Sl
s an e u a o ns o e ro av es
i C l i l Ti m n o on a es .
I$ Th S t t e f th N g
a us d N g
o Sl y e e ro, an e ro av er ,
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1 7 88 t o t h e Y e a$ 1 825 0 —Th e G r o w i n g
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Negr o Trai ts an d Ch arac teris ti cs— Th e ir I n

f l u en ce U p o n t h e Race $ u esti o n .
CONTENTS
C H A P TER . PA G E
.
Th e Tes t i m o n y o fi iSt a t s t cs to N u m eri cal R et

r o g r ess o n i A m o ng O u r Neg ro P o p u lati o n
R ate o f I n cr ea se o f Neg r o es .
St i i
at s t cs — C o n ti n u e d .
V i ta l St m m i n g U p o f T h is
a t i s ti c s a n d a S u
an d t h e P
r e v i o u s C h ap t er
M o rta i ty fr o m n eu m o n ia i n Six Ci ti es
l P
1 890 .
V e n er ea D is eas esl .
S
D ea t h s f r o m cr o f u a a n d V e n erea D is eas es l l
A m o n t h e Wh i te a n d C o o r e
g ap u a l dP l
t i o n o f A a b a ma l .
S
A u m mi n U p g .
$ VI N eg ro C ri m i n a i ty l
Neg d tiro E u ca on
P p d S l ti
ro os e o u o ns o f th e Neg r o Pr o b l e m
Th N t lS l
e a u ra o ut on i of th e ro b e m P l
(Fi rs t H o ff m a n L e tt er— D a te A u g u s t 5 d ,
(S ec o n d H o ff ma n L e tter— D at e d A ug us t
1 7,
S u m m ary an d Co n c l us o n i
PRE FA CE
I n th e e a r ly ch apte r s o f thi s vo l um e I have at
tempte d to pl a ce thi s imp o r tant e co n o m ic a n d s oci al
p r obl e m o n a strictly s ci e n tifi c fo o ti n g A n d wh e n I
.
“ ”
u s e th e wo r d s ci e n ce I m e an a sce r ta i n e d f acts
, ,
a ccumul ated system ati ze d kn owl e dge fo rm ul ate d

, ,
fo r th e di scov e ry o f ge n e r al l aws Wh eth e r o r n ot

.
I h ave succe ede d i n thi s r em ai n s to b e d ete rm i n e d b y

th e imp a rti al r eade r I f m y sci enti fi c b a s es p r ove to
.
h a ve b e en well fou n de d I b eli eve i t will b e a d m itte d

th a t th e wo r k p r es e n ts th e key to th e s itu ati o n N o .
doubt i t will app e a r t o s om e th a t I h a v e go n e t o o

much i n to deta il a n d p res ente d fa cts fi gu r es a nd il
,
lust r ati o n s th at do n ot di r ectly b e a r up o n the th e m e .
I n oth e r wo r ds th e fou n d a ti o n m ay s e em to o h e av y
fo r th e sup e rst r uctu r e To th is I r eply : th at i f b y
.
such el a b o r a ti on th e sci e n ti fi c m atte r contai n ed i n th e

fi r s t s ix ch apte rs h as b e en establ i sh e d i n th e m i n d o f
th e r e a de r as th e t r u e o ri gi n des ce n t a nd q u al ity of
,
th e N egro mi n d a n d ch a ra cte r I h ave suc ce ede d i n

th e t a sk s e t b e fo r e m e Th e r e st o f th e b o ok i s
.
l a rgely dep e n de n t up on th e a dmi ssi o n o f th e f u nd a

m ental t r uth s s et fo rth i n the s e e a rly ch apte r s Re .
ga rdi n g th e a ccu r a cy o f my de ducti o n s a n d p r e d i c

tio ns th e i ntelli ge n t r e a de r a n d futu r e h i s t o ry c o n
,
s t i tu t e th e j ust an d lo gi ca l arb i t o rs.
I t r em ai n s to b e a dde d th at statisti cs o f th e t h i r
t e e n t h ce n su s — —
j ust now av ail a b l e c ompl etely co n
fi rm my p re di cti ons co n ce rn ing th e r el ative n ume r i ca l
decli n e o f th e N egro du r i n g th e d e cade e n di n g w it h
1910 . N on e o f th es e fi gu res w e r e ava i l a b l e u n ti l
a fte r my m a n usc r i p t w a s r e a dy fo r th e p r ess .
Fo r m a n y cou r te si e s a n d valu abl e a id m s ecu r i ng

6 PRE FA CE
in fo rm a ti o n I a m gre atly indebted to the V i r gi n i a

S tat e Lib r a ry a nd through it to the C ong r essi onal
Lib r a ry at Wa shing t on Likewi s e I ack n owledge
.
indebtedne s s t o m a ny s t udi ous f r i e n ds who h ave ai d

e d wi t h s u gges t i ons a nd revi ews o f my ma n uscripts .
D a rwin Amel i a V a Sept 1 1 9 1 2

, , .
, .
, .
U lt i m a t e So lu t i o n o f
A m e ri c an N e g ro P ro b le m
CHA PTE R I
T h e B i r th a nd E arly H i s to ry o f Al an
N w r iti n g o n Th e N egro P r obl em we ca nn ot

co n s i ste n tly omi t eithe r th e b i r th o r th e e a r ly
hi st or y o f th e r a ce ; a n d i n V i ew o f th e f a ct th at
we all cam e p ri m a ri ly f r om a comm on sto c k i t
b ecom e s n eces s a r y to inqui r e b ri e fly i n to i ts n atu r a l
d esce n t a n d t ry to f a th om th e myste ri e s whi ch o n ce
,
sh r ou ded the b i rth o f ou r e a rli est a n cesto r s .
I n m o st wri ti ngs on th e r a ce qu esti on th e su b j ect

h as b e e n take n up p i e cem e a l a s it we r e di sj o i n te dl y
, ,
a n d u n s ci en ti fic ally Th e wri te r som etim e s selecti n g

.
a s hi s sta rt in g p o i n t th e imp o rt a ti on o f N e gro S l ave s
i n to th e Am e ri ca n col oni es a nd aga in h e b egi n s with

,
Li n co ln 8 Em a n ci p ati on Pro cl a m ati o n an d s o o n

’
,
, .
N o su ch w r i ti n g howeve r cl eve rly do n e c an h op e t o

, ,
luci d ate thi s questi o n n o r ca n i t p r es e n t to th e mi n d

,
o f th e re a de r a compl ete p i ctu r e o f th e N eg r o c h a r

a cte r.
I n co n si de ri n g th e ultim ate s oluti o n o f th e p rob

l em a n d w h a t ca n o r wh at S h ould b e d o n e w ith
-
, ,
—
o r fo r ou r N eg r o p opul ati o n th e m i n d mu st b e
,
suppli e d w i th the f a cts o f cau s a ti o n whi ch l att e r ,
h ave p ro duce d b oth th e r a ce a n d its p res e n t e n vi r o n

m e n t We mus t know why a n d wh e r ei n it di ffe r s
.
,
f r om th e whit e r a ce i n o rde r to co n si de r i n t elli

ge n tly p o ssi b l e r em edi es fo r ou r p res e n t p r obl em .
Th e imp o r tatio n o f N egro e s i n to th e Am e r i ca n

col o n i es s e e m e d to commen d its el f a s a suit a bl e
s ta r ti n g p oi n t w h en thi s wo rk w a s fi rs t contempl ated ;
7
THE ULTI MATE SOLUTION O F
but ve ry lit tl e r efl e c t i on w a s ne eded to c onvince us

o f t he n ecessi t y o f in t roducing t he s e e a rly ch a p t e rs ,
s e tt ing fo r t h t he condi t i on s u nde r whi ch t he hum a n

r a c e c a m e in t o exis t en c e a nd how i t c a me t o b e
,
divi ded in t o t he s eve r a l mo re o r le s s di s t in c t va ri e

, ,
tl es .
In t h e a b s ence o f t he in fo rm at ion c on ta ined in this ,
and t he t h re e o r fo u r immedi at ely s u cce eding ch a p

t e r s i t i s q u i t e impo s s ible fo r t he s tu den t t o p o s s e s s
,
a ny a dequ at e c on c ep t ion o f t h e su bj e c t in h a nd .
Th e re a re m a ny re a sons — W hi ch will b e s e en l at e r
o u — why we c a nno t u nde r s ta nd t he re a l defici enci es
o f t h e N egro o r t h e men a c e o f h i s p re s en c e t o t he
,
whi t e pop u l at ion witho u t som e el emen ta ry knowl

,
edge o f t he i nfl u ence o f envi ronm en t a nd o f i mb e r

i t e d t r a i t s a nd t endenci e s . Th e re fo re we h a ve u n
d e rt ak e n to supply t he ess en t i a l t ruth s o f th e bi rt h
a nd e a rly hi s t o ry o f M a n .
From t he over t hrow o f t he We s t ern Roman Em

pi re by t h e b a rb a ri a ns in th e l at te r p a r t o f t h e fi f t h
c en t u ry B C ) t o t h e taking o f C on s ta n t inopl e
. .
,
o r t h e di s c ove ry o f Am e ric a in t he fi fte en t h cen t u ry

, ,
c on s t i t u t es one o f t he mo s t rem a rk a bl e p e ri ods i n
hi s t o ry Thi s e r a i s gene r a lly re fe rred t o a s t he

.
M iddl e Age s or D a rk Ages S u p e rs t i t i on w a s ri fe

,
.
a nd t he un u s u a l o r ex t r a o rdin a ry 1n n at u re alw a ys
impli e d a mi r a cl e as i t s only p ossible expl a n at ion .
Sin c e t h at t im e howeve r M a n s powe r s o f investi

, ,
’
g a t i o n a nd o f expo s ing t h e t r u t h s o f n a tu re s
’
mys
t e ri e s h a ve in c re a s ed wi t h m a rvelo u s r a p idi t y Thus
.
in ve ry re c en t ye a r s M a n h a s i n t ruded u pon the s e c

re t s t o reho u s e s o f n a t u re a nd a mong m a ny o t he r
,
dis c ove ri e s h e h as b ro u gh t fo r t h her a n t h ropoi d

mo dels from whi c h M a n him s el f w a s m a de N ow
,
.
it i s impo r ta n t to defin e the s t a r t ing point o f the

r a ce as cl e a rly as pos s ibl e and in doing t hi s i t i s well
,
THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 9
to re co g n l z e th e s e r i ous di ffi culti e s whi ch we a re to

m e et .
—
Un fo rtu n ately we think but tru e n eve r t h el es s
,
th e p e opl e o f ou r own country a s els ewhe r e a r e

, ,
s tr o n gly i n clin ed to h ol d f a s t to a rb itr a ry a nd u n

r e a s o n ed opini ons up o n such s ubj ects A still m o r e .
r egrettabl e c i r cum s ta nce i s th e ten dency o n t h e p a r t

o f th e s o called well e duca t e d a nd influ enti al m i no r
ity to a ccep t with out i nves t i g at i on o r du e consi de r a
,
ti o n do c tri n es p ro p a g a te d by i nte rest ed p a r t i s a n s

,
a nd s el f constituted te a c h e rs wh o fo r th e m o st p a r t
-
,
a re a ctu a te d by ulte ri o r m o t ives Thi s a pp a rent

.
l a c k o f i n dep end e n t r efl ec t i on 1s s triki n gly s ingul a r

wh en we consi de r th e fu rth e r f a ct th a t ou r country
i s th e o r e ti c a lly a l a nd o f f re e citi z ens civili z ed a nd ,
cultivated to a degre e n eve r b e fo re known i n th e h i s

to r y o f th e wo rl d .
I n a cou rt o f j u sti ce th e l a w requi re s th a t all ava il

abl e evi dence b e p r es ente d a nd c a r e fully weigh e d
b e fo re a n o p 1n 1o n i s fo rmul a te d ; a n d j ust so i t S h ould
“
b e wh en w e com e to consi de r thi s m oote d Am e r i
c an N egro Probl em W e S h oul d h old n o p re co n
.
c e i v e d V i ews a s r eli cs o f th e Wa r B etwe e n th e States ,
n o r as h ei rlo oms o f ou r ance sto rs ; but a s i ntelli ge n t

m en an d women i t b eho oves u s to dem a n d th e e v i
dence b oth f o r a n d agai n st ou r bl a c k b roth e r b e
, ,
fo re j u dgm ent i s p a ss e d up o n hi m .
On a ccount o f thi s a ttitude o f unwill ingn ess to b e

co n vi n ce d and dete rm in a ti o n n ot to a lte r o r m o d i fy
,
fixe d op ini o n s we ca nno t consi de r th e s ci entifi c ac

,
count o f th e n atu ra l d evelo pm ent o f t h e hum a n r a ce

—
wi thout a rousing s om e op po s i ti on a r egrett abl e
but un a voi da b l e ci rcum st a nce .
To b egi n wi th th en th a t b e a uti ful scriptu ral al

,
le g o ry co n ta i n e d i n th e fi rst s eco n d a n d thi rd ch ap

, , ,
t e r s o f t h e b ook o f Ge n es i s (King J am e s Engli sh ’

IO THE ULTI MATE SOLUTION O F
Transl a ti on ) o f Ad a m a nd Eve in t he Ga rden o f

,
Eden will a lways hol d i t s high pl ace in th e wo rld s

,
’
lite ra t ure ; bu t no on e a p a r t from t h e illi t e rate an d

,
t h e un re asoning now reg a rds i t s e ri ously in connec

,
ti on wi t h th e bi rth a nd ea rly hi s t o ry o f t h e r ace .
C ons equen t ly we ta ke u p ou r s u bj ect wi t h t he b i rth

o f M a n a s reve al ed t o u s by mode rn s ci entific re
s e a rch .
M a n th en i s unq u e s t ion a bly t he p roduc t o f n at

, ,
u r a l fo rces op e ra t ing t h rough m a ny million s o f

ye a rs Th e m att e r t h at now c on s t i tu tes t he e a r t h
.
once exis t e d a s an a tt enu at ed g a s wi t h a temp e r at u re

so high t h at li fe wo u ld h a ve b een imp o s sibl e even i f
c ondi t i on s coul d h a ve b een in o t he r resp e c t s sui ta bl e .
I t h a d fi r s t t o c o ol down a nd s oli di fy a nd then c e r

,
ta in p o rti on s o f i t s s u r f a c e h a d t o f a ll b elow a t em
p e r at u r e o f 2 1 2 degre e s F a h renhei t (b oiling poin t ) ,
b e fo re th e s p on t aneous gene r at i on o f li fe i n a ny
fo rm wa s p o s s ibl e This i t fin a lly di d a nd s ome t ime
.
,
—
s u bs eq u en t t o t hi s geologic a l p e ri o d w e know not
—
when a nd u nde r condi t i on s t o ta lly di ffe ren t from
a nyt hing within ou r limited exp e ri ence a l ow fo rm ,
o f l i fe c a me in t o exi s tence .
The chemi c a l con s t i t u t i on o f cer ta in p a r t i cles o f

m att e r w as ch anged from t h at conditi on known a s
i no rg a ni c (n on V ital ) t o t h at defined as o rg a nic
-
,
( vi ta l ) .I t w a s o
,
f cou rs e t h e,ve ry lowe s t fo rm o f
l i fe
.
—
Th e sp onge a nd th e oyste r t wo f a mili a r
fo rm s o f a nim a l li fe— a r e c omp a r at ively spe a ki ng
, ,
high in t he s c a le o f living t hing s I t w as a me re .
cell li fe p ro t opl a smi c m att e r in whi c h i t wo u ld h a ve

, ,
b een b a rely p o ssibl e fo r t h e mode rn physi ologis t to

de t ec t its V i ta l na tu re .
Eve r s in c e t hi s m a rvelous h a ppe n ing n a tu ra l forces

h a ve been c ons ta n t ly a t work tr a ns forming t he lower
,
in t o t he higher orde r s o f living thi n gs u n til in the , ,

THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 1 1
fullness o f time p r im itive M a n w as e volve d I n ou r

, .
j udgme n t this histo r i c f a ct r a nk s all othe r s as the

, ,
most S i g n i fi ca n t eve n t S i n ce the b egi nn i n g o f the

world He a r the g r e at physiolo g ist the illust r ious
.
,
Huxley in this con n ectio n

, :
“
The q uestio n o f questions f o r m a nk i nd— the
”
p r oblem whi ch un de r li es all othe r s a n d is mo r e d ee p ,
ly i n te resti n g tha n a n y othe r — is the asce r tai n me n t o f

the place which M a n o ccupies i n n atu r e an d h is r e l a
tio n to the u n ive r se o f thi n gs Whe n ce ou r r ace.
has com e ; what a re the lim its o f ou r powe r o v e r

n atu r e a n d o f n atu r e s powe r ove r u s ; t o wh at g oal
,
’
a re we te n di n g ; ar e the p ro blems wh ic h p r ese n t

themselves anew an d with u n dim i n ishe d i n te r est t o
every ma n bo r n i n to the wo r ld .
No dou b t fo r thousa n ds o f ge n e r atio n s ou r a n ec s

,
t ors we r e in a n i n te rm e dia r y state o f t r a n s f o r mation ,
during which they could not h ave b ee n d e fin ite l y

classe d s eithe r M a n o r be ast Howeve r the r e a r e
a .
,
ce r tai n asce r ta ine d f acts re g ar di n g the b i r th o f t h e

r a ce which have b ee n worke d out w it h a g r eat deal
,
o f accu ra cy by r e ce n t i n vesti g a to r s Fo r i n sta n ce .

,
a ll the evi dence poi n ts to a ommo n a n cest ry Eve r y

c .
c r e atu r e th a t has r e ache d th at r u n g i n the l ad d e r o f

evolution ary p r o g res s upw ar d e n titli n g him to b e ,
classed a s M a n n s b elieved to have c o m e o r i gi n ally

i
f r om a S i n gl e pa ir .
Geology an d A n th r opology (the study of th e st r u e

tu r e o f th e e a r th a n d the study o f t h e h u m a n k i n d ,
r espe ctively ) a re the p r i n cip al br a n ches o f s cie n ce

co n ce rn ed i n the p ast histo r y o f the w o rl d a nd o f
p r ehisto r i c M a n M o de rn geologists a nd ot h e r
.
scie n tists have amp l y demonst r ate d that the w or ld it

sel f 3 the product o f o rde r ly change from S i m plicity
1 ,
to complexi t y (from r elative h omo ge n eity to r el a tive

h ete ro ge neity ) u nd e r t h e u n ive r sa l la w o f evo l uti on
, ,
12 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTION O F
and t h at M a n a lso i s a prod u c t o f this l a w There .
fore we hold in common wi t h t he rest o f t he s c i en

,
t ific world t h at i t i s e s ta blished t ruth th a t M a n s

’
,
pl a c e in n at u re is t h a t o f t he highe s t represen ta tive

o f t he a nim a l kingdom This f a c t being e s ta blished
.
we will now t urn o u r att en t ion more direc t ly to the

bi r t h a nd e a rly envi ronmen t o f M a n and try to pe n ,
e trate t he vei l o f t he a ges whi c h h a s un t il very re

,
c e n tly s hro u ded t he s u bj e c t in a n ins c rut a ble d a rk n ess

,
from t ime immem ori a l .
TH E M I SSI N G L I N K
By very recent a nd exh a us t ive investigations it has
been defin i t ely de t ermined th at t he E aste r n Archi
pel a go is t he b ir t hpl a c e o f t he r a ce ; a nd t hat evide n ce
b rough t t o ligh t in 1 8 94 by D r Euge n e Dubois
, .
,
m a kes i t a lmo s t a s c er ta in t h a t the still more definite

c r a dle o f o u r firs t a nces t or s i s the isl a nd o f J a v a In .
wh at i s known a s the Trinil dist r ict o f this isl an d

t here a re cer ta in rock b eds which b elo n g to a geo
-
logic a l period o f more t h a n p a s s ing interest called the ,
l at e Ter t i a ry period In order t o mo r e a ccu rat ely

.
define a n a ge s o ri c h i n fossil rem a ins the l a te Si r ,

“ ”
C h a rles Lyell a s s igned to i t the n a me Pliocene I t .
w as in t he i s l a nd o f J a v a i n t he s e r ock beds o f t he
,
-
Trinil dis t ri c t in t he ye a r 1 8 94 t hat D r Dubois dis

, , .
covered the most ex t r a ordin a ry a nd signi fi c a n t fossil

r em a in s t h a t term firma h as yet vouchs a fed to arch
ae lo g y . Mu c h a nim a ted and a t times ac r imonio u s
, ,
deb at e w a s c a used by t his discove ry ; a n d si n ce the

turmoil a nd s moke o f b at tle h a ve been w a fted he n ce
o n t he wings o f t ime sober s c ientifi c opinio n has de
,
clare d t hese petrified rem a ins to h a ve belonged to one
o f t he e a rlie s t indeed one o f t he very firs t membe r s

,
o f t he hum a n r a ce These hum an bones had lo n g

.
b ee n sought f or ; Da rwi n a nd o the r n atu r alists o f his

t ime k new a n d a ffirmed that such p rim itive speci

, ,
m ens o f the r ace o n ce existe d ; a nd geolo gists held

th at it w mor e than p rob a ble th a t somewhe re i n
as
the P li r ocks the i r b ones must h a ve been pre

o ce n e
se r ved i f mode r n M a n could o n ly h ave the goo d f o r

,
tu n e to com e upo n them .
The importa n ce then o f this discove r y a n d the ,
assertio n that i t connects the human race with lowe r

a n im a ls j usti fy some m entio n o f the evi de n ce whi ch
,
suppo rts it ; otherwise thos e wh o a r e natu r ally Sk ep

,
ti cal m i ght b e i n cli n ed to rele gate these statements

to the sphere o f pu re fi cti o n .
To this r em a r k able fi n d D r Du b oi s himsel f gave .
“ ”
the n a m e P i th , th p E t
e ca n wh ich
ro is usb ei n g
re c us , ,
inte rp r ete d an ape ma n that could walk These fos

,
-
.
—
S il r em a i n s consist o f a Sk ullc a p the u ppe r h a l f o f ,
the S kull includi n g the orb its o f the eyes — f emu r

, a
( thi gh bo-
n e ) a n d two tee
, t h A we have s a i d the
. S ,
discove ry w a s m ade in 1 8 94 The loc a ti o n fr om .
whi ch these b ones we r e taken i s the le ft b an k o f the

r ive r B g w n Jav a The na tu re o f the g l g
en a a ,
. eo o
i cal form a tio n f r om whi ch these inv a lua b le r ema in s

,
we r e secu r e d is desc r ibe d a s a conglomerate whi ch

, ,
lies upo n a be d o f m a ri n e m a rl a n d s an d of P li n o ce e
a ge .
Fo r yea r s a f te r this co n c r ete a cqu isitio n to ou r sto r e

o f k n owledge o f hum an developm ent a n anim a te d de
b ate went o n am ong scie n tists o f a l l la n ds as to the ,
exact v a lue an d p r ope r cl a ssi fi catio n o f thi s a pe li k e -
m a n o r m a n like ape as the c a se m ight b e Fi na lly

, , .
,
in 1 8 9 6— S ome two ye ar s subseque n t to D u b ois s dis ’
co v e ry— those fossil rem a i n s were put on t r i a l a t the
t h i r d I n ter n atio na l $ oologic a l Con gress held at Ley ,
de n on e o f the oldest and most f a mous cities o f the

,
Nethe r l an ds The r esult o f this Leyde n cou r t o f

.
i nq ui ry was t h at out o f tw el ve r ecog n i z e d expe r ts

,
pre s e n t t hree held t h at the bones belonge d to a ve ry

,
low orde r o f M a n ; t hree de c la r ed that they we r e th e

rem a i n s o f a m a n like a pe o f ext r aordi n a ry statu r e ;
-
,
while the rem a i n i n g S ix a ffi rmed t h a t they belo n ged

t o a n i n te rmedi a ry form whi ch directly con n ecte d ,
primitive M a n with c er ta i n ex t inct a n th r opoid apes .
“ ”
C ould th e evi dence o f a di s cove red m issing li nk
b e cl e a re r $ I t i s vou che d fo r by D r A H Ke a n e . . .
,
the di stingui s hed autho r a nd s t ude n t o f anth r opol

,
”
ogy In his work e n title d The W o r ld s Peoples
.
“ ’
D r Ke ane s ays :
.
“
He r e a lso the li n e o f hum an a sce n t a s t r ace d ,
th r ou g h the J a va n ese m issi n g l i n k is see n to ‘

,
’
sp r ing not from any o f t hes e highe r a n th r opoids

,
( m an like -
ap e ) as i s p opula rly
, s u ppos ed but f r om ,
a commo n S imi a n (ap e ) stem h a ving its r oots fa r

b ac k i n the Mi ocene (M i ddl e Te r t i a ry ) epoch I n .
this first Man a s he is de s i gn a ted the e rect pos i

‘
,
’
,
tio n a s S how n by th e p e rfec t ly hum an thi gh b o n e

,
-
,
impl i es a p e r fectly p reh ensil e (gr a sping ) h a n d with ,
opp os abl e t humb th e chi e f i nst ru ment o f hum a n

,
p rog r ess whil e th e c r ani a l c a p a city suggests vo cal

,
o r ga n s s u fli ci e ntly develop e d fo r th e fi r st r ude utte r

”
ance o f a r ti cul a te sp e ech .
The g r e a t Ge r m an b i ologist an d popul a r sci e ntifi c

write r D r E r nst H a eckel not only accepte d the
, .
,
find o f Dub oi s a s po s i tive p r oo f o f the simi an o r ig 1n

o f th e hum a n r ace b ut fo r t hwith publish ed a b o o k
”
o n th e subj ect e n tit l e d The Last Li n k i n whi ch
,
“
, ,
h e offe r s th e m o s t i ncontrove r tibl e evi de n ce f r o m ,
th e sta n dp oint o f a g r e at exp e rt ; th at thes e r emai n s

p r es ent to us the p hysi c a l p roo fs o f what s c1e nc e
h a d long S i n ce decl a red t o b e t r u e ; t h a t M a n came to
hi s p o siti on o f t ra nscende n t sup e r i o r ity ove r h l s
fellow c r e atu r es b y a slow m et a mo r phosi s (t r a n s
-
f o rm at i o n ) f r o m lower f o rm s I t s ee m s to b e .
THE A M E RI C AN NE G RO P RO B LE M 1 5
p r ove n t ruth th e n th at M a n i s th e p ro duct o f na t

,
~
u r a l fo r ces op e r a ti n g th r ough milli ons o f ye a r s But

,
.
a s w e h ave s a i d th e av e r age hum a n m ind i s S ingul a r

ly r elucta n t to ch a n ge i t s l o n g est a bl ish e d c o n c e p
ti on s o f truth a n d e sp e ci all y i s thi s t ru e wh e n the i r
,
V i ew p o i n t i s th e r esult o f youth ful tr a i n i ng an d

-
—
t r a n smitted a nc es t r al te n d en ci es as i s th e ca s e i n
—
thi s i nsta nce eve n wh en co n f r onte d with th e m ost
p o sitive a n d conclusiv e evi de n ce Th e re fo re it i s
.
imp o rt a n t to imp re s s up o n th e r e a de r th e truth s o f

geolo gy concerni n g th e sl ownes s o f th es e t ran s f o r
m ato ry p ro ces s es .
TH E S LO W N E SS O F M ETA M O R P H O SI S
N atu r ally e n ou g h do es th e m a n wh o h a s not give n
“
h i s tim e a n d th ought to th e stu dy o f n atu r e s ay , I
s e e n o evi d e n ce o f ch a n ge and th e t r a ns fo rm ati o n o f
S p eci es ab out m e ; why ”

Sh ould I co n clude th at such
h a s eve r ta k e n p l a ce $ And a n o rde r ly s equ en ce o f

i deas sugge sts th e fu r th e r qu e sti o n : H ow much tim e
h as n atu r e r equi r e d to e ff e ct th es e ch anges $ To th e
l att e r qu e ry we answ e r : Pe r h ap s n ot l es s th a n fi f t y
milli on ye a r s h av e p a ss ed aw ay si n ce li fe fi r st ap
e are d o n th e e a r th And m illi ons o f ye a rs i n te r
p .
ve n e d ; i n de e d w e might al m o st s ay ae o n s o f ti m e
el aps ed a fte r th e fi rst spo n ta n e ou s gen e ra ti o n o f li fe ,
b e fo re M a n w a s evolved .
Geol ogi sts a n d a nth rop ol o gi sts b eli ev e th e total

exi stence o f the hum a n ra ce to h a ve cove r e d a p e r i o d
o f twenty milli o n ye a rs o r m o re Thu s i t i s highly
.
p r ob abl e th at th e comput ati o n m enti on e d ab ov e i n ,
co n n ecti on wi th th e e a r li es t a pp e a r a n ce o f l i fe i n a n y
fo r m i s i na dequ ate a n d th a t twi ce th at tim e woul d
, ,
mo re n e a rly exp res s th e truth H oweve r thi s m ay

.
b e i t i s ve r y ce r t ai n th at wh e n we b egin to de al with
,
such e n o rm ou s l ap s es o f ti m e o rd i n a r y figu r e s a n d
,
1 6 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTION O F
me t hods o f exp r essi o n convey littl e o r no m en t al

impres s io n There fore we S h a ll e n de a vo r to presen t
.
t he m at t e r i n a nothe r fo rm .
In o rde r to obvi a t e thi s obj e ction a s t ronome r s u s e

ligh t ye a rs —
-
”
t h a t 13 the sp a c e t r a ve rs ed b y a ray
—
o f ligh t m a t welve mo nt hs f o r t hei r u ni t o f t ime ;
but p e rh a p s a nothe r fo rm o f exp re s s i on will s e rve
ou r pu rp os e s t ill b et t e r
Picture in you r mind i f y o u c a n th e time th a t h a s
i nte rvened b etwe en the bi rt h o f C h ri st a nd t h e p r es
—
en t momen t a pe riod t h a t h as wi t ness ed the b irth ,
hi s t o ry a nd de at h o f som e S ix t y gener at i ons Now

, .
l et us a dopt t his e ra as ou r uni t a nd s ubs t i t u t e i t fo r

ye ar M a n t hen t o a t t a in his present es tat e— a nd
,
.
, ,
S i n ce he dive rged from the p a ren t stem h a s re —

qui red ten t hous a nd fo u r hundred C h ri s t i a n er a s
, ,
wh en reckoned by th e lowes t s ci en t ific e s t ima t e .
( M an y au t ho ri t i es would mul t iply t hi s comput at ion

by five ) .In ou r own opini on a nd i n a ll hum a n
,
p r ob ability M an a s such h a s b een ro a ming the

, , ,
e a rth in hi s p res e n t up right p o s t u re a nd p oss ess ed

,
o f s om e rude fo rm o f a rt i cul a te spe ech fo r at l e a s t

,
twe n ty t hous a nd C h ri s t i an e ras Ne a rly eve r y s ci en

.
t i fic ch r o n ol ogi c a l r evi si o n pl a ces b o t h t he fi rst ap
p e ar a n c e o f l i fe and t h e b i rth o f M a,n a t a mo re re
mote date Th e s e fund a mental t ruths o f geolo g y

.
a n d anth ropolo g y rega rding t h e a lmo s t 1n c o n cei v

,
abl e az ons o f tim e requis it e fo r n a tu r a l l a w to de

v e lo p M an with hi s tr a nscenden t intellec t a re o f
, ,
p rim e i mpo rta n ce S i n ce such pe rfo rm a n c es a r e i n

,
comp r ehensibl e u nde r any othe r hyp othe s is .
I n forme r times t here a pparently existe d a gre a t

divide or gul f be t wee n M a n a nd his b ru t e a n c estor s ,
which pl a ced 1n the h a nds o f t he pr incip a l enemy o f

s c i ence a migh t y we a po n which it wielded fiercely
and furiously from pulpit and press : but the well
authe n ti cate d an d abu n dant evi d e n ce o f t h e disc o ve r y

“ ”
o f the li n k wh ich spans the famous chasm see m s
, ,
to have p a r a lyze d t he st r o n g r i ght arm o f do gmatic

theolo gy a nd those who would de n y the develop m e n t
o f th e hum an ki n d f r om lowe r f o rms A S a r e sult of
.
this vi cto ry scie n ce with the co n sci ousness o f a b at

, ,
tle won is enj oyi n g the p r overb i a l a n d peace f u l cal m

,
which follows the m i ghty storm .
The dom in a nt cha r a cte r istic o f huma n ity i s va n ity :

V a nity o f va n ities s ay eth the p r e ache r ; a ll is v an
,
”
ity . This inordin a te e gotism eve n mo r e tha n re
li g io u s tra dition an d supe r stit i on se ems to h a ve re
,
p e lle d the m a sses from the a cceptance o f the t r uth .
The sci entist sees n o hum iliatio n o r disg r a ce a b out

the dis c ove ry o f M a n S S im i a n o r i gi n but 1n the eyes
’
,
o f the masses its only re deem i n g vi rtue is t h e assu r

ance that he 13 verily the lo rd a n d m aste r o f c r eatio n ,
p reem i n ently super i or to eve r y othe r livin g t h i ng .
MAN S E AR LY P R O G R E SS A N D M ENT A L D E V ELOP M ENT

H a vi n g discove red the fa cts con c e rni n g M a n s o r i ’
gin as well as the geo g r aphical lo cati o n o f his b i r th

, ,
let u s pry into the secret chests that contai n the h i d

de n t r easures o f h is e a rly p r o g r ess a n d me n tal devel
op men t .
In view o f ou r an im a l a ncestry we ar e f o r ce d to
conclude th a t m a ny f a cu lties f o r m erly compute d as
,
strictly hum a n necessa r ily h a d the i r be gi n ni n g i n p r e

,
hum an b rutes The cra n i al c a pacity o f the h i ghest

.
livi n g apes i s somethi n g like five hu n d r e d cu b ic ce n ti

m etres ; whe r e a s th e J ava n es e lin k ha d a capacity o f
a bout o n e thousa n d cub i c ce nt imetres whi ch latte r is
,
a pproxim a tely h a l f way betwe e n the h i ghe st p r ese n t

d a y a pe a n d the Ca uc a sian o r Eu r opean white ma n ;
,
thus S howi n g the b rute a n cesto r s o f ou r fi rst h uma n

pa r e n ts t o h ave b ee n c r eatu r es o f n o m e a n i n te ll e ctua l
powe rs an d that M a n in the ou t se t i n he r ited a ve r y

, , ,
respectable c ran 1al c ap ac1ty *

.
D r E r n st H a eckel in his work enti t led The H is

.
,
”
tory o f Cr e a tion in the ch a p t er on Developme n t
,
“
o f M a n s a ys : ,
“
Those pro cesses o f development which led to the
ori gi n o f t he mos t M a n like a pes mu s t be looked for -
i n the two a d a p ta tion a l ch a nge s which a bove a ll oth ,
e rs contribu t ed to the m a king o f M an n a mely u p

, , ,
r i gh t w a lk an d ar t icul at e spee ch These two phys io .
logic a l fu n c t ions n eces s a rily ori gin a te d togethe r with

two morphologic a l tr a nsmut at ions wi t h which they ,
s ta n d in t he clo s est co rrel at ion n a mely t he di ffe r , ,
en t i at i o n o f t he t wo p a irs o f limbs and the di ff e ren
t i at i o n o f t he l a rynx The import a n t per fecting o f

.
the s e org an s a nd t hei r f u nc t ion s m u s t h a ve necessarily

a n d powe r fully re a cted u pon t he di ffere n tiatio n o f the
b rai n a nd t he ment a l a ct ivi t ies depe n de n t upo n it and ,
thu s h a ve paved t he w a y for t he endless ca r ee r in

which Man h as S in c e progressively develo p ed and in ,
”
which he h a s f a r out s t ripped his a nimal ances t ors .
”
In his book en t i t led The W orld s Peoples the
“ ’
,
f a m ous a n thropologi s t a nd a u t hor Dr A H Ke a ne , . . .

,
re fers in t he mos t co n fiden t way to t he Java n ese

“ ”
missing link a nd speaks o f it as i f t he entire world
recogni zed it t o be a cre at u re intermedi a ry be twee n
m a n a nd t he lower a nim a ls i n a n a ct u a l st at e o f ,
me ta morpho s is .
C le arly t hen t his J a v an ese m a n w a s a lre a dy f a irly

well e quippe d fo r his long a nd perilou s j ourneyings
* T hi s d d f i l p i ty
s t an ar o i d x t i t ll
c ran a ca ac ,
as an n e o n e e c tu a l
p w
o i by
e rs , m s t no d t b
ean s d
acc u r a e , an c an n o e use as a c ri
t i
er o n m g i di id l ; b t
a on n b dg
v ua s li dxf u as a ro a e n e ra n e o r co m
p i
ar n g f il m i
o ss l w i
rem l d p
a n s, t d y h m
o e r an a s, an re s e n -
a u an be
ing its, f i l y w ll M
s e rv es a r t l t e f . o re o v er, a e as so ar as c o n c e rn s
f il m i it i p t i ll y th l y t t f l ti i t ll
o ss re a n s, s rac ca e on es o re a ve n e ectu al
c a ac
p i ty t mm d
a o ur c o an .
ro u n d the globe . H is w e a po n s o f o ffe n se a n d de

f en se consisted chi efly o f sto n e s woo de n club s a nd, ,
the large thi gh bones o f h is ow n k i n d Gi f ted a s he

-
.
,
w as with m e n tal p owe r s fa r beyo n d all othe r a n i m als

, ,
his futu r e success a n d co n ti n ued p r og r ess we r e as

su r e d .
Si n ce all the fa cts we c an com m a nd w o u l d l ea d to the

“ ”
b el ie f that th i s fi r st m a n as he is s o meti m es cal l e d
, ,
ha d n o k n owledge o f n avigatio n the q uestio n n atu r all y

a r ises how di d he o r h is p r ogeny escape f ro m th e
, , ,
isla n d b i r thpla ce o f the r ace $ Geologi sts assu r e us

that he was n ot con fron ted with this b a rr ie r ; that
the phys ical geog r aphy o f the pe r io d w as totally d i f
f e ren t f r om the p r ese n t divisio n s o f l a n d a n d wate r ;
a nd tha t the r e we r e la n d c onn e cti o n s from the p r ese n t
islan d o f J ava to b oth Asi a a n d A fr i ca The r o a d .
was ope n a cross th e I n di a n O cea n to M a da gasca r

a n d Sout h A f r ica by the I n do A fr ica n C on ti n e n t n o w
-
,
lo n g S i n ce subme rge d Th e E aste rn A r chi pela go

.
,
w hich i n cluded the isla n d o f J ava at that ti m e sti ll ,
f o rm e d p a r t o f the Asiati c m a i n la n d f r om wh ic h it ,
i s eve n n ow o n ly S li ghtly se pa r ate d by shal l o w w at e r s ,
i n m a n y places less tha n fi f ty f atho m s deep E ast .
w a r d the r oa d w as ope n to New Gui n ea a n d ac ro ss

'
Te rr e s Str a it to Au st r alia the n ce th ro ug h th e L o uis
,
ade I sla n ds to th e Paci fi c O cea n wh ich i s n ow kno w n

,
t o b e a r egio n o f subsi de n ce Thus D r Klaats ch

. .
,
who i n 1 90 4 studied the questio n o n t h e spot c o n ,
c lu des that the pe opli n g o f Aust r alia c an be explai n e d

o n ly b y a f o r me r l a n d co nn ecti o n w it h a ce n t r a l po i n t
,
o f dist r ibutio n (suc h as Java ) fro m w hic h l n on e di

r ecti o n has b een dist r ibute d the Asiati c r a ces a nd m ,
a n othe r the Aust r alia n a b o r i gi n es I n th e n o r th e rn

.
hemisphe r e Eu r ope could b e reache d b y th r ee d i ffe r

e n t r outes ; o n e a c r oss th e St r ait o f Gi br alta r ; a no t h
e r b etweeil Tu n is M a l ta S ici l y a nd I t al y ; an d a
, , ,
t hi r d from Cy i across the Agea n to Greece and

re n ac a ,
t hen e from t he ma inl a nd o f Europe t o the B ritish

c
Isles V i a t he S t r a i t o f Dove r a nd t he S hallow Nor t h

Se a L a t ly t he New W orld was a ccessible from Asi a
. s
across Bering S t rai t a nd from Europe through the ,
Orkney t he She t l an d the F ar oes I el a nd a nd

s, s, , c ,
Greenland Here were t here fo r e su ffi cient l an d con

.
, ,
n ti
ec for primi t ive M a n t o h a ve spre a d from his
o ns
J a v an ese cr a dle t o t he ut t ermos t p a rts o f t he e a rth .
Th at he did so pre a d in ve r y e a rly (Pleis t oce n e or

s
even Pl io ene ) t ime is well est a blished a s will pres

c s ,
en t ly be S hown W hile the routes here suggested m ay

.
s eem specul a tive t o ome it i highly prob a ble thats , s
t hey a re corre t S ince we have t he bes t o f evidence

c ,
th a t these a nd no o t hers existed during the M iddle

o r l at e T ti y period er ar .
Mu h trus twor t hy evidence h a s been collected t o

c
S how t h a t t he whole world h a d re a lly bee n peopled

” “
during t his period s a ys Ke a ne whi h r oughly
, , c co
in ides wi t h t he Ice Age when a l a rge p a r t o f t he

c ,
northern an d sou t hern hemispheres w subj ect to as
recurren t inv a ion o f thick ribbed ice a dv a ncing s

s s -
uc
i ly from bo t h poles
cess v e The migr a tions we r e mos t .
u —
prob a bly beg n in pre gl a cial times th a t is be fore -
,
the a ppe a r a n e o f t he fi rst gre a t i w a ve then ar

c ce- ,
re t e d an d resumed a l t e rn at ely wi t h t he long in t er

s
gl a ci a l in t e rv a ls thus adv a nci n g a n d r eceding with

,
the pre a d a nd re t re at o f t he i cap a nd completed

s ce - ,
in the pos t gl a ci a l or e a rly P l i t

-
epoch say some e s o ce n e
two or t hree hundred tho s a nd ye a rs a go At th a t u .
t ime t he v a rious w a nde ring groups h a d alre a dy made

conside r a ble progre bo t h in physic a l a n d ment a l
ss
r espe ts a s is seen in t he Ne a nderth a l Skull which is

c , ,
t he oldes t ye t found in Europe s ta nding midway b ,

e
twee n the J a v a nese a pe m a n a nd the prese n t low -
r aces All w ere still ve r y m uch alike p r ese n ti n g a

. ,
sort o f ge n erali z e d hum an type which m ay b e calle d

Pleis t o cen e m a n a commo n u n develope d fo r m which
di d n ot b egin to spe ci a li ze — that i s to evolve the ex
, ,
i s t in g v a rie t ies — until the seve r al P leis to ce ne g r oups

r eache d thei r p r ese n t zoological dom ai n s We kn o w .
fr om th e s t udy o f extinct a n d existi n g a n i m al f o rm s

how fo r instan ce the C a m el fa m ily which p r o b ab l y
, , ,
o r i gi na te d i n No rth Am erica is n ow r ep r ese n ted b y ,
such allied speci es as the gua n aco vi cu n a a nd lla m a ,
i n South Ame r ica a n d the b akt ri an a nd A r a b i an

,
cam el in As ia I t w as the same wit h the huma n

.
fam ily which origi n ati n g i n M alaysi a is n ow rep re

, , ,
sented all ove r the wo r l d b y f ou r m ai n va r ietie s w it h

thei r e n dless s ub va r ietie s ; Ne g ro es o r B la c k s i n th e
-
Suda n South A fr ica a n d Oc e a n i a (Au st r a l i a )

, ,
Mongol o r Yellow i n Ce n t r al N or t h a nd E ast Asi a ; ,
Am eri n ds (Red o r B r ow n ) i n the N ew Wo r l d ; a nd

Caucasians (white a n d al so D a rk ) i n N o r t h A fr i
ca E u r ope I ran i a I n dia weste rn Asi a a a d P ol y
, , , ,
n e Si a .
“
Th e fou r m ai n divi si o n s o f m a nk i nd a r e t h u s
s e e n to h av e b e e n evolve d i n d ep e n de n tly i n t h e i r
s eve r a l z o n e s from Pl ei sto ce n e a n ce st r al g r oup s o f
som ewh at uni fo r m physi cal typ e a n d all sp r u n g from
a common Pli oce n e p r oto typ e Thi s V i ew o f hu m an .
o r i gi n s at o n ce r em ove s th e g r e at est di ffi cul ty h it h e r

to p res ente d b y th e existi n g v a r i eti e s w hich b ei ng , ,
S p r u n g s ep a r at ely i n s ep a r ate a r ea s fr o m a c ommon

p a r e n t stem n e e d n o l o n ge r b e de r i ve d on e from
,
—
a n oth e r whit e from b l ac k yyellow from r e d a nd s o , ,
on — a c r ude n oti o n w hi ch b o th o n physi ol o gi ca l a nd
ge ogr aphi c g ro u n ds h a s alw ays r em a i n ed a n i n sc ru t

abl e pu z zl e to s e r i ou s stu de n ts o f m a nk i n d T o su p .
p o s e th at s om e hi ghly sp eci al i z e d g r oup s ay o rig i n

O
, ,
a lly bl a ck m ig r ati n g f r o m c on ti n e n t to co n ti n e n t
, ,
b eca m e wh ite 1n on e r eg i o n a nd y e ll o w 1n ano t h er 18 ,

a vi ol ent a ssumpti o n whi ch could n eve r b e ve r ifi ed

a nd i s opp o s e d t o t he n a t u ral rel at i on s Such a .
g ro u p p a ssin g from i t s p rop e r zone t o anothe r ess e n

t i ally di ff e ren t envi ronment must inevit a bly h ave
di ed ou t long b e fo re i t h a d t im e to b ecome accl ima
ti z e d Th e fund a m ental raci a l ch a ra c t e rs a r e the
.
re s u l t o f s low a dapt a ti on to thei r sp eci a l su r r ou n d

ing s They a re wh at clim ate s oil di et h e r edity
.
, , , ,
na t u ral s elec t ion a n d tim e h ave m a de them a nd a re

, ,
o f t o o long s t andi n g t o b e effaced o r bl u rred except

by miscegen at i on a p ro ces s which a ssume s th e ex
,
i s t e n ce o f o t he r sp eci a l iz ed forms and a s above s ee n

,
is rendered pos s ible by primordi a l unity .
‘
By common de s cen t a n d s ep a r ate l oc a l devel op
m en t is fu r t he r expl a ined th e su rp ri sing res embl a n ce
whi ch i s eve rywh e re p res en t ed b oth by the e ar li est
rem ains a nd th e e a rli est wo rks o f p rimitive M a n .
Such a re the fo ssil o r semi fossil skulls fou n d i n

-
Eu r op e Egypt M o n goli a an d t he N ew W o r ld and

, , , ,
th e ston e instr u m en t s o c cu rring i n v a s t q u a ntiti es i n

B rit a i n Fr a nce B elgium N or t h and Sou t h Afri ca
, , , ,
Indi a N o r t h a nd Sou t h Am e ri ca from B ri t i sh C o

,
lumb i a t o Te r r a del Fu ego C e r ta in Austral ian

.
skulls s eem c a st in t he s a m e moul d a s the ab ove

m en t ioned N e a nde r t hal while rude s to n e in s t ru
,
m ents b rought from t h e most di st a n t l a nds a re so

a like i n fo rm a nd ch a r acte r that th ey might h ave
b een m a de by th e s a me h an ds On t he B a nks o f the
.
Nile obj ects o f Eu rop e an typ e h ave bee n di s cove r ed ,
a nd o t hers c ollec t ed in Som a liland might have bee n

dug out o f the dri f t deposits o f t he Sein e t h e ,
Th a mes o r the a nci ent Sol ent (Si r John Ev an s ) .
Th e Pl ei stocen e o r $ u a r t e rn a ry epo ch a s rep re ,
s ented by tho se obj ect s o f p rimi t ive cu ltu re r an ged ,
ove r a va s t p e r i o d o f tim e whi ch h as b een con

v e n i en tly divi de d i n to t w o g r e at epo chs th e Pal e o ,
l i thi c o r Ol d Sto n e a n d th e N e olithi c o r N w Sto n e , e
Ag th es e b eing s o na m e d from th e m ate ri a l chi e fly

e,
us e d by p rimitive p e opl e s i n th e m anu fa ctu r e o f

th ei r w e ap o n s a n d oth e r i mpl em e n ts Th e di st i n c .
ti o n b etwe e n th e two p e r io ds whi ch a r e n ot to b e ,
take n s tim e s e q u e n ce s s inc e th ey o ve r l ap i n m a n y

a
pl aces i s b a s e d es s e n ti ally o n th e di ff e rent t r e atm e n t

,
o f th e m ate r i al whi ch du ri n g th e imm easu r ably ,
l o ng e r Old St on e Age w a s at fi rst m e rely chi pp e d ,
fl a k e d o r o th e r wi s e rudely f a shi oned but i n th e

, ,
N ew m o r e ca r e fully wo r k ed a nd p ol i sh ed Evi d e n ce .
i s howeve r now a ccumul ating to show th at p r o gr e s s

, ,
w a s c on ti n u o u s th r ough out th e wh ol e o f th e fi r st cul

tu r al e r a w h ich thus t e n ded i n favo r a bl e l oc aliti e s
,
such a s South Fra n ce th e Rivi e r a a n d N o rth A f r i ca , ,
to m e r ge i mp e rceptibly in th e s eco n d th at i t i s , so
n ot always p o ss ibl e to d r a w any cl e a r l i ne b etw e e n

th e Ol d a n d th e N ew Ston e Age I n o n e r e sp ect th e .
fo r m e r w a s towa r ds its cl os e even i n a dvance o f th e

l atte r a n d quite a P l o lith i c Scho ol o f Art w a s ‘
r a ae
’
developed duri ng a lo ng inte r— post glaci a l p e r i od

,
or -
o f ste ady p r og r ess in the S helte r e d V i e e valley o f z r
D o rdo g n e South F ra nce ,

H e re w e r e p r o duce d .
s om e o f tho s e r em a rk abl e sto n e h o r n a n d eve n ivo r y ,
s c r ap e r s gr ave r s h a rp o ons o r na m en t s a nd sta tu

, , ,
e tt e with ca rvi n gs on th e round an d skil ful etchi n gs

s ,
o f s e als fi she s r ei nde e r h a rn ess e d h o r s es m a m

, , , ,
m oth s s n ake s a n d m a n hims el f whi ch als o o ccu r i n

, , ,
oth e r
Th i m h h l g i l id
*
e re s uc f th O ld
a rc d N w aeo o ca ev en c e o e an e
St one Ag d f th b d
es and p ti o f th te a o es an o c cu a on s o a rac e a
dw l t p th
e u th don i g b th th p i d — whi h t g th
e e ar ur n o es e er o s c o e er
co v er n ot l t h t h h d
es s d t h d
an y — b t it i t
re e un re o u s an e ars u s n ro
d ti i t
uc on ti l t
s no p p d whil i t
e s s en ly i
a o o ur ur o ses an ,
e n en s e n
t ti g
e re s d i t
n ti ant m m ig h t p
n s ru c ti m t thve o so e, ro v e res o e o o e rs .
F or th ese m h f th
re as o n sd f p hi t i M i uc o e re c o r o re s or c an s
o mi tt d e .
2 4 T H E U LT I M AT E SOLUTION or
Af t e r thes e t wo S t one Ages c a me t he M et a l Ages

whi ch whil e c ove rin g m a ny t ho u s a nds of yy e a rs we re
, ,
o f S ho r t e r du r at i on t h a n t h e S t one Age s L at e r s t ill .
c a me wh at we migh t ve ry p rop e rl y design at e a s t

“
he
”
Age o f Le tt er s o r pi c t o ri al wr iti ngs such a s t he
ro ck c a rv i ng s o f Upp e r E g yp t All t he s e c omp ri s e .
t h at t ransi t i on a l p e riod dim m emo ri es o f whi ch lin

,
g e r e d on well in t o hi s t o ri c t im es .
The s e we re a ge s o f pop u l a r my t hs folk l o re ,

-
,
demi go d s ep onymo u s h ero es t r a di t i on s o f a ct u a l

-
, ,
h a pp enings a nd phil o s ophi c t h eo ri e s on M a n and

,
hi s surrounding s From t he v a s t m at e ri a ls t h u s s u p
.
pli ed p o em s we r e a f t e rw a rds wri tt en new religi on s ,
we re fo u nded a nd l at e r l a wgiver s c a me i n t o ex i s t
,
ence .
In C hin a e a rly his t ori a ns still r emembe r ed t he eve n

“ ”
more remo t e Age o f t he Three Rulers when peo ,
ple s u b s is t ed on wild fr u i t s u ncooked food d ra nk , ,
t he blood o f o t her a nim a l s l ive d in c a ves and wore ,
for c lo t hing the S kins o f wild be a s t s (N ew S t one

Age ) Then c a me b en efice nt rulers who in t rodu c ed
.
orderly governmen t org a ni zed so c ie t y on t he b asis o f

,
m a rr ia ge a nd f a mily inven t e d n et s and sn a re s fo r

,
fi s hing a nd h u n t ing ta u gh t the people t o re a r domes

,
t i c anim a l s a n d till t he l a nd es ta blished m a rke t s for ,
t he s a le o f f a rm prod u ce expl a ined t he medi c in a l ,
proper t ie s o f pl a n t s s t u died a s t rology i f no t a s t ron

,
o m y a nd a ppo in t ed t he Five Ob s erver s o f t he H e av

‘
,
en ly Bodie s ( our Prehis

’
t oric s a y s Ke a ne .
The b a ck gro u nd o f S heer s a v a gery lying behind a ll

-
l at er c u l tu r a l developmen t is t hu s eve rywhere re

ve a led The Golden Age o f t he poe t s f a des wi t h
.
“
t he H es p eri des ”a nd Pl at o s A tlan tis into the region ’
o f t he f a bulou s .
The gener a l u s e o f le tt er s is conspicuously the mo s t

characte r is t i c fea t ure o f st r ictly histo r i c times This .
use o f lette r s en ab le d the r a ce to pe r petu a te eve r y

thin g worth p rese rvin g an d h a s p r oven the most us e
ful a n d fruitful o f hum an inventions K n owledge thus .
becam e cumulative an d hum an progress w a s g r e atly

a ccele ra ted . Ou r mo dern systems o f w r iti n g h ave
evolved from picto ri a l rep r esenta t ion s o f things a n d
—
i deas Following pi cture writing s o cha r a c t e r istic
.
o f e ar ly civili z a tion in E gypt an d elsewhe r e — cam e

crude si g n s a n d symbols representi n g wo r ds whi ch
we re fi rst used in comb in a tion with p ictu r es G r adu .
a lly the S ign s o f wo r ds c a me m o re and more into

use as the p ictures fell i n to disuse The Chi n e se e a r ly
.
developed a ve ry el a b orate S i gn system i n thei r sc r ipt .
Arti c ul a te soun d si gns (lette r s ) a s i n ou r own alpha

-
,
b et is t he recent pe r fec t in g o f these va ri ous m etho ds

,
o f r e co rdi n g i deas B etwee n these tw o extre m es

.
the pictogr a ph a n d the lette r— the r e a r e va rious i n te r

medi a ry fo r ms such as the r ebus the full syllable , ,
e tc ; thes e a re l a rgely preserve d i n b oth the E gyptia n

.
an d B a byloni a n sys t ems an d help to S how how the

,
pure phoneti c systems we r e fin ally r eache d Th is.
must h a ve been a ccom plishe d a t le ast S ix thousa n d

ye ars a go — p r ob a bly ten thousa n d since its fi rst i n
ve n t i o n — si n ce v a rious a r chai c phoneti c sc r ipts a r e
found wi dely di ffuse d ove r the a r chipela go (Crete ,
C ypr u s Asi a M ino r ) i n M yk aen e an an d P r e Myk

,
-
aene a n time The hieroglyphi c an d cu n e i fo rm sys

.
tems from which they o ri ginate d we re un questio n a b ly

much olde r S ince the rock i n s c r ipti ons o f Uppe r
—
,
E gypt a re p r e dy n asti c p r io r to a ll histo r i c r e co r ds

—
-
while the M esopot a m i a city o f N i pper al r e a dy pos

sessed h a l f pi cto r i al h al f pho n eti c docume n ts some S ix
-
,
-
o r seven thousa n d years b e f o r e the New E r a I n t h is .
“
conne ction Ke a ne says From the pi cto r i al a n d
:
pl a sti c r em a ins re cove r ed fr om those two ea r liest se ats

o f the hi g he r cultu r es it is n o w place d b eyo nd d ou b t
2 6 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTION OF
t ha t a ll t he g re a t divi ion o f t he hum a n family had s s
at t h at t ime a lre a dy been fully develope d Even in .
t he New S t one Age t he presen t Europe a n type had

been t horo ghly e ta blished a s S hown by t he S keletal
u s
rem a ins o f t he C ro M a gnon R a ce ‘

called from
-
,
’
so
the cave o f t h at n a me in Perigord whe re the fi r st

s pe imens were di covered A S kull o f t he e a rly
c s .
I ron Age from Wild t i n B a v ar ia h a d a cranial

e n ro
c a p a ci t y o f one t hous a nd five hundred a nd ei gh t y

fi ve cen t ime t res a nd w a s in all respects a superb speci
,
men f t he regul a r fe at ured Nor t h Eu r ope an I n

o -
.
E gypt where a well developed social a nd political

,
-
org a ni z at ion m a y be tr a ced b a ck to t he eleve n th n ce
t ury B C Pro fesso r Pe t rie discovered in 1 8 97 t he

. .
,
por t r a it s t a t ue o f a prince of t he fi f t h dyna sty (3 7 0 0

B C ) S howing regular Ca u asic features Still olde r
. . c .
i t he portr a i t o f t he B a bylo n i a n King En sh g g

s a sa na
(4 5 0 0 B a lso w i.t h h n d m fe at ures which a so e
mi gh t b e e i t her C m it i o r eve n A r ya n
‘
e Thus we c .
’
h a ve a do umen t ary evidence th a t t he C aucasic that

‘
c ,
is t he highe t hum a n type h a d a lre a dy b ee n not o n ly

s ,
evolved bu t spre a d ove r a wi de area (Europe E gyp t , ,
M esopo ta mi a ) some t hous a nds o f years be fore the

New E ra .
“
The other chie f types (Mongol Negro a nd eve n , ,
Negrito ) a re a l s o cle a rly portr a yed on early Eg yp

t i a n monumen t s so t h a t all the prim a ry groups had
,
a lre a dy rea ched ma t uri t y probably be fore the close

o f the Old Sto n e Age .
“
Bu t t hese prim a ry groups did n ot rem a i n st a
t i o n ary i n thei r s eve ral o rigi n a l hom e s bu t h ave o n ,
t he con t r a ry been subj ect to great a nd con t inu a l fluc

tu at i o n s t hroughou t histori c t imes A r me d wi t h a .
gener a l kn owledge o f le tt ers a nd correlated cul t ural

appli an ces t he higher r a ces soon took a foremost
,
place i n the ge n e r al p r ogress o f m a nk i n d and g r adu ,

THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO PRO B LE M 2 7
ally a cqui red a m ark e d a sce n de n cy n ot o n ly ove r the

,
less cultu r e d pe oples but to a g r e a t exte n t ove r the

,
”
f o r ces o f n atu r e hers el f . Says Ke an e .
N ow the intelli ge n t a pplicatio n o f the fo r e goi ng

fa ct s can lead to no other tha n the f ollowi n g co n
c lu s i o n s : Th a t evolution the immutable m o d us
-
o p e ra n d i o f th a t gre a t Fin a l Ca use — is the real d is ,
cove re d c ause o f every ch a n ge t h a t h a s eve r t ak e n

pla ce a n d that this is true n ot o n ly o f e a r thly ch a ng es
, , ,
but is e qu a lly a pplic a ble to the limitless unive r se c o ,
extens ive wi t h force a n d sp a c e ; th a t n a tu r e r e qui r es

a n a lmost inconceiv a bly lon g time to produce eve n
the sli ghtest v ar iati on ; th a t M an is t he p r oduct o f
n atur a l l a w ; that the supe rio r ment a l atta i n me n t o f
the moder n Europe a n is the result o f ae o n s o f f avo r
able e n vi ronme n t ; a n d by i n fe r ence th at h is l a gga r d
,
—
bl a ck b r othe r 13 me n tally thou s a n ds i f n ot m illio n s
-
o f ye a rs behind , an d must n ee ds lose out in the
conspi cu ously u nequal st r uggle fo r existe n ce N ot .
o n ly be cause o f his mental in fe r io ri ty must the Ameri

,
c a n Ne gro ul t im at ely lose in this contest b ut be cause ,
al s o o f s t rong an d incre a s in g mutu a l ra ce prej udice

a n d o f h is rel a tive nume ri c a l w eak n ess Thus it .
seem s to b e demon s tr a te d t r uth that while r emotely

we s ta rted out i n a n a pe like f o rm a nd o n equal f oot
-
in g n a tur a l l a w h as so f avo re d cert a in b ra n ches o f

,
this human f a m ily tre e as to c a u s e them to develop

-
out o f a ll propo rtion to ce rt a i n othe r br a n ches ; j ust

a s we s e e illus t r a ted eve r y d a y o f ou r lives in the
, ,
development a n d la ck o f deve l op m e n t i n d i ff e r e n t
, ,
b r an che s o f o r di na ry trees .
C HAPTE R I I
Th e N a tu ra l M ou ldi ng o f th e R a c es Fr o m a Co m
m o n P r o t o typ e
E h a ve s e en th en t h a t M a n i s only one
o f t h e m a ny n at u r a l p rod u c t s o f o rde r
ly c h a nge c on s ta n t ly go ing on a b ou t u s ,
a nd t h at he h as b een gr a du a lly el ev at ed
by imp e rcep t ible c h a nges from lowe r form s Like .
wi s e i t h a s b e en s hown t h at whil e h i s ne a re s t p re
h u m a n a nces t o r s we re no t exi s t ing a p es t hey were
common a n c e s t o r s t o b o t h M a n a nd a p e and ve ry ,
much clo s e r in fo rm a nd a pp e a r a n c e t o p res ent d a y -
a p es t h a n to t h e highe r r a c es o f M a n A S t h e p ro .
geny o f t hi s c ommon a n c e s t o r h a ve dive rged and ,
finally b e c ome s o wi dely diffe ren t i at ed as t o cons t i

t u t e a n u mb e r o f se p a r at e a nd dis t in c t sp e ci es so ,
—
e ach o f t hes e l at te r l n t u rn u nde r t h e s a m e fixed
l a w— exhibi t t hi s t enden c y t o dive rgence in cluding ,
M an him s el f Hen c e t h e exi s t en c e upon the e a rth

.
to d a y o f t he m a ny a nd widely diffe rent types or

-
v a ri e t i e s o f t h e hum a n r a c e Fo r t hous a nd s o f ye a rs
.
,
pe rh a ps i t i s well wi t hin th e bounds o f con s e rv at ism

t o s ay h u ndred s o f t ho u s ands o f ye a rs a f t e r th e ,
l a nded po r t i on s o f t he glob e b e c a me p eopl ed a ll men

we re s t ill ve ry m u c h a like ; a nd a ll we re s om ewhat
in feri o r m e n ta lly i f no t p h ys i c ally to even the l ow
, , ,
es t ex i s t ing t yp es I f d u ring t h e l a st two o r th r e e

.
thou s a nd ye a rs p rogre s s a nd development a nd re a dy

me a n s o f in t e r c omm u ni c at i on h a d no t t a ken pl a ce
-
,
b u t in s t e a d t he s ever a l gr a nd divisions o f l a nd h a d
perm a nen t ly rem a ine d isol at ed and i f th is condition
,
2 8
coul d h a ve ext e n ded i ndefinitely i nto th e futu r e t h e ,
s eve r a l va r i eti es o f M a n o r s om e o f th em woul d

ultim a tely h a ve develop e d into di stinct sp eci e s —a
, ,
rem otene ss o f r el ati onsh ip s u ffi ci ent to p r ev e n t i n te r

b r e e ding I n m any re s p ects it s e em s regret t abl e th a t
.
i t di d n ot s o h app en fo r it wo u l d h a ve b e en i nt e r e st
,
i n g to h av e h a d a fre e exch a nge o f i de a s and co m

m o di ti e s wi th a p eopl e p os s ibly ou r full e qu al s but
, ,
w i th whom ou r blo o d woul d no t h a ve m ixe d As a .
m a tte r o f fa ct howeve r i f ex t ens iv e r a c i a l r eve rs i o n

, ,
i s i mpo ss ibl e a n d m o de rn p ro gre s s a nd i n te r cou r s e

continu e th e m any va ri e t i e s o f m anki nd mu st co n
,
t i nu ally app r o a ch cl o s e r a nd cl o s e r t o a comm o n

typ e Thi s will t a k e pl a ce v e ry gr a du ally o f cou r s e
.
,
but will b e mu ch fa ste r th an m o s t o f th e evoluti o n

a ry ch anges o f th e p a s t h a v e b e en .
In th e b egi nning a s we h ave sh own in the l a st

,
ch a pte r M a n w a s th e n a tu ral p ro duct o f comm o n

,
a n cesto rs a n d cons equ ently th ey we r e all o f th e

,
s a m e v a ri ety Th e wi de v a ri a ti ons th a t h ave s i n ce

.
t a ken pl a ce a re t h e r esul t s o f r esp ective e n vi r o n

m e n ts a nd i f such e n vi ronm e n ts a nd i s ol ati ons h a d
,
co n ti nu e d i nd efini tely th ey would unqu e sti on ably

h a ve p ro duce d n ew sp eci es a s w e h a ve s ai d Th e .
p rogre ss o f thi s p ri m itiv e M a n from hi s trop ical

b i rthpl a ce to th e r em ote a n d even f rigi d regi ons o f
,
th e e a rth b oth n o rth a nd s outh w a s n ece ss a rily di f

, ,
ficu lt a nd sl ow ; all routes w e re b e s et with o b s t ru c

ti ons a nd h e h a d nothing t o fa cilit a te h i s j ou rneyings
except hi s b a r e fe et an d gr a sp ing h and with oppo s ,
ab l e thumb But thi s p eo pling o f th e e a rth S l o w

.
,
a s it must h ave b e e n w a s f a st wh en comp a r e d with

,
th e l a ws o f a d a ptati o n C ons equ ently whil e we

.
,
h ave t h e b est o f evi de n ce th a t it requi re d m a n y

thous a nds o f ye a rs fo r th e p rimiti ve r a ce to occupy
all th e p rincip a l l a n ded p o rti ons o f th e e a r th i t i s ,
equ a lly well establish ed th at evoluti on requi red mil

li on s to di ffe ren t i a te him into t h e va ri ous groups o r ,
ra ces as t hey exist t o d a y

,
-
.
I t is however no e a sy m at ter t o c onvince the m as s

, ,
o f t he people who h a ve h a d li tt le or n o scientific

,
tr a ining t h at t here w as a t ime when all human b e

,
ings were as m u ch a like as a re t he members o f a na

t ive Sud a ne s e t ribe b u t i t is no n e the less t r ue The
,
- -
.
gre a tes t S ingle obs ta c le in t he w a y o f popula r a dva nce

me nt a long s u ch line s is t he e a gerne s s a nd energy , ,
wi t h whi ch bo t h t he poli t i c i an a nd the t heologi an seek

t o m a ke c a pi ta l ou t o f t he s i t u at ion W e once he ar d .
a f a mo u s poli t i c i a n pre a c h a politi c a l sermo n which

”
he enti t led The Prin c e o f Pe a ce in which he we n t
“
o u t o f h i s w a y t o in t rod u c e t he f a lse s ta teme n t— but
popul a r belie f— t h a t modern s cience m a de t he cl a im

t h at hum a n beings were no t hing bu t improved pres ,
e n t d a y monkey s
-
He s a id t o h is immense audience
.
,
in e ffec t t h at s u ch c l a im s were b o t h di s gusting an d

,
ins u l t ing t h at he for one did no t believe t hem a n d

, , ,
t h at he pre ferred t o hold t o t he t ea ching o f the

B ible on t he su bj e c t C on t in u in g he s a id th at it w a s
.
,
m u c h m ore likely t h at monkeys a re degener at e men

t h a n t h at men a re improved monkeys ; a nd t o his
mind t he l att er w as a f a r more pl a u sible t heory O f .
cour s e t hi s bro u gh t him loud a ppl a u se from a n a u di

en c e c ompo s ed l a rgely o f u nc u l t ured people which ,
b e c a re f u lly S i ze d u p be fore m a king t he mi s le a ding

a nd ridi cu lo u s s tat emen t W e ob s erved him as he .
St ood s ilen t for a momen t eviden t ly c on s idering how ,
m a ny vo t e s he h a d prob a bly m a de by t hi s sh a me fu l
s a cri fi c e o f hone s t y a nd t r u t h .
Theologi a n s a re c ons ta n t ly mi s le a ding t he people

in a S imil a r m a nner b u t we will modi fy o u r cri t ici s ms
,
s o f a r a s t hey a re c once rned givi n g them the b e n e fit ,
o f t he doub t a nd supposing th a t on the ir part such

, , ,
THE A ME RI C AN NE G RO P RO BLE M 3 1
f a lse im pre s si o n s a re m a de only th rough i g n or a nce

an d supe r s tition .
A m ore import a nt c o n s i de rat io n f o r ou r purpose i s ,
how the sever a l divisi ons o f m a nkin d c a me to be s o

u n like an d t he c a u s es that have c ontributed to these
,
m o rphologic a l di s ti n ctions .
The powe r o f a nalogy to reve a l t he t r uth is o fte n

mo re reli able th a n di r e ct te s t imo n y Such i s pre
.
e minen t ly t he c a se whe n we com e to de a l with gre a t
q u estions o f p a s t c a use s a nd e ffects . Th is ve ry m at

t e r o f the developme n t o f t he seve r a l r a ces could now
b e d emo n str a ted by s uch a b s t r a c t re a son in g ; but fo r

t u n at e ly the a nthropologist i s r e a dy wi t h his dire ct
a n d positive proo fs i n the form o f fossil rem a ins to

, ,
ve r i fy th e w ork o f the philosophe r .
As we h a ve se en in t he pre c e di n g ch a pte r the h u

m an race w as e volve d o r b orn in o r ne a r the i s l a n d
o f J a va ce r t a inly wi t hi n ei gh t de gre es o f the equ a
,
t o r where l u xuri a nt ve ge ta t i on a n d a queou s anim als

,
fur n i s hed an a bund ant supply o f foo d This prim .
it iv e M a n howeve r like his s im i a n a ncesto rs must

, ,
have b ee n very l a rgely a ve get ar i a n But n atu r a l l a w

.
ha d foreo r dained t h at the ra c e S hould not a lw a ys b e

confi n e d to this tropic a l re gion o f l a ssit u de a nd plenty .
The m aj o r1ty we re conten t e d j ust a s c e rtai n lowe r

,
r aces still a r e with a s imple li fe o f compa rative idle

,
n ess W e can im agine thes e r u de a pe like men in the

.
-
hot su n li ght a n d under th e gre a t spre adin g p a lm trees

a lo n g the w a te rs edge c on t ente d with the da ily gr a ti
fic at i o n o f the a n im a l a ppetites — l a cki n g incentive
a n d stimul a tion t o a hi ghe r ment a l pl a ne Bu t in .
ful n es s o f time they develope d the i r r estless am ,
b i t io u s spi rits who lo n ged to know m ore o f n a tu re

,
a n d her wo n ders ; willin g to r isk thei r lives and br ave

the ha r dships o f colde r a n d a pp a re n tly less f avo r able
,
c l im s i n o r de r to gr ati f y the yea rn i n g s o f th e i r mor e

e
active mi n ds .
Thus o f co urse the adventu r esome spi r its who

,
wen t ou t from a mong thei r fellows seeking new en ,
vi rons a n d str a nge a bodes we r e dr a wn from the most

,
a c tive and enligh t ened stra t um o f t his simple stock .
He wa s the elec t o f his race ; mo r e c ap a ble o f p r o

te et ing himsel f a gain s t his ma n y new d a ngers .
We a lso h a ve good reasons fo r believing th a t this

primi t ive M a n w a s none too choice a bout t he so u rce
o f his food s u pply an d th a t a membe r o f a hostile
,
tr ibe when S l a in or c a p t ured w a s e at e n raw an d r el

,
i sh e d . Nor is it likely tha t he would hesi tat e whe n ,
p r essed by t he p a ngs o f hunge r t o p u t the pea c e ful but

,
we a ke r members o f his own tribe to a similar use .
I t 13 not e a sy to appreci at e i n our p r esent s t a t e o f

development with every me ch an ical n eed a nticip a ted
,
a n d abund a n t ly supplied in every relation o f li fe ,
wi t h ar t i c les well nigh pe r fec t for t he pu r poses in

-
te n ded how di ffi cul t i t was for t his rude m a n to pro

,
cure the S imples t a r t i cle s o f utili t y a nd war f are Fo r .
i n s t a n ce i f he had been fu rn ished with a S i n gle me

ch an i c al a id to t he power an d effectiveness o f his a rm ,
such as t he ordin a ry baseb a ll b a t his a bility to m a ke

,
w ar upon othe r t ribes a nd upo n the fie rce anim a ls o f

,
primeval forests would have been v a stly a ugmented

, .
I n the ab s ence o f a ny such a r ti c le h is in genu i ty sug

ges t e d th at t he hum a n femur or t high bo n e be made
, ,
t o serve t he pu r pose a n d i t is believed that the use o f

,
thigh bones w a s in these ve ry e a rly stages o f huma n

existence a t o n ce the most commo n a nd formidable
, ,
we a pon a t the command o f the ra ce W hen these .
wild tribes ch an ced to mee t in the vast unb roke n for

es t s o f t he a ge a fie r ce co n test ge n e ra lly e n sued ; for
e a ch hum an body me a nt a good supply o f food and
two addi t ion a l implements o f wa r fare .
M an must h av e bee n ve r y f a r a b ove his fi r st an

TH E A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 33
ce s to rs (Dubois s ’
Jav an ese M a n ) b e f o r e he was a bl e
to m a ke stone hatchets with wh ich to hew out wood
,
en clubs an d still m ore a dv an ce d when he bec am e

,
able to supply a su ffi cient numbe r o f stone im p le

ments for ge n eral utility i n de fen sive a n d o ff e n s ive
wa r f a r e Bu t wh a t we wish to illust r ate is the fa ct
.
that ea c h o f these sta ges o f developme n t ra ise d the

ra ce i n physic a l f o r m by develo pi n g the levers o f the
— —
body bones te n do n s a n d muscles a n d by im p r ov
, ,
ing the S h a pe o f the h an ds an d fin ge r s ; all o f whic h

im plies a cor r espo n di n g im p r oveme n t i n the powe r
o f thought th r ough i n c r e a se d use o f the e n ti r e n e r
vous system which includes the b r a i n .
Whe n the ra ce h a d once esta b lishe d itsel f i n suc h

latitudes a s C entr a l As i a a n d Eu r ope its dieta r y
n ecessiti es w e r e gre a t ly ch an ge d ; m o r e he a t produc
-
i n g a n im al f oo d an d less ve getable m atte r was n eces

s a r y M o r eove r it no lon ge r ha d the va r i ety a n d
.
,
ab u n da n ce o f f r uits a n d ve get a bles that na tu r e so

lavishly fu rn ished i n its equ a to r i al hab itats I n g r e at
.
m easure the substitutio n o f fle sh fo r ve geta b le m at

ter ha d b ecom e n ecessa ry an d the forme r coul d b e
h a d only b y e ffo rt a nd i n ge nu ity I t could h ave b ee n
.
no e a sy m a tte r even in these e a r ly times— whe n t h e

lowe r anim a ls we r e much m o r e a b u n da n t th an at p r es
ent— for the v a rious trib es o f the p r im itive r ace
to resist the cold c a ptu r e thei r f ood an d ma i n tai n
, ,
t hemselves a gains t hostile t r ibes a s they pe n et r ate d

deeper a n d deepe r into the u nk nown wi ld s a n d fr igi d
re gio n s o f b oth n o r th an d south .
We t r ust i t h a s b e e n m a de suffi ci e n tly cl e a r t h e n,
that a s p r imitive M an force d his w a y out from the

e quato r hi s wits we r e co n ti n u ally wh ette d a n d S h a r p
ened b y th e v e r y n atu re o f hi s n ew co n diti o n I t .
shoul d al s o b e app a r e n t th a t th o s e wh o w e n t o ut
w e r e for r eas on s a lr e a d y m e n t i on ed th e s e l ect ele
, ,
m en t m en ta lly a nd phy s i c a lly .
Th e s e p ilgrim s who b r a v ed a ll s o r t s o f new d a n

,
ge r s— t h u s elimin at ing a ll b u t t h e fit t e s t— e s ta bli s h

ed t hem s elve s i n v a ri ou s a nd s u ndry lo c a li t i e s s om e ,
mo re s u i ta bl e fo r r a c i a l developmen t t h a n o t he r s ,
b u t a ll b e tt e r t h a n h i s t o rrid bi r t hpl a c e Tho s e who .
c on t in u ed t o dwell i n ho t c lim at e s u nderwen t li tt l e
ch a nge a nd a ll s u c c e eding gene r at i on s p e rp e tu at ed

,
t hi s s impl e li fe a nd m a ny p rimi t ive r a c e ch a rac t e ri s

t i cs Thi s i s t he envi ronm en t t h at h as p rodu c ed the
.
N egro r a c e Ve ry s ligh t a d a p tat ion a l c h a nge s h a ve

.
o c cu rred i n t hi s divi s i on o f t he r a c e t h u s h e h as re
,
m a ined m u ch c lo s e r t o t h e o rigin a l s t o ck th a n h a ve
t h e hi gher b r a n ch e s o f th e r a c e .
On t he o t he r h a nd t he c on s ta n t in t roduc t i on o f
,
n ew f a c t o r s i n t o t he c ondi t i on s a nd c h a nging e n
vi ron s o f t he a d v en t u re s ome el em en t c a u s ed c o rre ,
s p o n d i n g c h a nge s in t he o rg a ni s m u n t il at l a s t unde r
. ,
t he infl u en c e s t h at a ct ed u p on t he s e v a rio u s roving

trib e s o r n at ion s t h e s e v e r a l p ri n c ip a l v a ri e t i e s o f
, ,
m a nkind b e c a me well e s ta bli s hed .
The s om ewh at a rbi t r a ry c la s s m c a ti o n into fo u r

gre at p rim a ry divi s i on s a c c o r d in g t o t hei r geo
,
gr a p h i c a l l o c at i on a nd s tat e o f develo p m en t i s by ,
no m e a n s p e rfe c t b u t i s ex t rem ely u s e f u l fo r p u r

,
po s e s o f s t u dy a nd i s p e rh a p s a s goo d as co u l d b e
,
m a de .
Th u s we h a v e t h e Negro r a c e (E t hi op i a n ) which
rem a ined p e rm a nen t ly in ho t c lim at e s a nd v a ri ed
b u t S ligh t ly from p rimi t ive t yp e s Th e Am e rind
.
Am e ri c a n I ndi a n ) who i s m u c h higher t h a n t h e

( ,
Negro b u t no t endowed wi t h su ffi c i en t c a p a ci t y t o

,
develop a gre at c ivili z at i on t ho u g h h l o n t e z u m a a nd

,
/
t he old c i t y o f M exi c o indi c at e t h at i f le f t a l one l ong

enough t h e Indi a n wo u ld h a ve developed a m u ch
,
m o re extensiv e civili z a ti on .
N ex t a b ove t h e Indi a n s t a nd s th e M ongol divi

s i on ( Yell ow o r B rown r a ce ) Thi s divi
. si o n i s
s t rong l n eve ry s en s e wi t h a ve ry gr e at a nd exten
,
s i ve civili z a ti o n p e rh a ps t h e m o s t a n c i en t o f all
,
.
Any comp a ri s on o f th e M ongol wi t h th e Am e rind

woul d b e o di o u s S in c e t he O ri en ta l s a r e a highly
,
civil i z ed in t e ll e c t u a l a nd cult u red p e o p l e exe r c i s i ng

, , ,
a ve ry gre a t in fl u en c e l n th e in t e rn at i on a l co u ncil s o f
the wo rld Bu t in s p i t e o f a ll t h i s t h e f a c t r em ai ns
.
t h a t th e C a u c a si a n divis i on i s p re emi nen t ly a nd i n -
di sputably s up e ri o r t o th em a ll To m enti o n hi s .
w o rks a nd a chi evem en t s i s t o s u m u p a t l e a st ni ne t y

p e r cent o f .a ll im p o r ta nt h u m a n a c compli s hm ents .
Sti ll we a r e t old by m a ny n o t wi t hs ta nding th e s e

—
f a cts — th a t t h e N egro i s t o b e el ev a t ed a nd p res en t ly
t o tak e h i s pl a ce a s t h e equ a l o f a ny i ncluding ou r ,
Am e ri c a n divis i on o f t h e C a uc a s i a n r a ce W e can .
no t believe it The very s ugges t i on is p r eposte r

.
o us .
Sp eci al a dapt at i on to envi ro nm ent i s s ee n t h en t o

h a v e b e en t h e a u t ho r o f th e fou r p rincip a l v a ri eti e s
o r r a ces o f m a nki nd .
I n contempl a ti ng t h e rel at ive m e rits a nd dem e rits

o f t h e C a u c a s i a n a nd N egro r a ce s r e s p ectively w e , ,
mu s t ke ep t h e gre at t r u th o f c a u s at io n eve r b e fo r e
us rem emb e ring t h at t h e re i s n o truth i n th e an t i
,
q u a t e d s up e r s t i t i on t h a t all t hing s we r e m a de fo r
M a n s pl e a s u r e a nd conveni ence divi nely o rd a i ne d
’
,
to fit hi s n e ed s ; b u t c onve r s ely th at M a n 13 a m e r e
,
b y p ro duc t o f n at u r a l l a w a nd cons equ ently fi t ted

-
, ,
b y n at u re to hi s envi rons o f wh i ch l1 c i s S imply p a rt

,
a nd p a rcel In h i s p re s en t civili z e d conditi on h ow

.
,
—
eve r h e i s non e to o w ell fitt e d fo r we akli ngs a re
,
a rti fici ally p r es e rve d an d n atu r a l l aws a re co n sta n t

,
ly vi ol ated .
Th e obj ect o f this wo rk do es no t j usti fy an el a b o r

a t e t r e at m en t o f thes e subj ec t s Ou r p u rpose in in .
t ro du c i n g th es e ch apt e rs de a ling wi t h t he o r i gin o f

th e race and t h e p r i m a ry divi sion s t he reo f togethe r
, ,
wi t h t hei r resp e c t i ve m en ta l and physical c h a r a c t e r

i s ti c s i s s o le ly t o S how how we c a me by such facul t i e s
,
a s we h a ve a nd wh at the N egro r a c e l acks t h at t he

,
C aucasi an poss ess es The eno rmi ty o f t he i n t elle c

.
tu a l and mo r a l b re a ch th at sep a r a te s t h es e two divi

si ons o f m ankind m u s t b e m a de pl a in H a ving .
these fund a men t al p rin cipl es well fixe d 1n ou r minds

w e will b e b et t e r p rep a red t o con s ide r thos e two
divi sions o f t he r a ce which n at u r a l c a u s es a nd u n
,
t old a ge s h a ve comb ined t o m a ke t h e one t he high ,
es t a nd t he o t he r t he lowe s t o f the fou r gr a nd divi

si ons a s they exi s t to day -
.
L I FE A ND H A B I T S OF P RI M I T I V E MAN
Almo s t t he enti re l a nded p or t i on s o f th e e a rth

b ea r wi t ness t o t h e l i fe a nd h a bi t s o f p rimi t ive M a n
du ring t h e a ges when h e w as li tt l e i f a t a ll divi ded
in t o v a ri e t i es o r r a c e s Thi s p e ri od known as t he.
,
Fi r s t S t one Age mu s t h a ve b e en longe r t h a n hi s

,
en t i re s u b s equen t hi s to ry Th e fi rs t rudely f a shion .
—
ed ins t r u men t s o f M am a f t e r t h e pe ri od o f b ones
—
and s t i cks t h e p a r a phe rn a li a o f h u n t ing a nd fishing
and the u t ensils fo r t h e p rep a r at i on o f food we re ,
*
A s we av e h d l wh it
s t at e m p b bl th t p
e se t
e re , see s ro a e a re s en
i i fl
an d p ro s p e c t v e W ll nl ti m t l y b i g th h g h
u en c e s l u a e r n e l e r rac e s
i t
n o m h luc i ti d m k th i
c o s e r as s o c a on m t an im a e e r e n v 1 ro n en so S
il
at an d th i i te r f th t i ffi i t ti m
n e rc o u rs e s o i lpree , a n su c en e ra c a e
c u li ar i tieswill b m m h l e co h p l y m k d if t l ti
e uc ess s ar ar e no u
m at e l y b li t t d ; W hil th l w d fit l m t will di mi
o e ra e e e o an un e e en s n
i s h an d t d t di p p
en o d th l w f t h
sa e ar i l f th
un er e a o e s u rv v a o e
fi ttes t .
TH E A ME RI CAN N EG RO P RO B LE M 37
all c r udely fo r m e d o f sto n e a n d oth e r su b sta n ces .
Thi s 1S th e immut a bl e r eco rd o f th e e a rly sta ges o f

hum an developm e n t Thi s fa shi o n i n g o f sto n e t o
.
m e et h i s n e cessiti e s co n sti tutes a p ote n t caus e o f h i s

up wa rd p r ogres s A gre at p a r t o f th e m e n a n d b oy s
—
.
—
o f th es e e a rly tim es p r o b ab l y wom en als o m u st
h ave b e e n co n sta n tl y o ccup i e d i n fi n ding sui tabl e
stone b eds 1n qu a rr y in g desi gni n g a nd sh ap i n g th e
, , ,
r aw m a te r i a l i n to s e rvi ce a b l e f o rm s .
Followin g thi s a ge the stude n t o f M a n s d eve lo p ’
m ent n otes a ve ry de cided imp r oveme n t i n t h e ca

p a c i t i e s o f the r a ce ; the sto n e im p l eme n ts a r e b e tte r
fo r med fo r the purposes i n te n de d The i r sym m et r y
.
,
o r ou t lines a n d propo rtio n s as well a s thei r fi n ish

, ,
o r polish is observe d to have un de r go n e m ar k e d i m

,
p r ovement This cha n ge whi ch was n ot sud d e n a s

.
,
it m i ght a ppea r f r om the co n text b ut ve r y g r a dua l,
—cover in g many thous a nds o f yea r s — m a rk s the b e

gi nn i n g o f the New Stone Age Si r William Tu rn e r
.
h as estim a ted that this cove r e d a spa n o f n ot less

t han o n e hund r e d thousa n d yea r s Eve n this co m pu
.
t at i o n m ay ye t prove to b e i n adequate a n d it wou ld

not b e su r p r isi n g i f anth r opologists o f the f utu r e
g r e a tly exte nd the pe r io d .
Co n com ita n t with thi s epoch is n ote d a ve r y co n

s p i cu o u s imp roveme n t in the h um an facu l ty o f or i g
in ality evidence d b y i n c r eas ed ability to desi g n as

,
well as to execute Du r in g this New Stone A g e M a n

.
,
i n h is respec t ive geo graphi c lo ca l iti es be came m o r e o r ,
less diffe r enti ated i n to what w as late r to devel op i n to

the seve r al w ell — de fin e d va r ieties Eve n i f his ge n e r a l
.
p h ysiog n o m y wa s yet little r emove d fr om h is p r im or

—
di al a n cestors cha r acte r i ze d by the J av an es e li n k
his m ent a l powe r s reve al deci de d dive r gence a n d im
proveme n t The M an o f Spy (une a r thed i n Spy i n
.
,
B el gium i n 1 8 8 4 ) o r the Nea n de r tha l M a n who b e ,

longed t o t he Swi ss L a ke dweller s a nd h a d a c r a ni a l

,
c a p a c i t y o f a bo u t 1 0
33 c ub ic c en t ime t re s — whi c h is
h a l f w a y be tween t he presen t low r a c e s a nd t he M iss
ing Link a ls o belonged t o t hi s New Stone Age .
I f we a dmi t a C opper Age as mo s t e t hnologists

,
a n d an t hropologi s t s do ,i t immedi at ely followed t he

N e w St one Age as we h a ve seen in t he prece ding
,
c h a p t e r ; b u t we do u b t t he proprie t y or j us t ific at ion

, ,
o f s u c h a d ivi s ion I t i s t r u e o f a ll n at u r a l progress

.
t h a t t here a re no well d e fin e d line s o f dem a rk at ion

-
d eno t ing i t s s ever a l s ta ge s o f a dv a n c emen t ; a nd a s ,
we h a ve h a d o cc a s ion t o rem a rk el s ewhere s u c h im ag ,
in ary divi s ion s a re mere inven t ion s or a rbitr a ry s e p

,
a rat i o n s fo r c on v enien c e o f s t u dy Su ch divisions

.
a fford u S a men ta l pi ct u re a s it were o f successive

, ,
s ta ge s o f c h a nge a n d development .
Thi s C o p per Age h as never s eemed to u s j ustifi a ble .
C opper w a s fo u nd a lmo st in a pure s tat e in m a ny 10

c ali t i e s no ta bly in t he l a ke region s o f Nor t h Ameri
,
ca , a nd w as a l s o fo u nd a nd u t ilized by prehistori c
M a n in Europe a nd el s ewhere ; b u t we a re persu a de d
by t he a ccu m u l at ed ev iden c e o f the mo s t t horough
s t u den t s t h at i t s ho u ld no t b e m a de t o c on s t i t u t e a
sep a r at e er a Th e l att e r p a r t i f not t he whole o f
.
, ,
t he B ron ze or Alloy Age m u s t h a ve been c on t empo

r an e o u s wi t h t he u se o f pure c opper There fore we
.
s ay t h at t he u s e o f c oppe r s ho u ld not b e m a de t o con
s t i tu t e a s ep a r at e period in t he upw a rd progress o f
t he r a ce In m a ny lo c a li t ie s copper w a s unknown and

.
in s u ch l a nds t he progre ss o f m a n s eem s t o have

p a s s ed gr a d u a lly from t he u se o f s t one t o the u se o f
a lloy A s h as been poin t ed ou t by D r Ke a ne a nd
. .
,
o t her s t he s e a ge s overl a pped one a nother a nd in m a ny

,
lo c a li t ie s it is q u i t e hopele ss t o att emp t a sep a r at ion

even for c onvenien c e o f s t u dy W e m a y corre c t ly
.
a s su me t h at i n a gene r a l w a y t he Neoli t hic o r New

, , ,
Sto n e Age immedi a tely pre c e ded the Coppe r Age

,
i f we a dm it a s ep a r a te C oppe r E r a It i s best we .
believe t o m a ke the division more gene r a l an d in

, ,
stea d o f a ttem ptin g to de fine a s ep a rate Coppe r Age ,
an d late r an Alloy o r B ronze a nd lastly an I ron “Age , ,
to i n c lude t he whole unde r the modern te rm — The

”
Met a l Ages .
The fore goin g then a re the princip a l m ate r i als

used b y (s o called ) prehisto r i c M a n for we a pons a n d
-
othe r purpo s es in his successive st a ges o f upw ar d

,
prog r ess a n d di ffe renti a tion from a c ommon stock o r

p r o t otype into the m a ny v a rie t ies wh ich fo r co n
, ,
v e n i e n ce , we h a ve divi ded in t o fou r prim ar y groups

o r races The M on gols o f which division th e C hi
.
,
nese J a panese and C entral Asi at ics are t he chie f

, ,
rep r esen t atives seem fo r a time to have kept p a ce

,
wi th the Cauc a si ans i f indeed s ome te n thousa n d

, ,
yea rs a go som e o f t hem we re n ot actually in a dva n c e

,
o f the latte r I t i s hi ghly prob a ble that the re w as a

.
tim e pre c edin g t he gre a t c i vili z a tio n o f a ncient a nd

,
p rehisto ric E gyp t when t he Chin e s e we r e t he most

,
a dvan ce d o f all peoples B ut a dm ittin g this to b e

.
true unde r th e ve ry re c ent but secu r ely e s ta b lishe d

, ,
law o f c au c as mn— due to influences whi ch we kn ow

n ot o r a t l e a st c a nno t tr a ce— t his division p r actically
,
c e a sed to a dv an ce A f a c t due to inhere n t an te ce

.
dent causes which i f they could b e know n would

, ,
prob ably b e foun d hundreds o f t hous a nds o f ye a rs

prio r t o the d a wn o f history I t is n ot wi t hout the .
bounds o f possibili t y t o suppose t h a t the C hinese ac

t u all
y r e t rogresse d du rin g m a ny gene r a tions while ,
c e r ta i n Ca uc a si c peoples c ontinuin g thei r p r o gres s

bec a me the undis puted le a de rs i n ne a r ly every line
o f t hought an d pro gress .
F r om the tim e th a t M an fi rst we n t out f r om his

p rimitive hom e l e a vi n g b ehind t he n o n p r o e s s i v e
,
- g r .
he w a ged a con t inuous b att le fo r existe n ce ; co n tend

ing with the endles s di ffi cul t ies o f procuring food a n d
S hel t er ; a n d doing b att le with t he fierce wild a nim a ls
o f t he pri s tine forest s a nd hostile t ribes o f his own
,
kind Such a dve rs i t y necess a rily t ended to inc r ease

.
his powers an d t o eliminate a ll bu t t he fittest bo t h ,
men ta lly an d physic a lly .
Afte r c a re fu l s t udy o f v a rious works on e t h n ology

a n d a n t hropology in cluding Vog t Hodgso n Nott
, , , ,
Ke a ne a n d o t hers a ll o f whom will admit a vast

, ,
a n t iqui t y for man we ar e o f the opinion th at he has

,
exis t ed upon t he e a r t h even longer t h a n a ny o f these

a u t hori t ie s h a ve ven t u re d t o assert .
B a sin g our re a s oning on d a t a collec t ed from all

br a n che s o f science t h at c an b e m a de t o con t ribute
ei t her direc t ly or indire c t ly we would give i t a s p r ob
,
a ble t h at o u r e a rlie s t uprigh t a nce st ors (Pithec a n

t h ro p u s E re c t u s ) live d as long a go a s t wenty m illio n
ye a r s a nd t h at the Old S t one Age prob a bly h a d a
,
dur a tion o f no t less t h a n five hundred t hous an d

years The se c ond o r New S t one Age while S hort
.
, ,
er mus t h a ve c overed a t le a st one hund r ed t housa n d

,
ye a rs Since t he close o f t he two Stone Ages the r e

.
i s no me a ns o f a c cur at ely es t im a ting the m illen i um s

t h at p a s s ed d u ring whi ch M a n u s ed principally cop
per po tt ery wood v a riou s alloys o f me ta l (gene ral
, , ,
ly known as bron ze S in c e t hey usu a lly con ta ined c o p

per ) a nd fin a lly I ron O f c ourse the re were no well
, .
de fin e d line s m a rking t he s e seve r a l periods a s we

, ,
h a ve a lre a dy seen ; M a n in his di fferent modes o f

li fe a nd in t he s ever a l broad a re a s o f his domes t ica
t ion v a ried gre at ly in his d a ily li fe as well a s in the
,
s u b s ta nce s o r m at eri a ls u t ili zed .
C oming b a ck a g a i n t hen t o t he prob a ble c a uses o f

t he differen t i at ion o f m a nkind into the prim a ry races ,
or v a rie t ies (fo u r in ou r di v ision ) let us take a fi n al

,
su r vey : Why a r e the lowes t va r ieti es b la ck D o l i ,
c h o ce p h ali c (lo n g he a ded ) p

-
r o gn a thous (sla n,ti n g
te eth a nd p r o tr udin g j a ws ) with thi ck i n ve r te d lips
, ,
na ppy o r wooly h a i r a nd fl a t no ses $ A n d why o n

, ,
t he othe r h a n d a re the hi ghest va r ieti es whi t e usu

,
a lly B ra chycephali c (round he a de d ) with sm all

,
-
,
j aws pe r pendicular teeth thi n lips st ra i ght o r cu r ly

, , ,
hai r an d sm all hi gh n ose s $ I n ou r j udgment n o

, ,
positive a sse r tio n s regardin g the ex a ct deta ils a r e

j usti fi e d by the evi de n ce thus fa r a dduce d ; but we ca n
sa y in a b ro a d gene r a l way that clim ate e n vi r o n
, , ,
me nt a n d ae ons o f t ime h a ve m ost a ssu redly done the

,
wor k The deta ils o f t he m an y c a uses a n d e ffe cts a r e

.
impossible to t ra ce M o reove r the r e would b e no

.
,
j us t i fi able en d to compens a t e f or the i n finite trou b le

even i f t his we re possible My r i ads o f caus es a nd .
the i r e ffects would h ave t o be tr a ce d th r ough m illi o n s

—
o f yea rs clea rly a n im possibility B ut to the im .
parti a l o b se rve r the supe r io r ity o f the Caucasia n o r

, ,
white r aces is s o constant a nd ove rwhelm in g th at

,
fur t he r a r gument o r c itatio n in this conne cti on is

wholly unnece ssa r y Th e subj ect o f me n tal i nf e r i
.
o rity o f the Ne gro will h oweve r b e ta k e n up i n a

, ,
se pa r ate ch a pte r a n d treate d i n a mo re exhaustiv e

m a nn e r .
Ethnol ogi sts a n d a n th r op ol ogi sts a re v e r y u n i

f o rmly a greed that the no rth o f A f r i ca — that po r tio n
—
l yi ng b etwe e n th e Su da n and t h e M edite r r a n e a n i s
m o st likely the p r i sti n e h om e o f th e whi te r a ce Thi s .
i s th e only el em ent o f truth i n th e a b su r d hyp oth esi s

o f D r Sch ol es (to wh os e w riting we r e fe r i n th e
.
fou rth ch apt e r o f thi s wo rk ) th a t th e C auca si a n i s ,
m e rely a whi te s k i n n ed N egro .
All evi dence wh ich we p o s s e ss p oi n ts st rongly to

t h e conclusi o n that M a n h as i nh a b ite d thi s r egi o n
fr o m ti m e i m m em o r i a l (i n l ate Pli o ce n e o r e a rl y
42 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTION OF
Pl ei s t o c ene t ime s ) when t h e s p e c i e s w a s li tt le i f at

,
a ll diffe ren t i at ed in t o r a c e s a nd th at i t w as p rob a bl y

,
in t hi s loc a li t y t h at h e develop ed in t o t h e C a uc a s i c
t yp e Thi s howeve r 15 by no me a n s p o s i t ively e s
.
, ,
t abli s h e d a l t ho u gh we s e e no obj e c t i on t o t h e t heo ry

, ,
S in c e it i s p roven t r u t h t h at th e e a rli e s t s p e c imen s

of t he gen u s were n e c e s s a rily a like a nd t h at d u ring
u n t old a ge s i n s om e lo c a li t y o r lo c a liti e s a s t h e
, ,
case m ay b e c e r ta in de s c end a n t s o f t hi s r u de fi r s t
,
M a n develope d by imp e rcep t ibl e c h a nge in t o ou r

fine s t E u rop e a n t yp e All t h at h as b een s a i d on t h e
.
s u bj ec t o f r a c e s go e s t o prove t h at we Ca u c a s i a n s
a re b ro t he rs o f t he N egro S in c e we a ll c a m e from a
,
common s t em ; bu t t o ill u s t r at e t h e a b s u rdi t y o f t he

c l a im o f c los e rel at i on s hip i t m a y b e s a i d wi t h eq u a l
,
t ru t h t h at in s t ill e a rli e r zo ol ogi c a l a ges o u r an ce s

t o r s c a m e from m a r s upi a l s a nd fu r t h e r b a ck s t ill
from fi s he s Tho s e who m a ke s u ch c l a im s mi gh t
.
well a dd t h at n at u r a li s t s gene r a lly would s upp or t

t he s tat em en t t h at a mong o u r su fli ci en tly remo t e an
c e s t o rs m a y b e c oun t e d t he k a ng a ro o t he op os sum
, ,
a nd t he fi s he s t h at swim in t he s e a .
The re i s no obj e c t i on t o t h e t h eo ry t h at t h e high

e s t t yp e o f t he hum a n f a mily w a s evolved s ome
where i n t h a t v a s t s e c t ion o f the Afri c a n C on t i nen t

lying no r t h o f t h e s even t e en t h degre e o f no r t h l at i
t u de o r even no r t h o f t he t ropi c o f Ca n c e r as s e em s
, ,
t o b e t he c o n c en su s o f op inion o f t ho s e b e s t qu a lifi ed
t o j u dge ; ye t we do not c on s i de r t h at i t i s a m at te r
whi c h c an b e posi t ively a s c e r ta ined at t h e p res ent
t im e I f we we re c a lled u p on t o p a s s j udgm en t inde
.
p enden t ly u p on t he evi dence a nd we re u n a w a re o f

s u ch eminen t e t hnologi s t s as Ke a n e D enike r Mu ch
O Sc h ra de r Se rgi a nd o t he r s 1n f a vo r o f the n o rt li
, , ,
’
, , ,
o f A fri c a we wo u ld as so on b eli eve t h at t he Ca u

,
c a s i an o r Aryan p eopl e s h ad t hei r p rimi t ive home

,
THE A ME RI C AN NE G RO P RO B LE M 43
i n wh at i s known as th e P am it i an regi o n o f th e Hin

du Kush o r s om ewh e r e b etwe en the C a spi an and t h e
,
N o r t h S e a s o r r a th e r in t h e Stepp e Land o f s outh

,
e rn Russi a a s e l s ewh e r e st a te d Thi s a gai n how

, .
,
eve r i s a m att e r o f no p a rti cul a r imp o rtance o r b e a r

,
i ng on t h e r el a ti ons o f the r a ce s o r th e N egro qu e s ,
t i o n Ke“ a n e him s el f m a kes thi s a dmis si on o f u n c e r

.
t a in t y : To th e qu esti on wh e r e wa s th e Cauca s i a n
typ e c ons t itute d i n a ll its es s e n ti al fe a tu r es n o fi n al ,
answe r c an b e given ; b u t i t m a y b e confidently state d

th a t A fri ca n o rth o f t h e Su dan co r resp o n ds b est to
a ll th e known condi ti on s .
Th e A ry a n i s a ve ry a nci e n t i nh a b ita n t o f b oth

Asi a l l i n o r a n d C entr a l Asi a In th e cul t u r e o f
‘
v .
As i a t i c Pe opl es esp eci a lly Sou t h e r n Asi a ti cs th e

, ,
A ry a n el em ent i s ol d a nd f a r re a ching I t i s com -

.
m o n ly supp o s ed th at wh a t i s n ow th e S a h a r a o r ,
G r e a t D es e r t w as a m a ri ne b e d du ring th a t v a st
,
p e ri o d o f t h e di ffe r enti at i on o r n a tu r a l m oulding o f

th e ra ces ; but qui te t h e co nt ra ry i s now k n own to b e
t ru e All o f th e n o rth o f A fri ca w a s th en w ell
.
wa t e re d a n d fe r til e Th e c lim a te w a s a lmo s t i de a l

.
,
eve ry physi c a l conditi on fo r gr e a t sp e ci ali z ati o n w a s

p res ented su ch a s a mpl e sp a ce a bu n d an ce o f f o od
, , ,
a nd favo r a bl e clim a te Th e r e we re th re e conti n u.
o us l a n d connecti ons a cro ss th e M edi te r r an e a n ,
whi ch en a bl e d A fri can faun a to m ove with p e r fect

—
fre e dom b etwe e n th e two conti n e n ts A f r i ca a n d
Eu rop e .
One o f the st r on gest a rguments i n favo r o f the

n or t h o f A fri c a a s t he s c ene o f extensive imp r ove
ment i n t h e prim itive ra ce and t he b i r thpla ce o f the ,
Ca uc a s i c divisi on is t he k n owledge th a t the g r e a te r

,
p a r t o f Eu rope w as expose d to gl a ci a l invas i ons a n d ,
w as la rgely cove red at long in t e rvals by successi o n s

o f i ce cap s Fo r ma n y thousa n ds o f yea r s— du r i n g
-
.
which Eu r ope was repe a tedly devastate d by gl a cie r s

— t he v a st S a h a r a re g i o n presen t e d a n almost ide a l
clim at e So f a r as c lim a te is c oncerned this r egio n
.
is believed t o h a ve been U t opia n and recent i n ve s ti

,
g a t i o n s h a ve demons t r at ed th a t it w a s the co n tinuous

home o f M a n d u ring a very long prehi s to r ic a ge It .
is c er ta in t h at he here underwen t gre a t changes a n d

improvements bo t h men ta l a nd physic a l The p r es .
en t a rid w a s t es o f t he S a h a ra di s t ri c t we r e once t ra
ve r sed in a ll dire c t i ons by splendi d water cou r ses -
,
su ch a s t he I g h arg h ar rive r flowi n g n or t h into the

Mediterr a ne a n and t he M assarawa which found its
,
outle t in t o the N iger a f t er w a teri n g a magn i fice nt

coun t ry as i t wound i t s w a y to the sou t h I t is sc a rce
.
ly neces s a ry t o men t ion t h a t t here w a s no l a ck o f an

im a l a nd veget a ble li fe i n a land so hi ghly e n dowed
by n at ure wi t h every requisi t e for the ir sustenan c e .
In a dditio n to t hese a dvant a ges this Saha r a dis

triet enj oyed t he tempering clim a tic i n flue n ce o f
cooling bree zes from t he nor t h du r i n g the we i n va
sions in Europe toge t he r wi t h a n a ve ra ge elevation o f
more t h a n o n e thous a nd fee t a b ove sea level .
M a ny eminent a u t horities b elieve that this is the

land where t he rude wa n de r ing tribes o f p r imitive
Man a f t e r a reside n ce o f hundreds o f mille nn iums
, ,
develope d in t o t he r a c e which later stocked the gre a t

e r p a r t o f E u rope a n d whi c h we know as the Ca u
c a si a n o r Ary a n t ype All these a dvan t ages o f t h e
.
nor t h o f Afri c a a re c le arly pointe d ou t by Ke a ne l n

h is t wo work s — “
M a n Past and Present a n d The
,
“
Wo r ld s Peoples
’
.
This 18 t hepr a ce whi c h h a s p r oduced n i n e te n ths o f

-
the gre at men in the world s history Likewise i t has

’
.
origin a ted the gre at es t civili z a tions o f both ancie n t

a nd moder n his t oric t imes To it the othe r t h r ee
.
g r e at divisi on s o f mank i n d a r e i n de b ted for n ea r ly

eve r y n ota b le i n ve n tio n a nd discove r y whi c h i n l ate ,
ce n tu r ies h a ve co m e to us s o con t inuously that a re

vi ew o f eve n the m ore wo n de rf ul a n d co n spi cuous ex
am ples would r e a d li k e a fa iry tale .
We h ave spoken b r ie fly o f the causes whi ch have

co n tribu ted to m ake the black m a n what he is as
well a s those that h a ve p r o duce d th e white m a n A .
volum e coul d ve r y e a sily b e written o n this inte r e st

in g subj ect but the work b e fo re u s does n ot adm it o f
,
gre a te r elabo r a ti o n To those who ar e n ot br oadly

.
a cquainted with scie n ce a n d philosophy espe cially the ,
phys i c a l sciences such as geology z oology b ota n y

, , , ,
chem istry a n d the rest b ut who neve r theless desi r e

, , ,
to e n te r mo r e deeply i nt o the g r e a t t r uths here b ri efly

outlined we ca n only comm en d the exe r cise o f com
,
mon sense o r t he u se o f o r di nar y j udgm e n t a n d r ea

,
s o n i n conne cti o n w ith the i r studies fo r n o n e o f us ,
c an be well ve rse d in all bran ches o f k n owle dge F or .
instan ce the autho r o f this wo r k is compelle d

, ,
th r ough i gno r ance to accep t the s t ateme n ts o f as

,
t ro n o m e rs fo r the co rr e ctness o f thei r calculations i n

hi ghe r m a them ati cs The ca r e f ul study o f a f ew
.
gre at wo rk s— such fo r instan ce a s He r be r t Spe n ce r s ,

’
”
Fi rst P r inciples o f Philosophy ; Joh n St ua r t M ill s ’
“
Sys tem o f Logi c ; Huxley s M a n s Pl ace i n N a ’ ’
” “ ” “
tu re ; D a rwin s O r i gin o f Speci es a n d Desce n t o f
’
,
M a n will p rove o f gre at b e n e fit to a n y who would

,
k now bette r the vital a n d fa scinatin g questions o f the

moulding o f the ra ces a n d the developme n t o f the
hi gher ment a l f a cul t ies Th e de epest questio n s co n
.
ce rn e d in the consideratio n o f ou r Ne g r o P r o b lem

a r e those o f cause a n d e ffect a n d e speci a lly i n he r ited
,
qualiti es and te n de n ci es How o fte n we s ee supe r

.
fic i al ar ti cles i n periodicals w r itte n by pe ople who ,
fo r one r e a so n o r a n other have gotten t h e i r n ames

,
b e for e t h e pu bl ic b ut for t h e mo st p a r t a r e o b vi o us l y
,
4 6 TH E ULTI MATE SOLUTION OF
a nd ome t ime p a in fully ignor a n t or unmindful o f

s s , ,
t he gre at t ru t h o f s i en e a n d philosophy which

s c c ,
so c le a rly m t form t he b a is o f a ll in t elligen t e ff orts

us s
t o pre a ge th e ul t im at e de t iny o f t he Afro American

s s -
Negro .
CHA PTE R I I I
N a ti v e A fri can P e o p les
T i s by n o me ans true a s many seem v a guel y

,
—
to suppose that when E gypt is excepted th e
,
—
D a rk Contine n t i s p r a cti cally the exclusive d o
ma i n o f the Ne gro r a ce I n a dditi on to the ve ry
.
m any t r ib es a n d va ri eties o f sava ge an d ba rb ari a n

b l a c k m en the r e a r e and always have b een im po r t
, , ,
a n t i n di genous A fr i can white o r Caucasi c r a ces D es .
p ite the f act th a t these eth n ologi cal questi o n s are

fraught with i n te res t they a re peculia rly seductive ;
,
an d whe n o n ce we a llow ou r selve s enta n gle d i n the i r

m eshes es cape is well n i gh impossi b le Howeve r we
-
.
,
c a n n ot evade the da n ge r altogethe r S i n ce the r ea der

,
must h a ve some outli n e o f the rel a tion s o f the A fr i

c an Ne gro t r ib es — f r om which ou r Am e r i c an stoc k
—
was l argely d ra wn to the i r Caucasic n ei ghbo r s .
The most wi dely a ccepte d the o ry o f the f o rma tio n

— —
o f the C a ucas ic r ace fo r i t is but a theo r y is that
it w a s fi r st fo rme d from the p r im itive sto c k some
whe re i n the north o f A f r i ca ; prob ably i n that vast
pl a teau whi ch at prese n t co n si sts o f ar i d sand w astes
— the g r e at dese rt o f Sa h a r a —f o r a s we h a ve se e n
,
elsewhe re this was ce r tai n ly one o f the m ost f a vo r e d

,
re gi ons o f the e art h du r i n g hund r eds o f thous an ds

o f yea rs Th is white o r C aucasic people e ar ly b e
.
,
cam e diffe r enti a ted in to two f a m ou s sub divi si on :

the Sem ites and the Ham ites The Sem itic b ra n ch.
i s supposed to h a ve subseque n tly passed ove r the

Red Se a into A ra b i a the re to become still fur t he r
,
spe ciali ze d and to have give n o ff va r ious t r i b es i n t o

47
46 TH E ULTI MATE SOLUTION OF
a nd ome t ime p a in fully ignor a n t or unmindf l o f

s s , u ,
t he gre at t r t h o f ien e a nd philo ophy which

u s sc c s ,
SO c le a rly m t form t he b a i o f a ll in t elligen t e ff or t

us s s s
t o pre a ge th e l t im at e de t iny o f t he Afro American

s u s -
Negro .
CHA PTE R I I I
N a ti v e A fri ca n P e o p les
T i s b y n o m e a n s true as many seem vaguel y

,
to suppose that— when E gypt is excepted— th e

,
Da rk C onti n e n t i s p r a cti cally the exclusive do

m ain o f the Ne g r o r ace I n a dditi o n to the ve ry
.
m any t r ib es a n d va r i eties o f sava ge a n d ba r b ari a n

b lac k me n the r e a re an d alw a ys have bee n impo r t
, , ,
a n t i n di genous A frica n white o r Caucasi c ra ces D es .
pite the f a c t th a t thes e eth n ologi cal questi ons are

f raught with interest they a re peculia rly se ductive ;
,
a n d when o n ce we allow ou r selves enta n gle d i n the i r

m eshes escape is well n i gh impossi b le Howeve r we
-
.
,
ca nn ot ev a de the da n ge r a ltoge t he r S i n ce the re a de r

,
must have some outline o f the relation s o f the A fri

c an N egro trib es — f r om which ou r Ame r i c an stoc k
—
wa s la r gely draw n to the i r Caucas ic nei ghbo r s .
The most widely a ccepte d the o r y o f the f o r matio n

o f the Cauc a s ic ra ce— fo r it is but a theo r y— i s that
i t was fi rst f o rme d f r om the prim itive stoc k some
whe r e in t he north o f A f r i ca ; prob a bly i n that v a st
pl a te a u whi ch at p r esen t consi sts o f a r i d sa n d wastes
— the gre a t dese rt o f Sa har a — fo r a s we have see n
,
elsewhe r e thi s was ce r tai n ly o n e o f the most fa vored

,
re gi ons o f the e a r t h du r ing hund r eds o f thousa n ds

o f yea r s Th is white o r C aucasic people e ar ly b e
.
,
cam e di ffe renti a ted i nto two f a m ou s subdivi si on .
the Sem ites an d the Ham ites The Sem itic b ra n ch.
i s supposed to h a ve su b sequently passed ove r the

Re d Se a i n to A ra b i a the re to become still f u r the r
,
spe ciali ze d a n d to have give n o ff va r ious t r i b es i nto

47
o t he r por t io n s o f Southwes t ern Asia ; fo r t he Semites

who wen t ou t from A fric a t o cons t it u t e t hese ra c es
or v a rie t ie s a re s u p posed t o be t he indigeno u s r a ce
,
o f Ar a bi a a nd c er tai n o t he r p a r t s o f A s i a The H e .
brews o r Jews perh a ps t he mo s t vers at ile o f m a n

,
kind a re a lso s a id t o be a br a nch o f t his Sem iti c

,
r a ce The Ar a b s o f North A fri c a a re likewise a

.
Semi t i c people s ent b a ck a g a in from Asi a t o t he l a nd

o f t heir e a rlies t n a tivi t y .
Th e H a mi t e s no twi t h s ta nding v a ri ou s in t e r
,
minglings wi t h o t he r p eopl es con s t i t u t e the gre at e r

,
p a r t o f t he inh a b i ta nt s o f No r t h Afri c a ; including

the an ci e n t Egy p t i ans .
Th e Negro 1s wi dely di stribu t ed ove r t h e African

co nt inent hi s dom a in extending from t he no rt h e r n
,
bounda ry o f t h e Sud a n t o t he Ca p e o f Goo d Hop e ,
a n d i s a s b ro a d a s the con t inen t i t s el f ; while i n t h e

s ou t he r n h emisph e re an d clos e ab o u t t h e equ ato r
, ,
th e r egi on o f hi s h a b it a ti on a lmost enci r c le s the

e a rth W e a r e not to de al wi t h him t hus widely
.
,
howeve r fo r hi s p rincip a l num e ri c a l streng t h and

,
purest t yp e a re to b e found in t he Sud a n a nd t h e t e r

ri t o ry t o t h e s o u t h o f i t In th a t con t i nuous regio n
.
bounded on t h e no rt h by t h e northe rn b o u nd a ry o f
t he Sud an ; on t he east by t he Red Sea the Gul f o f ,
Arden a nd t h e Indi an Oce a n ; a nd on th e west by

,
the Atl a n t ic Ocean a re to b e found mo re th a n one

,
hund re d million N egro es I t was from the s a v a ge .
and b a rb a ri a n t rib es o f the weste rn po r t ion o f this

vast regi on t ha t ou r Ame ri c an S l a ve s t ock w a s p r in
cip ally dr a wn .
Th e H a mi t ic a nd Semi t i c p eopl es a re b eli eved to

have o rigin at ed i n t he regi on o f t he S u d a n 1mme
d i at ely a dj a c en t t o t h e N egro dom a in a nd with ove r
l appings a t ce r t ain p oints I f such b e the c a s e i t i s
.
THE A M E RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 49
i n co n ceiva b l e th a t inte rmi n gli n g o f blo od a l o n g th e

b o r de r li n e S houl d no t h ave take n pl a ce I n fact it
.
i s q ui te cl e a r th at th i s m i xi n g o f bl o o d h a s ta k e n
pl a ce to s om e extent Th e a n ci ent Egypti ans h a d a

.
S light s tr a i n o f N eg ro blo o d i n th ei r H am itic v ei n s ,
a n d i n man y o f th e b o r d e r t rib e s o f A f r i ca n N egro e s

b oth H amiti c a n d S emi ti c st r a ins ca n b e t r a ced .
Som e wr ite rs h ave tri e d v e r y i n geni ously to m ake it

a pp e a r th at thi s i nte rcou rs e a nd inte rmi n gli n g o f
b l o o d h a s b e e n su ffi ci ent 1n th e p a st to g r e a tly 1m
p r ove th e N eg r o i n tell ect an d ch a ra cte r but a m o
,
m ent s r efl ecti o n will su ffi ce to S h ow the ab su rdity o f

’
thi s I n th e fi r s t pl a ce r e a dy m e ans o f c o m mu n i ca
.
ti o n wa s n o t to b e h a d i n t h e s e e a rly ti m e s a n d wh e r e
,
civili z e d p eopl es b o rde re d o n th e te r rito ry o f a lo w

e r r a ce a st a te o f h o stili ti es p e rp etu ally exi ste d ; b ot h
o f whi ch caus e s tended to li mit th e mutu al di ffu si o n
o f bl o o d Th en to o i t h as b e en dem o n strat e d th at
.
, ,
wh e r e such a dmixtu r e take s pl a ce b etwe e n v a r i eti e s

th e re i s a co n st an t tende n cy t ow a r d a r etu r n to a
pu r e typ e i n th e di recti o n o f a p r ep onde r a n ce o f a
give n bl o od I n oth e r wo r ds i f a huma n m ong r el
.
p ro duce d by th e a dmixtu re o f wh it e a nd N eg r o
b l o o d i s l e ss th an h al f wh ite i ts p rogeny h a s a n at
u r al te n dency to r eve rt t o a pu r e N egro stoc k Fo r .
i nsta n ce i f th e H a miti c a n d Semi ti c a dmixtu re h a d

,
caus e d th e enti re N egro p opul ati o n o f A f ri c a to b e

com e on e thi r d white wh en the sup ply o f whi te b l oo d
-
wa s S hu t o ff i t woul d fin ally h a ve retu r n ed to th e

pu r e N egro typ e A S a m atte r o f f a ct thi s wh ite
.
blo o d supply h a s n eve r am ounte d to on e thous a nd th

p a rt o f thi s i n di genou s N eg r o r a ce . I n m o st in
st a n ce s th e Am e ri ca n supply o f A f rica n N eg ro es
we r e fre e f r om even thi s i nsig n i fi cant c r o ss b re e di n g .
Th e West C o a st N eg r o e s f r om whom ou r A m e r i
,
ca n S to c k w a s chi efl y dr aw n a r e th e p eo p l e s w e are
,
to co n side r l n thi s chapte r .
A l ittle mo re t h a n twen t y fou r centuri es ago th e

-
his t ori a n He rodotus explored t he west coast o f

A fri ca a n d p e n et rated t h e country to a c onside r a bl e
exten t As a resul t o f thi s h e t ell s u s t h at in addi
.
,
ti o n t o Ph ce nici a n and Greek in t r u der s t h e re we re

two di stinc t indi ge n ous p eoples t he Libyans (H a ,
m iti c ) i n the no rth a nd Ethi opi ans (N egro es )

, ,
th e s outh The e t h n i c a l divide b e t we en t h e Liby a ns

.
a n d E t hi opi a ns m ay b e roughly indic at ed by dr a wing

a l ine across the continen t s even t een degre es no r t h
l a t itude .
In t h e p recedi n g ch a pte r t h e p eculi a r physi c a l

ch a r a cteris t ics o f t he N egro h ave b e en outline d .
Among the mo re n ot a bl e v a ri a t i ons o f thi s typ e m ay

b e m en t i oned the B an t u a nd th e Bushm a n o r
, ,
dwa r fs The B a n tu i s dis t ingui s hed by ce r t a i n

.
S light mo difi c a ti ons o f the Sud a nes e typ e Th e face .
o f t he B a ntu i s ce rtainly les s co a rs e th an th a t o f the

Sud a ne s e ; i t m a y i nde ed b e rega rded a s rel a tively
r efined Th e j aws a re less p r oj ecting and th e lip s
.
n o t ice a bly thinne r I n s ta tu re t h e B a n t u co rre s ponds

.
wi t h t h e Sud an es e qui t e a ccu r a tely while in colo r h e

,
exhibits all S ha des o f d a rk b r own but i s r a rely strik

i ng ly bl a ck Thes e B antu trib es a re fo u nd south
.
w a rd from the Sudan to t h e Ca p e While as we .
h a ve no t ed t hi s va ri a ti o n o f the Sud a ne s e N egro

,
the B a n t u — p res en t s m any sli gh t v a ri at i ons hi s chi e f,
disti n guishi n g qu a lity i s li ng ui s ti c r at h e r t ha n p h ys i

c al .
The othe r chie f divisio n o f this Sud a nese s t em is

a people o f peculia r interest ; s o extr a ordin a ry indeed
as to
justi fy some men t io n We r e
. fer to t he Afric an
pygm i es or dwarfs These lit t le people a re a lmos t
, .
as wild as lowe r an im a ls and make their home i n

,
the de n se a n d i n a ccessible f o r est la n ds Histo r ic.

THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO PRO B LE M 5 1
w riti n gs o f these little f ol k s— ave r a g i ng fo u r fee t

—
h igh s eem to tax the c r edulity o f m a n y r e a d e r s b ut ,
the r e is n o bette r authe n ti cate d f act i n histo ry t h an

the existence o f this extrao r di n a r y su b divisi o n o f the
specie s This dwa rf divisi on o f the Su d a n ese Ne
.
‘
g r oes m a y ve ry p r ope r ly b e r ega r ded as the t ru e

a b o r i gi n es o f Ce n t r al E q uato r ial A fr i ca I n th e
—
.
ea r liest ( P h h o n i c) times w m i g h t als o say

aro a e
—
i n p r ehistoric times these Ce n t r al A fr i ca n dwa rfs
we r e n ot o n ly k n ow n to the E gyptia n s b ut we r e al s o
hi ghly pri zed at the cou r ts o f Eu r o pe Kea n e state s .
*
that they p r o b a b ly p n t t d du r i n g N li t h i time s e ra e , eo c
i n to Ce n t ra l Eu r ope ; a n opi n io n fou nd e d o n m o s t

substantia l evi de n ce .
Secu r el y authe n ticated h isto r y r e co rd s the f a ct t h at

-
as lo n g a s fou r o r five thousan d ye a r s a go the se p yg

m i S o f Ce n t ra l A frica f ou n d the i r way dow n the N i l e
e
valley i n t o E gypt Ke a n e also states t h at the f re .
“ ”
q ue n t r e f e r e n ce to them i n T h e B o ok o f t h e D e a d i ‘
*
Dw f i dw f h f ll hi t i t im b
ar s , an d s to r e s o f ar s , av e or a s or c e e en
m tt a f p er o li d f ec ui t i g i t t t y g d ld l y
ar an as c n a n n e re s o o un an o , a
m an d i ti t li k O li t t
an sc e n s , t mi g
a eit d
. w i thur e ra u re , ee n as o es
fi t i ti w i t i g
c ous th r b j t m t h p d d wid
n s on e su ec ,
s ee s o av e ro uce a e
s p d k p ti i m B t h
re a s e c s i .l th i u db k e re , as s u su a , ere s a so u n ac
g d f f t I ddi ti t th
ro u n o ac m n a t ib f i di g on o e nu ero u s r es o n en o u s
dw f (d i m h ld th m t b —b t ly w
.
ar s en z e n s so e o e o e u e rro n e o u s e
t hi k ) i h bi t i g th
n n a t pi l f t f A f i th
n e ro th r
ca o res s o r c a, e re are o e s,
su c h f i t or th Ad m
n s an c e I l d dw f d th P hili p
as e a en s an ar s an e
pi ne I l d dw f Th E g li h t di ti i
s an ar s . f b w i
e n s ra on o a rac e o ro n es
is no w b li d b y th l g i t t b
e ev e l y f d d i th t
e no o s s o e s ecu re oun e n e ac
ua l xi t e f b ig i l
s en c e o i th
an il d— d k
a or na rac e n o se s an s a ar race
o f dw f p p l ar eo e .
TTh i B k f th D d i m t i t
s oo o ti g e T h g h t ll
ea s os n e re s n . ro u ou a
hi t i Egy p t it m t h b th i
s or c s ee t mt s pl o b k av e een e r cu s o o ac e a oo ,
or w i ti g i r n th ffi f th d d
n , o r n ea r, S m tim thi
e co ll n o e ea . o e es s ro
o f p py a w ru s tl y p k d i th mp it Th
as n ea t t
ac f
e n e ar s e c o n en s o
—
.
th ese
g id b uk — e -
w moo y y s t l
asy ll t h m e i d a v er c o rre c ca e v ar e
co ns id bl y ; m w m
era so l b t th e th
e re p i ll yo re e a o ra e an o e rs , es ec a
i thi t
s s i th m
ru e n t Dy ti e Th b j t f t hi
o re re c e n n as es . e o ec o s
t g id th d p t d p i it t wh t th y ll Th Up “
b ok w
o as o u e e e ar e s r o a e ca e
5 2 THE ULTI MATE SOLUT I ON OF
is t he best o f evidence th a t t hey were known to the

Egyp t i a n s as e a rly a s t he Six t h Dyn a s t y .
The s e curiou s lit t le folks were in high r equest a t

t he courts o f t he Ph a ro a h s in medi a eval t imes The .
Ph a ro a hs sent expedi t io n s in t o wh at w a s known t o

them as t he f a bulou s regions o f Sh a de L a nd b eyond
Pun t t o fe t ch a nd presen t t hese curiosities a t court It
,
.
is t here fore highly prob a ble t h a t du r ing the New

Stone Age t he s e li tt le people we r e freque n t visito r s to
prehis t oric rulers o f E gypt .
C ertain e t hnologi sts spe a k o f these dw arf t r ibes

o f the Sud a nese Negroe s as den i zens o f the wood
l a nds o f Tropic a l Afric a bu t it is f a r more correct ,
t o reg a rd t hem a s indigenous t o t he forests o f this

loc a li t y ; for i t is quite impossible as we h a ve S how n , ,
t o prove t h at t here ever w a s a t ime s i nce the form a ,
t ion o f t he r a ces when they di d no t reside therei n

, .
The Ca r t h a gini a n Admir a l H a nno who visited the ,
we s t co a st o f A fric a s omewh at e a rlie r th a n did H e ,
ro do tu s perh a ps more th a n twenty fiv e cen t uries a go

,
-
,
spe a ks o f t hi s dwar f r a ce a s li tt le hai ry people see n

by him .
Four fee t is the a ver a ge hei ght o f these cu r i ous

li t tle hum a n beings The i r color is mostly light y el .
low ; a nd a s s t r a nge a nd improb a ble as it so u n ds

, ,
tho s e who h a ve s een them describe them as c overed

wi t h a sor t o f down (Thei r S kins a re prob a bly more .
or less uni formly c overed wi t h h a ir both t hi cke r and

fi n e r th a n t h a t o f the whi t e m an ) .
per W ld d i id tl y th y ft i l d d hym t p p
or
”
an nc en e o en nc u e ns o a ea s e
th g de o s
Th i di id l h p t id t b wid l y di ff t d t
.
e n v ua c a e rs are sa o e ar e e re n a es,
m t f whi h
os o m d w f m th t i m
c f t h b ildi g
co ef th o n ro e e o e u n o e
p y m id ;
ra d ms b l t l y p hi t i Th
an so e i ta re a so u e re s or c ese an c e n
pl did t ll th w i ti g Th B k f th D d
.
”
p eo es no ca ese r n s e oo o e ea as
Th B k f C m i g F th i th D y ti m
“ ”
w d eb t o, u , e oo o o n or n e a e .
The ha ir o f the h ea d is desc r ib e d as c r isp a n d o f a

r usty b r own colo r .
The r e a r e also other Ne gro dwa rf peoples n ot a ,
b ly the Australia n B l a ck M a n whi ch is the m ost in

,
f e ri o r o f all Ne g r o r a ces and the r e f o r e t h e lowest o f

,
hum an ki n d .
It is n ot with thes e l ittle b l ack people howeve r , ,
that we a re m ost di rectly co n ce r ne d ; f o r the Ne g r o

S lave s imp o rt e d to Am eri ca f r o m A fr ica we r e i n te n d
e d to li ghte n o r alto ge t he r r emove the b u r de n o f
, ,
har d labo r fr om the shoulde r s o f the A n glo A m e r i -
ca n colo n ists ; an d fo r such a pu r pose dwa rf s w e r e

n ot accepta b le to the S l a ve t r a de r
-
.
The true type o f W est A fri ca n Ne g r o es as well as ,
t ha t whi ch co n stitute s its g r eatest n ume r ical st r e ng th ,
is t a ll with lo n g an d r athe r S le nd e r a r m s a n d le gs ;
in this as i n all othe r ethnical br a n che s o f t h e t r ue
N e g r o type th e calves a re ve r y poo r ly develope d a nd ,
some decla re them to be a b se n t To these f eatu r e s

.
we may a dd the r e st that disti n guis h the N e g ro from

t h e Caucasia n .
In th e forego ing pages w e h ave Sh ow n t h at th e

N e gro race h as n o t b ee n f r ee fr om m o r e o r less co n
tact w ith white ra ces at any time eithe r i n r eco rd e d
,
h isto ry o r in p r ehistori c times And i t wou ld b e a

.
most natural in fere n ce fo r those n ot f a m ili a r w it h

b iol ogy an d the laws o f c r oss b r ee din g to co n c l ud e
-
that wh a t was once the lowest br a n ch o f the r ac e

h a s o r m a y h a ve be come greatly mo di fi e d a nd im
, ,
p r ove d b y the a dm ixtu r e o f white b lood a nd ot h e r

b e n e fits o f conta ct with white peoples T h is r e as on .
in g howeve r i s n ot well f ou n de d
, ,
.
Th e v a st A f r i ca n te rr i to ry co n si sti n g o f p r a e
,
ti c a lly all Ce nt r al E qu ato r i a l a n d South e rn A fr i c a

, ,
-
S om etim es calle d N eg r o La nd th ough thi s t e rm ,
i s now m uc h r e st r i cte d i n vi r tu e o f th e e n c ro ac hm ent

o f t he Ca uc a si an o n eve r y S ide— wa s occupi ed fo r

coun t l ess gen erati ons by m any va ri e t i es o f almo st
p re blo oded negro es Up to t h e s eve nt e e n th o r
u -
.
eigh t een t h cen t ury o f ou r C hristi an e ra t he condi

, ,
t i ons we re such t hat eve n th e highe r C auca si c races

co ld resi de lo s e to g ethe r wi t h li t tl e o r n o cha n g e
u c
in t hei r r a ci a l qu a liti es Thi s was esp eci ally t r ue of .
a highe r r a e i n los e con ta ct with a lowe r one A

c c .
t ypi a l ca e w s that o f t h e H a mites and Semites

c s a
dwell ing S ide by S i de s it we r e with t h e N egro , a ,

.
Th e t wo whi te races p res e r ved t hei r r esp ective ch a r

t
ac e r s i ti almost a s suc ess fully a s i f they had b e e n
cs c
s ep a ra t e d by unn avig at ed s e a s The only r e al b a r .
r1e rs t o amalgam a t ion we r e p oli t ical r a ci a l a n d cul , ,
t ur a l Race feeling t hos e d a ys wa s even st r onge r

. 1n
th an it i s a t p re ent h a r d a s i t s fo r some Sou t he rn

, 18
e rs to app rec i ate thi s Th ey we r e p roud th at the .
we re no t l ike o t he rs th at thei r l an g u a ge s we r e di ty
,
f e re n t a nd th a t th ey h a d diff e re n t m ethods o f at t ai n
,
ing S imil a r ends Th e n to o the C aucasic races i n

.
,
t hes e e a rly tim es we re unde r th e b a n o f religi ous

s up ers t i t i on to a degre e ve ry di ffi c l t fo r mode rn u
m en to a pp reci ate Th e domi n a t ing spi r i t s i n e ach

.
r a ce ve rily b el i eve d t h a t thei r reli gi on was Go d

— —
give n t he only t r u e o n e an d that all othe r s
S hould b e blot t ed from the face o f th e e a r t h A ll .
t hes e thing a s well a s th e tot a l ab sen e o f mode rn

s, c
p rogre s a nd inven t i on which h a ve m ade inte r com

s ,
-
m i ti u n ca de i r a bl e a nd i n evitabl e h eld ap a r t
on so s ,
even t h e most enlighten ed p eopl es a nd c a us e d them

to t re a t wi t h b o t h fe a r and sco r n the bl a k s a va ge c , ,
p a gan trib es o f t h e unkn ow n a nd p e rilous wilds o f

N egro Land .
Occ a si on a l c a ptu res o f thes e s av a ges no dou b t

we re con s ta n t ly ta ki ng p l a ce by b oth Semi t es a n d
Hamites and l ate r by th e Egypti a n s and o t he r A f r i
,
ca n w hi te p e o pl e s ; a nd at such ti m es wom e n w e r e
c e r ta i n ly su b j e cte d to th e s exu al t i fi t i o f
g ra c a o n s
th ei r w hite m a ste r s It i s r e a so n abl e als o t o sup
.
p o s e th a t w h ite c r i m i n al s a n d e scap ed wh it e Sl ave s

f r equ e n tly p e n et r ate d th e N eg r o do m ai n A n d no
'
.
d o ubt N e g r o s avage s s om eti m es k i d n app e d th ei r

whi te n ei gh bor s b ut th e s e in t e rm in g lin g s we r e ve ry
,
t r i fli ng w h e n w e r em em b e r that a n ci e n t N e gr o L a nd
h a d a p o pul ati o n o f m a n y m illi o n s M o r e o ve r a s .
,
we h ave p o i n te d out el s ewh e r e th e te n de n cy o f a ,
r a ce o r st o c k to pu r i fy its el f must n ot b e lo st S i ght o f

— a r ace o r va r i e ty co n sta n tly te n di n g to r eve r t t o
th e S i d e o f p r ep o n d e r a n ce o f b l o o d Wh e n suc h .
a dm ixtu r e i s a rr ested i ts e ffe cts a r e i n ti m e e radi

c at e d .
Th e o ccup ati on o f A fr i ca b y th e N eg r o e s to o k
p l ace no t l a te r t h a n Pl ei sto ce n e ti m es (s eve r al m il
li o n s o f ye a r s a go ) M o de r n eth n olo gi sts h av e
.
t h o ro u g hly esta b li sh e d t h e fact th at i n all e s s e n ti al

q u a l iti es th e r a ce s e e m s to b e p r a cti ca l ly ch a ng e l e ss .
T h i s g r a nd divi s i on o f m a nk i n d s e ems to b e t o ta ll y
i n ca p a bl e o f d evel op m e n t i n a n y m a rk e d de gr e e ,
e ve n w h e n b r ought i n clos e a n d i n ti m ate co n ta ct w it h
t h e Eu ro p e a n Som e autho ri ti es h ave exp r es s e d th e

.
co n vi cti on t h at wh e n l e ft e n ti r ely al o n e hi s te nd e n cy
i s to w a rd a r eve r s i on to p r im itive M a n i f no t a ctu al
ly to l owe r f o rm s S i r H H J oh n s o n w h o m we
.
*
. .
,
h av e quote d els ewh e r e b e l i eve d th a t th e lo we r ,
t r i b es o f C e n t r a l E q u ato r i a l A fr i ca w oul d i n ti m e
*
Ih l b b k
an e a o rate l y li h oo m t h
rec en t p ub s e —
d whi c h s ee s o av e
b i p i d— ti tl d Th N g i th N w W ld thi
een ns re en e e e ro n e e or ,
”
s au
th orp a ti ll y p di t ll f h i f m w i ti g
r c ca re u a es d t h a o s or er r n s an e ac
i g
n s thion b j t d g i th i mp i th t h b li
s su ec an v es e res s o n a e e ev e s
Am i Ng i y i t ll t l d th t h
,
th e e r can e ro s ai v er n e ec u a rac e an a e s
w
ev e n n o p bl f t ki g fi t
ca a e o k m g th m t li g h t d
a n rs ran a on e os en en e
eo pl f th w ld
es o Thi f
e or i . j d g m t g tl y s, o c o u rs e , n o ur u en , re a
th
e s s en s l f h i f m t t m t wh i h w h q t d
e va u e o s or er s a e en s c e av e uo e .
reve r t to lowe r fo rms Such S li ght p rogress as ce r
.
ta in o f thes e Afri c a n N egro p eopl es h a ve m ade is ,
wi t hou t excepti on t he di rect resul t o f fo reign in fl u

,
ence .
It should b e mentio n ed howeve r in j ustice to th e, ,
p rese nt d a y Afri can N egroes th at m any o f t hem

-
,
h ave develop ed in t o h e rdsmen and mo re o r l ess ,
success ful a gri c u ltu r i sts u nde r th e influe n ce o f H a

,
m a t i c Anglo S a xon a nd othe r C auc a si c p eopl es

,
-
,
a b out t hem Through th e i n fus ion o f Ca ucasic

.
blood in such limi t e d localities a s this h as take n

,
pl a ce to a ny consider a ble exten t t he s e N eg r o es S how ,
de c ided ch a racte r isti cs and te n denci es o f the Hami t i c

race .
A S we h a ve shown els ewh e re thi s p rehisto ric ,
Hami t i c r a ce which h as p en etr at e d ce rta i n p o rti ons

,
o f the Sud a n and s o gre a t ly influenced t he li fe a n d

cus t oms o f ce r ta in N egro trib es— b y p re c ept exam ,
—
pl e and in t erb re eding a re a ls o p rogeni t o rs o f t h e
,
anci en t Egypti a ns Thus we establish a re a l blo od

.
r el ati onship b e tween an hi s to ric p e opl e o f gre at cul

tu r e a nd a chi evemen t a nd a ce r ta in limi t ed p o rti on
,
—
o f thi s N egro r a ce This kinship b o t h S ligh t a n d
.
r emote— i s ce rt a inly o f no imp o r t ance i n rel a ti on t o

t h e teeming millions o f t hese s a v a ges and b a r
b ari an s W hen we rememb e r th a t A fri c a alone
.
south o f t h e S a h a r a and excl u s ive o f M a dagas c a r

h a s a N egro popul at i on va ri ously es t im a te d t o b e
from o n e hund re d milli on t o one hundred and eigh t y
milli on s o u ls o r t wice t h a t o f C ontinent a l United
,
S t ates it i s no t su rp ri sing th at Ca uc a s i c a dmix t u re

,
h a s b e en o f lit t l e ethnic consequ ence Th e gre at .
m a ss o f th e Sud a nes e p eopl e a re a pu re s t ock a nd

bu t S ligh t ly i f a t a ll removed from abj e c t s a vage ry .
Th ey in common wi t h the v a ri o u s trib es t o the Sou t h

,
a r e p aga n ca nn ib al s S howi n g littl e o r n o c ap aci ty i n

,
th ei r n ative state fo r p r o g r es s o f a n y ki n d Th e i r
, .
l a n gu age o r v a ri ou s a ggluti n ated l a n gu age s a r e ,
st r i ctly i n dige n ous a n d b e a r littl e o r n o know n r el a

ti o n s h ip to th e s eve r al Eu r o p e a n and As i ati c to n
gu e s
.
The Cephali c i n dex (c r a n i al cu b i c capa city ) o f

these Ne g r o trib es va r i es co n side r a b ly but o n the ,
whole m ay b e s a i d to ave r age a b out fi fte e n pe r ce n t .
less tha n that o f Asi atics an d a so m ewhat g r e ate r

,
discrepa n c y exis ts betwee n it a n d th e h i g he r Eu ro

pe a n types .
The B a n tu N eg r oes fr om whom ou r Am e r ica n

,
stoc k was ch ie fly d r aw n o ccupy the west co ast d is

,
t ri c ts o f Ce n t r al an d Southe rn A f r ica This sub di

.
visio n o f A f r i ca n Ne gro races is ch a r a cte r i z e d b y

both physical a n d l in guisti c di ffe r e n ces Th e m ost .
m a r ke d phys i cal disti n ctio n is to b e fou n d m a ge n

e r a l s o fte n ing o f th e faci al featu r es while thei r poo r
,
ly developed langua ge 18 m o stly t r ib al o r r acial i t is ,
somewhat m ixe d with fo r e ig n languages in ce r tai n

—
loc a lities Th is B a n tu la n guage i f i t i s su ffi ci e n tly
—
.
developed to be calle d a langua ge is S lightly i f at

all r elate d to that o f the Su da n ese a n d q uite di ff e r
,
ent amo n g the m a n y tri b es .
Whe n we e n ter deeply into the su b j e ct o f A fr ica n

t r ib a l to n gues they a re fou n d to b e s o n um e r ous so ,
111 defi n e d a n d s o im pe r fect that we a r e l ia b le to

be com e i rr etrievabl y enta n gle d m a hopeless m ass o f
sava ge dialec ts I n this m atte r o f Ne g r o la n gua ges
.
the r e 13 but little distincti on to b e m ade by o r di n a r y

obse r ve rs a n d fo r the pu r pose o f dete r mi n i n g th e
,
state o f developme n t o f the race f r om whi ch ou r

,
Ame r ica n N egroes we r e l a r gely d r aw n they are o f ,
lit t le p ractical u se They testi fy very emphatica l ly

.
,
howeve r to his tot a l lac k o f cu ltu r e The li n guist

,
.
,
who se pu r pos e a nd p rofe ssi on it is t o t r a ce an d r ec ord

the m an y rude forms o f speech and thei r disti n guish ,
i n g qu a li t ies cannot be closely followed in these m a t

,
te r s.
“
I n a ll the Negro l a nds free from fo r eign in fl u
”
e n ce s a ys Keane no t ru e cultu re h a s ever bee n de
, ,
‘‘
”
v e lo p e d an d here, (spe a king o f Afric a )
“
ca nn i ba l ,
i sm wi t chcr a f t a nd s a ngu inary c u stoms ar e e ithe r

, ,
s till ri fe or h a ve been bu t r ecen t ly suppressed by t he

,
”
direc t a c t ion o f Europe an a dministr at ion .
In the exe cu t ion o f our determined purpose to hew

str a igh t t o the m a rk in a ll m at ters o f fa ct an d to ad
, ,
mit n othing t h a t s a vors o f b ias o r p r ej udice to b e fog

t he s e p a ge s we are forced to a ffi rm that little t r us t
,
wor t hy evidence c a n be fou n d t o subs t a nt i a te an y

cl a im o f adv a ncement or develop m ent o n the pa r t o f
t he un a ided Negro r a ce C o n ve r sely a su p e rab u n d .
a nce o f the mos t r eli a ble evide n ce is a t h a nd to dem

o n s t rat e h is u t ter helplessnes s a nd hopeless n ess i n his
n at ive st a te when bere ft o f the upli f t ing influe n ces

,
o f Ca uc a si c domin a tion Those bes t qu a lified to j udge .
a re a lmost univers a lly a greed t h a t — le ft to his ow n , ,
—
devices in his present physic a l environme n t the ,
Negro is absolu t ely inc a pable o f substanti a l p r og r ess .
Sir H H Joh n son to whose w r itings we h a ve else

. .
,
“
whe r e re ferred s a ys He is a fine anim a l who in his
, ,
wild st a te exhib its a stun t ed mind a nd a dull co n ten t

wi t h his surroundings which i n duces ment a l st a g na ,
tion cess a tio n o f a ll upw a rd progress an d eve n

, ,
“ ”
retrogression tow a rd s the b r ute In some respe cts .
,
“
s a ys Joh n son I think the tendency o f the Negro fo r
,
several c entu r ies past has bee n an ac t u a l r et r ogr a de

one A s we come to read the u n w r itte n histo r y o f
.
Afric a by rese a rches into la n gu a ges ma n ners cus , ,
toms traditions we seem to see a backwa r d rathe r

, ,
t h an a fo rwa r d movemen t goi n g on fo r some thou

—
sa n d yea r s past a r etu rn t o wa rd s the savage a nd
even t h e br ute I ca n b el ieve it p ossi b le that ha d

.
,
A fri ca bee n mo r e isolate d f ro m co n tact w it h the r est

o f the wo r ld an d cut o ff from the immi g r atio n o f t h e
,
Arab an d the E u r ope an the pu r ely Ne groi d r aces le ft

,
t o themselves s o fa r from a dva n ci ng towa r ds a hi gh

,
e r type o f hum a ni t y m i ght h ave a ctually r eve r ted by

,
,
”
degre es to a type n o lo n ge r hum an Ke an e who .
,
quote s this st a tement fr om Joh n s t o n— in his World s “ ’
Peoples ”
— s ays o f it : “
I do n ot s ay th a t this is so ,
but I give it as the m a ture opin ion o f an a dminist ra

to r who h aS h a d a w ide r exp eri e n ce o f the na tives
,
”
o f A fr i ca tha n almost any m an living .
In sp e a kin g o f the Suda n ese an d B antu Ne g r oe s

“
collectively Ke a ne s a ys :
, B oth rep r ese n t va r ious
phase s o f b a r b a rism whi ch n owhe re r ise to the l ow
,
e s t st an da r ds o f civili za t io n b ut i n m a n y pla ces p r e

,
sen t the aspect o f S hee r sava ge r y a s seen i n the ge n ,
e rally h a rd tre a t ment o f the women t he u n developed ,
m or a l s en s e c a nnib alism still p r evalent ove r wi de

,
ar e a s the cruel pr a c t i ces a ss ociate d w ith o r deals a n d

,
witchcr a ft the complete la c k o f scie n ce letters a nd

, , ,
sta b le politi c a l institution beyo n d the establishe d o r

tradition a l t rib a l l aws an d customs a n d mo r e espe ,
c i ally the a rreste d growth o f the me n tal f acultie s

”
a fter the a ge o f pub e rty .
The v a rious b ra n ches o f this B a ntu divisio n i n ha b it

the west co a st dis t ri cts from the Sud a n to the Ca pe .
While ethnologists h ave established thes e two

gr a nd divis ions— the Su dan es an d the B antu — the y
”
con fess the dis t i n guishing qu al iti es to b e r el a tively

S li gh t and a dmit b o t h to be true r ep r esentatives o f
,
the lowes t o f the four gr an d divisi ons o f ma nk i n d .
The evi dence p resented a part from any pe r so n al co n,
v i c t i o n s o f the au t ho r is quite su ffi ci e n t t o S how that

,
the true Ne gro r ace is not n aturally quali fi ed fo r in

t elli g e n t s el f go v e rnm e n t
-
To co n te nd as s om e
.
wri t ers h a ve done— S c holes for ex a mple— that th e

,
B ri t ish a u t hori t ie s in B ri t i s h Afri c a S hould con fe r on

the n at ive s a ll t he c ivil a nd poli t i c a l pre r og a tives
po s se s sed by B ri t i s h denizens is decidedly unre a son
,
a ble A higher r a c e c a nno t by ed u c at ion o r legisla

.
,
t ion con fe r u pon a lower t he ment a l a nd phys ical

,
q u a li t ies by whi ch n at ure h as foreord a ined t he one

t o be the highe r a nd t he o t her t he lower A fri c a n .
Negroe s freq u en t ly rever t t o a rbore a l h a bi t s of li fe ;

and i t h as been S hown in o t her p a rts o f this wo rk
t h at m ent a l developmen t is a rre ste d at puber t y a nd ,
th a t c a nnib a lism i s at t hi s very t ime ri fe excep t whe r e

it has been forcibly s uppressed by C au c a si c domi n a
tion I S t hi s c ondi t ion fixed by inheri t ance or is i t
.
,
du e t o t empor a ry cir c u m s ta nces a nd subj e c t t o more

or le s s s u dden a nd c omple t e rever s a l $ Is t he Negro
c a p a ble o f s udden men ta l development $ Through
ou t t he nine t een t h c en t ury t his s u bj ect h aS been one
o f he at ed deb a te by a ll Engli s h s pe a king peoples nor
-
,
h as it been one whi t le s s ened by t he a dvent o f the

t wentie t h cen t ury Mo s t o f t he wri t ings in ten de d f o r
.
pop u l a r con su mp t ion h a ve em a n at ed from prej udiced

s ources , t he very b i a s o f t he individu al u s u a lly co n
s t i tu t in g i ts in s pir at ion — some o f t hese writings b e
i n g bi tt e rly a g a inst the Negro a nd o t hers as strongly

,
for him .
When t he subj ec t is c a lmly c onsi dere d t he only log

ic a l c onclu s ion t o be dr a wn is th at the higher ment a l
qu a litie s a re no t t o be suddenly a cquired by a ny
ingenio u s devi c es or processes o f educ at io n The .
deficiencie s o f t he Negro a re r a c i a l deep r ooted an d

,
-
,
o f lo n g st a nding .
They a re t he a ccu mul at ed e ffe cts o f a dverse cir

cu m s t an c es d u ring t ho u s a nds o f gene rations .No
ear t hly powe r c an s u ddenly ch a nge these n a tur a l
” “
tru t hs A n d whi ch o f you s ayeth the Book with
,
“
, ,
THE A ME RI CAN NE GRO P RO BLE M 61
ta k i n g thought ca n add to his st a tu r e o n e cub it $ I f

ye then b e not a ble to do that thin g whi ch is le a st
”
why t a ke ye thought fo r the rest $ Tim e alone ,
co mb ined with a ges o f favo ra ble envi r o n ment i s com

,
petent to a dvance the Ne g r o ra ce to th a t exalte d p o

s i t i o n which the Ca ucasia n now o ccu pi es . M oreove r
th e com peten cy o f n atu r e he r sel f by lo n g co n ti n ue d
f avo ra b le co n diti o n s to b r i n g the Neg r o up to the
,
stand ar d o f the C a ucasia n m ay well b e doubte d f o r ,
we a re b y n o me a ns ce r tai n th a t the Ne gro type is fit

mate r i al fo r n a tural mouldin g into such excelle n ci e s .
CHA PTE R I V
Ev i d e n c e s o f M e n t a l I n f e ri o r i ty
OTWI TH STA N D I N G the vast a r ray

o f testimony t o t he con t ra r y and S i n g ul a r
a s it m a y a pp e a r t he re a re ce rt a i n au,
tho r s b o t h Ame rican an d Eu rop e an who

, ,
have pl ace d them s elves on record a s b eli evi n g th at

west Afri can N e groes a nd thei r di rec t descendants ,
po s s ess all t he r equi si t e qu a liti es fo r t h e imm edi a t e

recepti on o f t h e hi ghe s t Ca uca s ic civili z a t i on and
cul t u re In o t h e r wo rds and i n t hei r opini on a ce r
.
, ,
ta in a moun t o f e rudi t i o n c a n quali fy t h es e Ne g r o

p eopl es fo r t h e a dv a nce d though t s a nd i deals o f th e
mos t e n ligh t ened whi t e ra ces .
One o f thes e Eu rop e a n wri t e rs who s eems to ,
h ave r e c en t ly g a ined c onsi de r a bl e no t o ri e t y at ,
t emp t s to c ontrove rt among a h o st o f othe r s e curely

,
establi s hed sci en t ific t r u th s m a ny o f t he chi e f con ,
el u si on s o f b o t h C h a rl e s D a rwin a nd He rb e rt Sp e n
ce r He do es howeve r do t h em the hono r to a p olo

.
, ,
gi ze in a p re f a ce t o hi s b ook fo r h aving di scove red

, ,
t h at t h ey a mong a do z en othe r renowned but l es s e r

,
ligh t s we re mi s ta ken i n m a ny o f t hei r fundame n tal

,
t ene t s Th e p a rti cul a r au t ho r t o whom we re fe r i s

.
one D o c t or Th eophilus E S a mu el Scholes (we a r e .
gl a d h e h a s no o t he r n a mes ) in hi s b o ok en t itl ed ,
”
Gl imps es o f the Age s publi s hed in Londo n in ,
1 90 5 .H i s excus e fo r di ss en t ing from t h e de du c

—
t i ons o f thes e m a s t e r minds SO f a r as we h ave b e en
-
abl e t o disce rn— i s th at by s ome dis t inctively indi

vid u a l p roce s s o f re a son— we know n ot wh at— h e
62
h a s a rr ive d at co n clusi o n s f u n da m e n tally d i ffe r e n t

f r om th o s e re a ch e d b y th es e admitte d s a ge s We .
do n o t know wh o Sch ol e s i but a fte r re a di n g h i s s,
b o o k and r e fl e cting o n s om e o f hi s statem e n ts— th e

o n e j u st r el ate d i n clude d w a r e r em i n de d o f th e
-
e
“
wi t s s ally wh o s a i d th a t Wh e n B i shop B e r k l ey
’
, ,
s ai d th e r e w a s no m att e r tw a s n o m atte r w h a t h e ’
”
said .
O n a ccou n t o f th e p e r i o d i c C i rcul ati o n o f such

wr iti n gs a s Sch o l s an d th e fu r t h e r and m o r e im
es
’
, ,
p o r ta n t ci r cumsta n c e th at m an y p e opl e well i n fo r m

e d o n o th e r subj e cts have n eve r give n th ei r atte n ti o n
t o th e s ci e n ces th at h ave to do w ith th e n atu r e a n d
d evel opm ent o f th e hum a n intell ect i t s e em s well to ,
i n co r p o r a te h e re s o m e o f th e evi dence whi ch co nsti

t t s th e p r o o f t h at th e n atu r al en dowm e n t o f th e s e
u e
N eg r o p e opl e s wh e n comp a re d with th e hi gh e r C au

,
c as i an s i s m e a g r e i n de e d a nd th a t s om ethi n g m o r e
, ,
th a n th e m e r e a b il ity to imitate an d copy i n a p a rr ot ,
fa shi o n s om e in fin itesim a l p o ti on o f ou r c cu mu
, r a
l ate d kn owl e dge i s r equi site fo r th e upli f t o f thi s

a l i e n a n d b a rb a r o u s n ot to y s ava ge r a ce o f m a n
, sa ,
k i n d I n f a ct w e do n ot b eli ev e th a t a n y m ate r i al
.
a n d su d de n el evati o n b y su ch m e a n s i s p o ssi bl e .
I n p r ece d i n g ch apte r s whi ch a r e i n te n de d to t r a ce

,
th e d es ce n t o f m ode r n M a n f r om hi s e a rl i e st hum a n
a n ce sto r s w e h av e h a d co n sta n tly i n m i n d th e n ces
,
e
s i ty o f imp r e ssi ng th e r e ade r wi th th e a lm ost i c o m n
p e
r h e n isb ly sl ow p rog r es s o f evoluti on a r y ch a n ge ;
m o r e e sp e ci ally i s thi s t r u e i n th e hi gh e r o rd e r s o f
a n im al li fe H e r e a g a i n w e wou l d call atte n ti o n to
.
th e f a ct th at s om e m ill i o n s o f ye a r s h av e b e e n r e
qui r ed t r a i s e M a n fr om hi s S i m i a n a n ce sto r s t o t h e
o
wo n de r fully sup e r i o r Eu r o p e a n typ e Th e h yp o .
th e si s t h at thi s h as t a k e n pl a ce i n a f ew t ho us a nd
y e a r s i s c on t r a ry t o t h e te ac h i n g o f eve ry b r a n ch o f
le a rning t h at h as to do even remotely with t h e sub

, ,
j e c t a nd i s o f c o
, u r s e a b s,u rd .
It will b e fo u nd u p on i n v e s t1g at1o n th at t he f a b ri c

o f a ggreg at ed op in 1o u o f e s ta bli s hed a u t ho ri t i es I S
well woven i n t o t he p os t ul at e t h at t h e ex a l t ed m en
,
ta l eq u ipmen t o f t he Ca u c a s i a n i s no t t o b e re ach ed
by a ny s ho rt ro a d s o r ne a r c u t s Howeve r we gr a n t .
,
t h at i f a ll o the r f a c t o r s we re equ a l t h e s t epp ing

, ,
St one o f a v a s t a nd well o rde red s t o reho u s e o f

-
knowl edge s u c h a s t he C a u c a si a n h as t o o ffe r i s

, , ,
o r wo u ld b e o f ine s t im a ble v a lu e t o a ny o t h e r r a c e
,
d u ring t h at long j o u rney from rel at ive m en ta l 1m

b e c i li ty t o t he mo s t s u p e ri o r wi s dom Bu t a l a s $ a ll .
t hing s a re no t equ a l fo r no t only I S t he whi t e m a n

,
c onceded t o b e at t h e t op whil e t h e bl a c k m a n i s at
t h e b o tt om b u t t h e re a re t wo o ther gr a nd divi s i ons

,
o f m a nki nd in t e r v ening ; a nd wi t h t hem all t he freed ,
Negro m u s t eng a ge in a p e rp e t u a l a nd rel en t l e s s

c omme r c i a l w a r f a re fo r th e s u rv i v a l o f t h e i
f tt es t .
Th e re fo re we m a y well s ay t h at i f t he N egro h a d
no t t hi s de s t r u c t ive w a r f a re u p on h i s h a nd s b u t 1n ,
St e a d p o s s e s s ed only t he whi t e m a n s a ccu mul at e d ’
we a l t h o f knowl edge a nd l e a rning togethe r wi t h ,
millenni u m s o f l ei s u re a nd a n a ll a b s o rbing i nclin a

t i on t ow a rd s le a rning a nd wi s dom h i s u pw a rd climb ,
woul d no t only b e f a c ili tat ed b u t s o f a r a s we know

, , ,
a s su red ; a nd t h e evo lu t i on a ry p e ri o d o f in cu b at i on ,
a s i t we re wo u l d a pp a ren tly b e m at e ri a lly sho rtened

,
p rovided o f c our s e t h at t h e N egro i s unde r a ny

, ,
c i r c u m s ta n c e s c a p a bl e o f s u c h developm en t
, Even .
t hen when a ll t he s e impos s ibl e t hings a re gr an ted

, ,
h e wo u ld req u i r e m a ny gene r at i on s o f i n h e ri te d im
p rovem en t in b r a in s t r u ct u re a nd t ho u s a nd s o f
-
,
ye a r s to re a ch t he pinn a cl e o f wi s dom a nd knowl

,
edge u p on whi c h t h e Ca u c a s i a n s ta nd s to d a y w av -
,
in g th e Sce p t r e o f sup reme a utho rity an d domi nat ing

th e h a b i tabl e gl o b e .
I f i t we r e p o s sibl e to co n fe r all th es e a dva n ta ges

up o n th e N eg r o r ac e w e woul d b e comp ell e d to a s k
a n d answe r th e questi on : I S th e C auca si an to r em a i n
i n e r t a nd stati on a ry a n d w ai t to b e ov e rta k e n ; o r
woul d h e co n ti n u e m e a n whil e to a dvance a s h e h a s
, ,
do n e i n th e p a st a n d at th at co n ti n u ally a ccel e r ated

,
r ate whi ch i s th e n atu r al co n s e q u ence o f p ow e rs al

r e a d y a cqui r e d $
A n oth e r consp i cu ou s stum b li ng bl o c k i n th e p ath -
o f th e f ett e r ed s el f co n sti tuted s o ci ologi cal p h i lo s o

,
-
ph e r e sp ous i n g th e cau s e o f N egro e qu ality i s hi s

, ,
S i n gul a r co n fou n di n g o f le arn i ng with wi s d o m o r ,
k n o wle dg e an d th e co ns ta n t m i staki n g o f th e o n e
,
fo r th e oth e r .
N o m a n ca n affo r d to r u sh into p r i n t a s a te a ch e r
o f ph il o s ophy wh o i s n ot willi n g to take th e t r oubl e
to di s c r i m i n ate S h a r ply b etwe en th es e te rm s whi ch ,
a r e a s wi dely s ep a ra te d a s th e e a st i s f rom th e w e st .
A m a n m ay b e exte n sively l e a r n e d a n d still n oto r i

o u s ly l a c k i n g i n wi s dom Th e on e m a y b e a cqui re d
.
b y th e i n divi du al ; th e oth e r i s a n atu r a l endowm e n t .
N o am ou n t o f l e a rn i ng c an p r o duce wi s dom i n th e
li feti m e o f a n indivi du a l o r even i n a few ge n e r a
,
ti o n s ; n o r c an th e fo r m e r eve r b e su b sti t ute d fo r th e

l atte r A ce rt a i n am ount o f e ruditi on ca n b e ac
.
qui re d b y m em b e r s o f any r a ce except p o s sibly ce r ,
t ai n b r a n ch e s o f th e N eg r o ra ce ; b ut it i s p r ove r b i a l
ly t r u e th at th e e duc a t e d fo ol i s th e m o st i n tol e r a b l e
o f all O n th e oth e r h an d i f a n i ndivi du al o r r a ce
.
,
i s endowe d with a sup e r i o r intell ect hi s o r its f utu r e ,
i s m ani festly a m atte r o n ly o f opp o rtunity a n d ap p li

cati on Th e trite exp r es si on th at we c a nno t m a k e a
.
S il k pu r s e out o f a s ow s e a r i s i n el egant a n d th r e a d
’
b a re w e a d mi t b ut i ts tim e wo rn a n d ti m e hono r e d
, ,
- -
S h el l c on ta i n s a r i c h k e rn e l of t r ut h .
Whe n we begin to inqui r e in t o th e ab str a ct an —

s —
eve n omewh a t a b strus e s u bj ect o f mi nd i t b e ,
comes ne c e s s a ry to s u mmon t o ou r a id a l it t le o f e a ch
o f t he s ci en c es o f an a t omy phy s i ology a nd p sychol
, ,
ogy But we S hall e n de a vo r t o cl o t he o u r t hough t i n

.
such S impl e l angu a ge th at all m a y follow c los ely

wi thout b eing co n s c io u s t h at we a re de a ling wi t h su b
j ec t s whi c h m a ny l ay re ade rs reg a rd a s mo re o r l ess
mys t e ri ous a nd m e a ningl es s to t he u niniti at ed .
In all refl e c ti ons up on mind we a re con fro n ted

wi t h th e p eculi a r di fli cu lty o f t h e in t ell ect o r r ation a l
.
,
f a cul t y att emp t ing t o ob s erve o r ex a mine i t s el f

, .
Howeve r S in c e mind o r re a s on i s now generally ad

,
m i tt e d to b e a physiologi c a l fun ct i on o f b ra in we ,
m ay a ttempt wi t h som e su cce s s t o comp reh e n d th e ,
fo rm e r by ex a mining t h e l att e r .
Th e b rai n o f M a n i s a t hing o f m a ny p a rts a n d

when c onside red in i ts en t i re t y as the cen t r a l o rg a n
,
o f the gene r a l ne r vous sy s tem it becomes a very ex

,
tensive a nd i nt ri c a t e subj e c t o f s t u dy But S in ce our .
pu r pose is only to inq u ire s u perfi c i a lly in t o t he seat

and capacity for re a s on t his ex a min a tion will be con
,
fined to t he m a i n body o f t he br a in o r th a t gr a nd ,
divis ion k n own to the an a tomist as the ce r e bru m .
The c ereb rum occupies the gre at e r p a r t o f t he b r a in

pan or c r anial c a vity a n d is t he s e at o f re a son
, , .
Fur t hermore i t h a s bee n a s c er t ained t h a t t he fo r e

,
p a r t o f thi s divi sion o f the b r a in o r t h at regi on ,
k n own as the front a l lobes is the por t io n princip a lly

—
,
co n cer n e d in a bstr a ct t hought ide at ion an d t h a t

,
-
the hinder par t pre s ides ove r the bodily f u nc t ions .
Thi s b a ck b r a in is t he region t h at c ont a ins the senses

o f S ight he a ring ta ste t ouch equilib ri u m a nd a por
, , , , ,
tio n o f smell a nd controls t he m u scu l a r movements

,
o f the b ody a mong m a ny o t her t hi n gs It w a s a t

,
.
o n e time b elieved th a t th e ce r e b ellu m had m ai n ly t o

THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO BLE M 67
do with these bodily fu n ctio n s but r ece n t i n vesti ga

tions h as g r e atly m odi fi e d this beli e f .
The fron t p a rt o f the ce r eb r um constitute s what is

k n ow n as the gre a t ante r io r associ atio n ce n t r e Th at .
is to s ay it r ece ives all so r ts o f n e r vous im p r essio n s

o r communi c a tions b oth from w ithin a n d w ithout ;
,
a n d by some little unde rstood fu n ctio n in g thi s hete r o

g e n e o u s m ass o f imp ressio n s — which a r e co n sta n tl y
fl owin g in upon t hi s cent r e— a re so r te d out assig n ed ,
to thei r p r ope r lo c a lities an d m an y o f them mo r e or

, ,
le ss pe r m anen t ly r e corded Th is is n ot all they a r e

.
,
co m pa r e d the o n e with a n othe r a nd r e fl ecte d upo n

, ,
—
an d se em ln som e w a y wh i c h we ca nn ot ye t fully
—
explai n to gi v e rise t o n ew i dea s M o d e rn physi ol .
o gy holds that as a re sult o f thi s pr o cess the classi

, ,
fie d imp r essi ons ac t a s s t imuli o r excita n ts to n e w

, , ,
independent a n d o ri gi n al i deas
, .
This st a teme n t m a y seem a mb i guous a n d eve n pa r

a do x i c al, an d f ran kly we co n ce ive it to b e o n ly a
pa r ti al expl an ation o f the wo rk in gs o f this hi ghest
fa culty o f the b rai n This a pp ar e n t am b i guity doe s
.
n ot howeve r m ili t ate a g a ins t the g ra n d ce n t r al a n d

, , , ,
cl e a rly dem ons t ra b le tru t h th a t the fo r epart o f t h e

,
b ra i n i s the s eat o f me n t a lity o r i n tellectual ity I t .
—
follows the re fo re othe r thi n gs b e i n g e qual f o r the r e ,
a re m any exceptions— that a spacious f o r ehea d im

plie s a cap a ble m achi n e fo r thou ght o r r easo n .
Whe n com pa rat ive ante r io r developme n t is a pplie d

—
to gre a t n umbe r s a s eth n olo gists a n d an th ro p o lo
gists h a ve ve ry recen t ly do n e i n the study o f r ace s
i t b ecom es a m os t v a lu ab le criterion This m etho d .
has b ee n extens ively p racti ce d du r i n g the l ast f ew

ye a rs i n com p a ri s ons o f the N egro with the Cau
casi a n Exam in a tion a n d me asu rement o f thousa n ds
.
o f disi n te r re d cr a ni a and o f m a n y livi n g speci m e n s

, ,
h ave r eveale d the f a ct th at the cap acity of t h e Ne

gro sk u ll or br a inp a n i s very m a teri a lly less th an

, ,
t h at o f t he Ca u c a s i a n .
Now the r e a re sever a l di ffe ren t m e t hod s o f as ce r

ta ining t he t o ta l c a p a c i t y o f skull s one o f t hese ,
c u s —
the mo t ommonly e d is t o fill t he c a vi t y through
s ,
t he f o ra me n m ag n u m (t he l a rge round hole at t he ,
b a s e o f t he S kull ) wi t h s m a ll s eed and t hen weigh or

,
me a sure t he s eed con ta ined .
Me a s uremen t s o f t hi s char a c t er a c c ording to the ,
f a m ous e t hnologi s t D r A H Ke a ne S how t he ave r

, . . .
,
a ge c ubi c co nt ents o i t he m a le S ku ll o f the Negro

r a c e s t o be 1 2 5 0 cu bic c en t ime t res a nd tha t o f t he ,
higher Ca u c a s i c r a ces 1 5 5 0 c u b i c c en t imetres— n ote

t he di s c rep a n cy .
D r Robe r t Benne tt B e a n who con t ribu t ed two

.
,
“ ”
a ble a r t i cle s t o t he C en t ury M a g a zine for Sep t em
ber a nd O ct ober 1 8 9 6 t he one on t he Ne gro br a in
, ,
a nd t he o t her on t he t r a ining o f t he Negro res p e c ,
t iv e ly s tat e s t h at t he diffe ren c e in b rain weigh t— a nd

,
he wei ghe d t he b r a in s him s el f o f t hese Americ a n

—
Negroe s a nd whi t es be tween t he Negro a nd t he
Ca u c a s i a n is a bo u t 2 0 per cen t in f a vor o f t he l at te r .
,
whi c h i s a pproxim at ely t he s a me proportion a s

Ke a ne s cubi c c a p a ci t y me a su remen t s g i ven a b ove
’
.
Moreove r t he cri t i c a l c omp a r at ive ex a m i n at ion o f

,
t he S k u ll s o f t he two r a ces i n que s t ion reve a ls t he

fu r t her a nd even more S ignifi c a n t f a c t th a t t he
, ,
m a rked di s c rep a n cy is due e n ti re ly t o a gre a ter de

v e lo p m e n t o f t he fron t p a r t o f t he Ca u c a s i a n b r a in .
Mos t a u t hori t ies a gree t h at t he b a ck p a rt o f t he

Negro S k u ll a ver a ge s a li tt le l a rger t h a n t h a t o f t he
Ca u c a s i a n— no t only comp a r at ively bu t a b s olutely ,
a nd i t h as been ob s erved as t hi s f a ct indi c at es th a t

, ,
t he lowe r f a cu l t ies o f emo t ion S igh t he a ring smell , , , ,
a nd t he re s t a re per c ep t ibly more a cu t e in t he Negro ;

,
all o f whi ch is c onfirm a to ry o f t he a rgumen t that

n a ture h as m a de t he re a son in g p a rt o f the C a u c a si an

b r a in o n more lib er a l propo r t ions— a f a ct well e s t a b
li sh e d by hi s t o ry a n d a bs t r a c t re a soning long be fore
we c a m e in t o po ss es s ion o f t hese m at e ri a l evidences .
Th e m o s t s t rikin g ch a r a c t e ris t i c s o f t he N e gro

_
s kull are t he n a rrow s l a n t in g fo rehe a d a nd b r oad
well roun de d b a ck he a d So m a rked is t hi s fo r m a

-
.
tio n th a t the Ne gro s kull is fre q u en t ly describe d a s

e gg sh a pe d wi t h t he pointed end fo rw a rd This ra
-
.
c i al cha r a c t e ris t ic i s s o de c i de d a n d c onst a n t t h a t me d
i c al studen t s soon be c ome s u ffi ciently a c qu a inte d with

it to s ay a t on ce whether a given spe c im en is th a t o f
a N e gro o r C a ucasi a n .
W e h a ve se en then t h a t t he tot a l mass o r wei ght , ,
o f t he t rue Ne gro b r a in when dw a rf r a c es a re ex

c l u ded o f cour s e — a ver a ges twen t y per cent les s t han .
t h a t o f t he C a u c a s i a n ; t h at the N e gro b r a in is b oth

propor t ion a tely a nd a bsolu t ely sm a lle r in t he re a s on
in g fo repa r t a n d likewise l a rge r in t he b a ck p art
, ,
wh ich l att e r p r es ide s over t he senses a nd fun ctio n s o f

the bo dy .
Anothe r f a cto r o f prime impo r ta n c e is the p e

ri o d a t whi c h t he su t u res close . The os s e ou s shell ,
whi c h in c a ses t he br a in is form e d o f a num b e r o f

,
se pa r a te bon es whi c h in childhood are incomplete

, ,
an d at ce rt a in pl a c es a re c onne cte d only by so ft tis

sues Pro gre ss ive ossi fi c ati on from the edges o f these
.
bon es gr a du a lly c lose s the se openin gs by t he u ni on o r

j oin in g o f the sever a l p a r t s th a t a re to form the full y
develope d skull The obj e c t o f t hi s m etho d o f devel
.
o p m en t i s t o a llow fo r the grow t h a n d expansion o f
t he b r a in The c o m ple t e clo s ure o f t h e s u t ures a s the

.
,
a n a tom ist would s ay me a n s o f co u r s e the cess a tion

, , ,
o f g r owth a nd exp a n s ion o f the b r a i n .
In t he c a se o f the N e g r o the s u t ures clo se c o m

p l e t e ly a t pub erty ,
( se x development ) a b out t he
twel fth year whe re a s in t he C , i this i g n i fi

, au c as a n s
c a n t event i de fe rred u n til the mature a ge o f fo r ty

s
i re a hed
s c I t seems a lm o t unnece s ar y t o comme n t
. s s
on t his b a re tat ement o f f a t Su ffi ce it to s ay that

s c .
t he Negro br a in i hopelessly shu t fi from fur t he r

s o
c
developmen t at t hi very e a rly period o f li fe ; while

s
t he br a in o f the whi t e m a n is free t o exp an d a nd

develop t he org a be ome mo r e a nd more com
, as n c s
plex p t o t he for t ie t h year There is a ma rke d te n

, u .
d en c y Ne groes o
1n f a ll a ge to a cer t ain g a ye t y fri s ,
vo li ty or hildi hne, c even under the mo t serious o r

s ss s
a dverse circ mst a nce whi h is cle a rly t r a ce a ble to

u s, c
—
t his e a rly arrest o f development t he h a r a t er o f c c
t he individu a l rem a ining very much wh a t it w a s a t

t he twel fth yea r .
Now we propose t o show yet mo r e clea r ly that

whe n take n in t he a ggreg at e the h ara cte r a n d , c ca
p i
ac t y o f the individ a l or r a e a re di r ec
u t sequels o f c ,
t he si ze form a n d his t ologic structure o f the b ra i n

, , ,
t ogethe r with the blood supply and ce r tai n othe r -
phy iological f nction

s And in u f a r a s our real
s . so
obj e t is concerned this demo n st r ation m a y be very

c ,
l a rgely onfined to the a nterior portion o f the ce r e

c
b rum .
Pe rhap s few h a ve ever conside r ed t he b igness o f

t he br a i n o f M a n i n i t s rel a tio n t o the si ze o f the
body o r a s comp a red wi t h t he res t o f the an imal ki n g
—
,
dom There is no o t he r living thin g with the ex c ep

.
t ion o f a few o f t he s m a ller varie t ies o f a nimals a n d

birds a nd possibly cer ta in very sm a ll insects h a vi n g
,
—
so l a rge a b r a in 1n proportion to the si ze o f the body ,
as h as M a n —
He a l s o h a s t he l a rge t b r ain irres p ec
. s
t ive o f b odily wei ght— o f a ll livi n g creatu r es wi t h ,
t h e ex c ep t i on o f the eleph a nt an d m ayb e s om e va ri e ,
ties o f whales .
“
Hi s t ory shows t h at the hum an m i n d f ed b y c o n ,
TH E A M ER I CAN N E G RO P R OBL E M 7 1
sta n t a ccessio n s o f k n owledge periodi c a lly g r ows to o

,
l ar ge for its theo re t i cal cove rin gs a n d bursts them ,
asu n de r to appea r in n ew hab ilime n ts as the feedi n g ,
an d g rowing grub a t in t e rvals c a sts its too n a rr ow

, ,
ski n an d assumes a no t he r i t sel f but tempo r a r y

, .
Truly the 1m a go sta t e o f M an seems to b e te rr ibly

dista n t but every m oul t 1s a step gai n ed an d o f such
—
, ,
“
there have b ee n m an y .
(Huxley M a n s Place ’
in
All these facts go to m ak e up collate r al a n d co r
ro b o rat e d evidence o f the fi rst orde r i n suppo r t o f the
asse r ti on t h a t m a s s a nd wei gh t o f b r a in whe n applie d ,
t o whole r a ces o r kind s a re p r im e f a cto rs i n dete r

, ,
m in i n g mental cap a c it y During the latte r hal f o f

.
the n i n etee nt h century me a suri n g hum a n skulls with

,
a V iew to dete rm ining ra ce di fferences b ecame a l most

a hobby ; and the tru t h o f ra ci a l p repo n de r ance o f
m ass a n d wei ght o f b r a in i n f a vo r o f t he C a ucasia n ,
a s com pa r e d wi t h t he E thiop i a n w a s thus so secu r ely

,
esta b lished — with its cons ta nt twenty pe r cent ex .
cess— th a t its succes s ful con t rovers ion is n ow imp o s

si b le .
B ut i f this a dditio na l m a ss a n d wei ght we r e all

si gn i fi c an t a s i s the evi dence thus fa r a dduced to show
—
the in fe rio rity o f t he Ne gro i nt elle ct the re a r e o the r
elements that go t o m a ke up the sup erio r b r ain which
mi ght ye t stem t he t i de o f scientifi c testimony a gai n st
him H oweve r we h a ve no su c h compl ic a ti on to de a l
.
with for t his eviden c e 15 cum u l a tive an d the f u r the r

,
we go wi t h the inves t i g at ion t he mo r e hopeless b e

comes the c ase o f t he Ne gro .
To repeat t hen wh at we h a ve alre ady stated i dea ,
t ion o r thou gh t 13 t he produc t o f th e fore b rai n a n d -

,
is c a rrie d on by wh at 15 k n own a s the a nte r io r associa

tio n ce n tre .
I n o r de r to gai n a clea r p e rce p t 1o n o f th l S ce n t r e

7 2 TH E U LT I M AT E SOLU T I ON O F
we will liken i t t o a mode r n telephone system The .
m a ny wi res a nd c a bles or bundles o f wires whi c h

, ,
c onduct t he me ss a ge s c orrespond t o t he grea t interior

,
m a ss o f whi t e br a in m att e r m a de u p o f ne r ve fib res

-
,
a nd bundle s o f fibres t he fu n c t ion o f whi ch is t o con

,
du c t mess a ge s or nervo u s imp r ession s o f a ll sorts t o

, ,
a nd from t he c or t ex or ou t e r surf a c e o f the br a in

, .
Th e t elephone ex ch a nge or centr a l o fii ce where t he s e

,
‘
,
mess a ge s a re firs t received a nd where one p art y wi t h

,
a mess a ge t o deliver i s p u t into a sso c i a tio n o r co mmu

n i cat i o n wi t h a no t her who is t o r eceive a nd c onsider
,
t he s a me m a y be u s ed as an illustra t ion o f the wo r k

,
ing s o f t he hum a n b r a in .
Following t he recep t ion o f such communica t ion the

l att er p a r t y m a y as k to be a llowe d t o c on fe r wi t h o t h
e rs a nd in thi s w a y t he m at ter in h a nd m a y b e j ointly
,
con s ide red by a l a rge n u mb e r o f indivi du a ls .
This centr a l offic e for connecting a nd a s soci a ting

t hese sep arat e individ u a l s we use to illu st ra te the
,
a s s oci at ion o f nervous impulses i n t he ou t e r gr a y

s urf a ce o f t he b r a in which the l a t t er r eceives by
,
m e a ns o f i t s line s o f communi c a tion th r ough t he cen

t r a l m a ss o f whi t e m a tt er Thi s pro c ess o f i n tima t e
.
a sso c i a tion a nd comp a rison o f t he m an y impressions

t here a c cu mul at ed is a nalogou s to t he c a lli n g o f a
gener a l m a ss mee t ing o f ci t i zens where a ll o r m a ny
-
,
—
,
impor ta n t members o f a ommunity in close r a nd

c
more in t im at e con ta c t— consider a ll the coll at er a l ev

iden c e re ce ived by distance or wi re communic a tio n , ,
t oge t her wi t h a cert a in consciousne s s or j udgmen t

m a de up o f p a s t impressions or expe r ie n ces Af t er .
t his t hey a ll vo t e on t he p a r t i cu l a r m at t e r in h a nd
t he minori ty yi elding t o t he m a j o rity .
Processes o f t ho u ght a re not ide n tic a l with this

m a s s meeting b u t t here is s u ffi cient simil a rity i n the
-
,
functioning o f the br a i n to give the r e a de r a n outline

TH E A M E R I CAN NE G RO P RO BL E M 73
o f what takes place the r e du r i n g t h e me n tal ope r a

ti o n s k n ow n a s the exe rcise o f j udgment will powe r ,
-
,
a n d ori ginal i de at io n This telepho n e system with its

.
c e n t ral o ffice b e i n g use d for the calli n g o f a mass
me eti n g toge t he r with t he conclusions o f the l atte r

, ,
is rel a tively sim ple o f cou rse but co n stitutes a mo r e

,
o r less apt m et a pho r The white m ass o f t h e br ai n

.
consists o f thous an ds o f n e r ve fi b r e s a n d b u n dles o f

fibres fo r th e co n ductio n o f commu n i catio n s to and
f r om the oute r su r fa ce o f the b r a i n a n d co rr esp on ds ,
to ou r t elephon i c commu n i c a tio n s .
As these im p r essi ons r ush in upo n this a n te r io r

associ ati o n centre they a r e so r ted out a n d r e f e rr e d to
-
sun dry locali t ies in the co rtex o r gr a y su r face He r e .
they a r e asso ci ate d a n d c omp ar ed the o n e with a n oth

,
e r an d t hei r relative impo r t an ce a nd relatio n ship a r e

,
b elieve d t o b e p a sse d upo n by wh a t i s kn ow n as spe

c i al selective cells M any o f these imp r ess io n s are
.
the n m ore o r less pe rm ane n tly r eco r ded (memo r y ) ,
so that they m ay a t an y future time be called upon

a nd a s s oci ate d with both fo rm er a n d su b se que n t im
pressions By me a ns o f t he ge n e ral n e r vous syste m
.
eve r y ph a se o f b odily sens a tion a s well as the enti r e

,
fi eld o f ex t e rn a l nat u r e ab out us i s constantly r ushi n g

,
in upon thi s an t e rio r a ssoci a tio n centre I n co n se

-
.
n ce o f the m a te ri a ls thus supplie d and by p r o

q u e
cesse s which we c a nnot f ollow o r com pletely u nd e r

stand t h is ante ri or associ a tion centre is b elieve d to
,
-
possess the m a rvelous power o f m a n u f actu r in g n e w

a n d tot a lly independe n t i deas We re it n ot f o r t h is
.
l a st n a m ed fa culty the powe r o f abstr a ct thought

, ,
—
a s the psy c holo gist would s a y educatio n o r the ac ,
q u i s i t i o n o f kn owledge would be ,
o f little o r n o use
to u s This fa culty is sli gh t ly present in some species
b el ow M an but a s we descen d the sc a le it gradually
.
f a des aw ay M en who b y commo n co n se n t a r e ad

.
j udged fools a re t hose who a re deficient in these high

e r f u n ct i o n i n g s o f th e b r a in They a re mo r e o r l ess
.
c a p a ble o f re c eivi n g a nd recording impressio n s but ,
un a ble to utili ze them for the p r odu c tion o f n ew an d

indepe n den t ide a s .
Spe a king colle c t ively t he Neg r o is known to b e

con s pi cuo u sly in ferior I n t his respe c t t o t he Ca uc a si a n ,
as a ll t he phy s i c a l evidence t hus a ddu c ed would indi
c at e This di fference is even mo r e m arked whe n

.
a pplied t o t h a t por t ion o f t he Ca uc a s i an division o f

m a nkind known a s t he Anglo S a xon o f which t his -
,
Ameri c a n n a tion is l a rgely composed In the Negro .
we h a ve shown the a n t erior lobe s o f t he br a in to be

ve ry de c idedly s m a lle r t h a n in the Ca u c a si a n Th e .
combin at ion o f a n a rrow an t erior s kull form at ion

wi t h a fl a t s lan t ing forehe a d serves t o produce sm a ll
,
a nd poin t e d fron ta l lobes ; while t hose o f the Ca u

c a s i a n a re b ro a d hi gh a nd rounded Thousands o f
, , .
recorded me a s u remen t s from widely diffe r ent sources

be a r u s out in t his s tat emen t .
W e would c a ll att en t ion in t his connec t ion t o t he

du a l o r multiple n a t u re o f t he evidence presen t ed t o
,
demonstr at e the men ta l in feriori t y o f the Negro r a ce .
W e h a ve shown in t he fi rs t pl a ce t h a t t he t o ta l b r a in
, ,
weigh t is one fifth less a nd in the second pl a ce t h a t

-
, , ,
— —
t he a n t erior po rt io n t he t hinking p a rt is by vir t ue ,
o f the egg sh a ped Negro skull much le s s devel oped

-
,
a nd t h at t he po st e rior p a r t is proportion at ely more

developed t h a n is t he c a se wi t h t he Ca u c asi a n
,
.
B u t we h a ve only begun to pre s en t t he evi den c e a t

o u r c omm a nd , t h a t s ta mp s the Negro a s hopelessly
in ferior t o his Ca uc a sic bro t her a s reg a rds his men ta l
,
equipmen t Un fortunately thi s eviden c e c a nno t a ll

.
be in t rodu c ed a nd s uch as is must be very decidedly

,
a bridged 1n o rder to a void i f possible t he ch a rge o f

, ,
p r olixi t y in a wo rk designed to mee t the requi reme n ts

TH E A M E R I C AN NE G RO P RO B L E M 75
popul ar r e a di n g
.
Howeve r the r e ar e ce r tain othe r esse n ti a l f acts

,
th a t c ann ot b e o m 1tte d eve n at the r is k o f t h is c r it

,
i c ism .
C HA PTE R V
E v i d e n c es o f M e n ta l I nf eri o ri ty— (C o n ti n ued )
E PEA TE D re feren c e h a s a lre a dy been

m a de to the o u t e r gr a y sur f a ce l a ye r o f the
br a in a nd its vi ta l r el at ion t o t he higher
men ta l att ribu t e s Le t us examine this
.
somewh at more in det a il .
The gre at a nterior m a s s o f the br a in that cen t ral ,
por t ion con s i s t ing o f ne rve fibres a nd bundl es o f

fibre s fo r t he t r a n s mission o f impressions to and from
,
t he surf a ce i s white while the c o r tic a l sur f a ce is de

, ,
c i de dly gr a y ; so the fo rm er which h a s to do o n ly

,
with t he convey a nce o f imp r e ss ions is r e a dily dis

t in g u is h ab le from the l a t t e r which receive s an d se t s
,
i n orde r thi s he t erogeneous m a ss o f n ervous impulses .
Wh at the a n at om is t t erms t he cor t ex the oute r ,
gr a y l a ye r i s con c lusively shown to b e the source o f

,
ori gin a l t hough t ; there fore i t is most correctly as

s umed th at men ta l c a p a city be a rs a direct r elation to
the development o f t his layer .
For the a c commod a tion o f this l a ye r natu r e h a s

made speci a l p rovisio n I n orde r to c onfine an ex
.
tensive sur fa c e l a yer within the limite d c a vity o f t he

s kull t he b ra in is folded upon itsel f the su r face b e
,
ing t hus m a rked by numerous elevations and de p res

s ions the former being known as c onvolu t io n s a nd the
,
l a tter a s fi s sures A s will b e see n at o n ce this fold

.
ing serves to in c re a s e t he ex t ent o f s ur f a c e without

a c tu a lly incre a sing the s i ze o f the org a n Thus the .
number o f c onvolutions a nd the depth o f the fis

sure s b e ar a v ery impo rta nt r elatio n t o i n tellectual
7 6
capacity T h e co m p l exity of this p ro visio n o f n a

.
ture i n c r e ase s th r oughout the scale o f m amm a l i a n

a sce n t an d atta in s i ts m aximum in the m ost h ighly
,
civili zed races o f M a n I n co nf o rm ity t o t h i s state .
m e n t o f f a ct it has b ee n a b u n dantly show n by 1n ves

,
~
t i g ati o n that these fi ssures a r e deepe r in the Cau

cas i an b r a i n tha n I n the Neg r o br a i n i f i n dee d they , ,
a r e n ot actually m o r e n ume r ous .
I n o r de r to still f u r the r i n c r e a se the total a m ou n t

o f thi s gr a y su r f a ce m a tte r—which i n c r ease is cause d
o n ly b y lon g co n ti n ue d r a ci al u se— n atu r e has m ade
this l a yer thi c k e r th r oughout i n the C auca s i a n t h a n
i n the N e g r o
I f w e did n ot possess t h e evi de n ce o f g r e ate r exte n t
a n d g r e ate r thi ck n ess o f t h e Ca ucasi c b ra i n co r tex
which is abu n da n tly shown b y va r i ous autho r s (see ,
“
a r ticle in New Inte r n atio na l E ncyclope dia o n Ne r
vous System amo n g othe r s ) — the m o r e easily ve r i
”
,
fiab le t ruth th a t the total m a ss o f b ra i n su b sta n ce

i s o n e fif th g r e ate r i n the white m an a n d that a ve ry
-
,
much g r eate r disc r epan cy exists as r e ga r ds the t h i nk

in g forep ar t would rema i n a s ample p r oo f that the
,
N egro i s m e n tally far behi n d the white m a n We .
have neve r see n a di r ect stateme n t o n the p oi n t b ut ,
b a sin g ou r estim a te o n v ar i ous f a cts a n d fig u r es we ,
shoul d n ot b e a t all su r p r ise d i f the a n te r i o r lo b es

o f a thous an d Neg r o b ra i n s could b e wei ghed a gai n st
the s a me n um b e r a n d sam e pa rts o f Cau casia n b r a i n s ,
i f the latte r we re f ou n d to b e ve r y n ea r ly twice as

* i t ti
Th e c f th
a i ti
on d f o i m th d f b
au or es an o v ar o u s e o s o o s e rv
i g th
n f t w ld
e se ac s il y mb
ou t hi w k d b
u n n e c e s s ar en cu er s or an o
th
s c a re b j t f th h p t W
e o ec o d i g t g i th
e c a er . e are en eav o r n o ve e
ti l t
e s s en a th l y Thi i t i t d d t b p y h l g i l
ru s on . s s no n en e o e a s c o o ca
ti x pt i i di tl y g Ng “
tre a s e, e f ce n mso t th ar as s r ec er an e o e e ro
P bl m
”
ro e
Wh th i y d b t t th y fmt
.
en ere s t fi
an ou as o e s c 1e n 1 c ac cu rac o a
t d i t will b g i
er u s e , l y an h yp th i
e v en o n as o es s .
78 TH E U LT I M AT E SOL U T I ON O F
mas s ive a s t he forme r .
Anothe r e s sen t i a l i t em in intellectu a l acume n i s

cell a c t ivi t y Th e b r a in co r t ex i s m a de up o f minu t e
.
mi croscopi c b odi es c a ll e d cells ; the e ffi ci ency o f

whi ch i s p a r t ly a m att e r o f i n h e ri te d q uali ty a n d ,
p a r t ly a r esul t o f e arly tra i ni ng Th e facility wi th

.
which the s e cell s b ecome a s s o c i a ted the one wi t h ,
ano t he r the p ai r with a thi rd a nd s o o n i s a n i t em

, ,
o f in t ellec t u a l a bili t y Thi s f a cul t y con s titutes wh a t

.
i s call ed a l e rtne s s o r b righ t ness o f mind a s di sti n

g u i s h e d from j udgment a nd a ccu r a cy o f thought .
H a bit o f cell a ssoci a ti on i s notice a bly diffe rent in in

-
d i v i du als a nd i s c ommonly c a lled t h e p aths o f

t hough t
Let us ill u s t r a te t hi s cell a s s oci at ion a nd wh a t i s
-
b eli eved t o occu r i n b r a in functi o n ing by the us e o f

-
th e ch e s s b o a rd
-
.
To thos e at a ll f a mili a r with t hi s f a sci n a ting gam e

i t i s sc a rcely ne ce s s a ry to s tat e t h at the numb e r o f
uni t s employed a s well as t he sp a ce s th ey m a y occupy
a re both limi t ed but t he p o ssibl e c ombinati o n s and
,
a s so c i ati ons t hey m a y fo rm a re i ncalcul abl e Thi s .
illus t r at i on m a y f a cilit at e ou r concep t io n o f th e

po ssibili t i es o f b r a in c ell a s s o c i a t i on
-
The r e a r e
.
only six t ee n p i e c e s us ed on e a c h s i de in a chess g a m e ,
and but six t y fou r pl ace s th a t th e m e n m a y occupy ;

-
wh e re a s i n th e c a s e o f cell a ssoci a ti on in the co rtex

-
o f th e b r a in th e i m puls es o r imp re s s i ons received a r e

inc a lc u l a bl e a s a re als o th e n u mb e r o f microscopi c
,
cell s th at m a y fo rm c ombin at i ons o r a s s oci a ti o n s .
Thi s would s e e m to extend t he p owe r o f cell a s s o -
c i at i o n to infini t y but exp e ri ence t e a ches t h at thi s i s

,
n ot lite ra lly tru e ; f o r th e whi t e m a n i s s hown by b oth

a b st rac t a nd m at e ri a l evi den c e t o b e v a s t ly sup e ri o r
to the Neg r o i n t h is r e s pe c t The a c t ivity o r al e r t
.
,
n ess,
o f cell asso c i ati o n i s u n doub tedly a m att e r of
-
i n h e r it a n ce to a ve r y g r e a t extent ; b ut w e co n ce ive
th a t it i s cap abl e o f a ce r tai n am ou n t o f imp rove
m e n t b y i n telli ge n t e a r ly t rai n i n g O n th e oth e r
.
h a n d w e sh ould n o t l os e si ght o f th e fa ct i n thi s ,
c o mp a r i s on o f r a ce s th at it i s n ot p o ssibl e to im
,
p r ove th at whi ch th e i n divi du al h a s n ot i n h e rited ,
a n d th e r e fo r e n eve r p o s s es s ed
, .
H e r e p e r h ap s m o r e e ss enti ally t h a n el s ewh e r e

com es i n th at e rs t whil e myste ri ous fa cto r o f qu al i ty .
Wh eth e r w e ch ance to b e pl e a s e d o r p e rtu rb e d by

th e ete rn al dec r e e n on e ca n deny th at th r ough out
,
n atu r e th e re exi sts a n u n expl ai n ed di ffe r e n ce i n th e

o r ga n i c q u a l ity o f livi n g m atte r Fo r i n sta n ce m a n
.
,
h a s s o f a r devi s ed n o m ea n s by whi ch h e c an detect

a n e ss e n ti al di ffe r e n ce i n th e egg o r ovum o f ce r tai n
, ,
m amm ali a n pl a ce n tal s ; o r we m a y ta k e a s a n illus

t rat i o n th e f a ta l li fe o f these h i ghe r a n im a l s Up to
.
the fi fth o r sixt h wee k o f this li f e n o i n ge n uity o f

m a n h a s b e e n a bl e to d i sti n gu i sh th e hu m a n f r om th e
do g o r p ig ; yet th e te st o f a few m o r e w e eks w ill
sh ow t h a t th e r e i n h e r es a ce r ta i n qu a l ity o r fit n es s
,
— th at m yste r i ous el em ent o f ki n d o r deg r ee Th e .
evide n ce i n qu ali ty b etwe e n th e b r ai n cells o f th e

hi gh e st and lowe st o f hum a n r a ce s i s as p o sitive and
r e al i f n ot q u i te s o g r e at a s that conta i n e d i n th e
, ,
illust r ati o n.
Th e n the r e i s a no th e r f acto r n o l es s s ig n i fi ca n t
a n d i n de e d ve r y cl o s ely alli e d t o th e o ne j u st co n
s i d e re d. We r e f e r to th e qu ali ty a n d qu a n tity o f
bl o o d supp l y w hi ch th e b r a in r eceive s B oth com
-
.
m o n s e n s e an d e sta b li sh e d l aws o f physi cs te a ch u s

th at eve r y eff e ct m ust h av e it s a ntece de n t caus e ;
tha t th e r e can b e no p r o d u ct i o n with out a co rr e
s p o n din g supply an d co n sumpti o n . To s ay th at
s o m ethi n g h a s b e e n p r o duce d impli e s th at its e qu iv a
l e n t h a s b e e n c on su m e d Th e a n al o gy i s th at a
.
, ,
give n a mou n t o f thought p r oduced by th e b r a in p r e
s upp oses an eq u iv a l ent a mo u n t o f fo rce suppli ed .
Th e bl o od i s the so u rce o f thi s s upply N o t only i s .
the bloo d t he s ou rce o f supply o f ene rgy p ro ducing -
sub s ta nces to th e b rai n bu t a lso its o n ly sou r ce o f

,
elimina t i on o f waste p rodu ct s .
Th e re fo re i t is enti r ely po s sibl e fo r a b r a i n to

p oss es s a ll t he e s s en t i a l qu a li t i es o f fi t ness a nd yet b e
t ot a lly o r l a rgely inc a p a ci tat ed by ei t he r a n i n su f
, ,
—
fic i e n t supply o r sluggi s h fl ow— o f bloo d t h ro u gh
th at o rgan o r by re a son o f a p oo r qu a li t y o f blo o d
—
,
th a t i s blood l a cki ng i n tho s e el em en t s that s upply

,
e n e rgy to the b r a in .
Th e m os t exp e rt engine e r m a y b e pl a ced in cha rge

o f a n excellen t locomo t ive bu t wi t ho u t fu el i t c a nnot
,
b e m a de to tu rn a whe el ; wi t h a n in a dequ a te supply

i t wi ll ru n only feebly o r s l owly a nd even wi t h a n
, ,
a bu n da nt supply o f i n fe ri o r fu el t h e m a chine c an not

b e m a de to do th e tot a l a mount o f wo rk o f whi ch it
i s othe rwis e c a p a bl e But i f we c a n supply a n a bu n
.
da n ce o f fuel r i ch i n such el emen t s a s a re con s um e d

,
in combus t i on we get the gre a test amoun t o f wo r k

,
o f which th e engine is c a p a bl e .
Just so i t is with t he human br a i n ; i f its fuel ,
cont a ined in the blood s u pply is in su fii cien t i n qu a nti

-
,
t y o r o f an in fe rior qu a li t y we do not get the full c a

, ,
p ac i t y o f mental activi t y o f which the machine is

cap a ble .
Th e only essenti a l di ff e r ence be t ween the e n gine

and the brain in t his illust ra tion is t h a t t he engine
is s o con s t ruc t ed t h at i t s supply o f fuel a nd i t s power
t o elimi nat e i t s w a ste produ ct s a re separ a te a nd dis
ti n ct ; where a s the b r a in is dependen t up on the blood ,
n o t alone fo r i t s food supply but for its elimin a tion

-
,
o f was t e products as well .
I n the comp a rison o f the Neg r o with the white

m a n t h e r e I S goo d evi de n ce that the supp l y o f b lood

to the b ra i n 18 b oth g r e a ter in qua n tity a n d riche r 1n
quality I n the case o f the C a ucas ian The b r ai n 18 .
k n own to consume m a tte r a n d to utili ze f o r ce in the

p roductio n o f thought I t follows t here fo r e that an
.
,
ab undant supply o f bloo d free f r om impu r itie s a n d ,
laden with ene rgy producin g constitue n ts i s r equisite

-
,
fo r the b est w or k o f a g i ven b r a i n Although we .
have l ittle concre te evide n ce to a dduce in this con n ec

ti o n a n alo gy o r a bs t ra ct r e a so n in g shows co n clu
, , ,
s iv e ly th at there 13 a m ate r i a l di ffe re n ce Ce r tai n ly .
the r e 13 a di ff eren ce 1n quality an d prob a bly a lso i n

,
qu an tity o f b lood supplie d to the b r a i n

, .
Si gni fi cant in dee d is the f a ct that the hi ghe r we

a scend the scale o f a n im a l li fe the close r b ecomes the
chemi cal an d m icroscopi c an alysis o f the blo od Fo r .
inst a nce the com pos iti o n o f the bloo d o f the l owe r
,
v a rieties o f monkeys i s mo re n e a rly like that o f M a n

th an th a t o f m a r sup ials (ka nga roo opossum , ,
The n when we come to an alyze the b loo d o f the

hi gher a pes (c h im p an z ie a n d go r ill a ) it is fou n d to
be so sim ila r to t h a t o f M an th a t the wo n de r is they
will n ot cross b re ed -
Even the blood cells (co r
.
-
u s cle s ) o f a dog o r pi g b e a r such C lose r elati o n shi

p p ,
in si ze sh ap e a n d n umb e r to thos e o f Ma n that i t i s

, , ,
a n ice quest i on fo r the m i c r os c opist to distin guish th e

blo od o f th e one f r om th a t o f the othe r B ut 1n spite
,
.
o f th is extrem e closeness espe c i ally o f the a n th ropoi d

,
a pes the f a ct t hat they w ill n ot cross br eed 1s ev i

,
-
den ce o f a ve ry essenti al diffe re n ce I n view o f al l.
this we hold th at— in spite o f the eve r yday demo n

s t rat i o n t h at the Ne gro a nd the wh ite man will c r oss
—there must be a n e n o r m ous diffe r e n ce i n k i nd
/ o r qu ali t y o f blood p r o duci n g me n o f such m a rk e d
o re e d
physical an d mental dissim il a rity

—
.
This di ffe r e n ce 1n quality whi l e n ot su ffi cie n t t o

preven t a —
cro ss is a mple we thi n k to g r e a tly a ffect
, ,
t he ch a r a ct er or qu a li t y o f t hought or ide at io n .
By t he s a me pro c ess o f re a son s u ppor t ed by in

,
con t e s ta ble eviden c e in the form o f a c c omplishments ,
we con c lude t h at the vol u me o f blood su pply to t he -
br a i n i s gre at e r in th e Ca uc a s i an due t o be tt er ah
,
at omi c a l con s t r u ct ion o f t he vessel s a nd bette r n er

vo u s c on t rol— n at ur a l re s pon s es t o long con t inued ex -
e rc i se o f a f u nction In o t her word s we hold under

.
,
t he gener a l l a ws o f evolu t ion t h at in t he c a se o f t he

,
Ca u c a si an who h a s exer ci s ed his b r a in for t housa n ds

,
o f ye a r s in the higher fields o f re a son there m u st ,
h a ve been s ome corre s ponding improvemen t in the

c a pill a ry blood ve ss els a nd t hei r nervo u s supply c a us
-
,
ing a gre at er vol u me o f blood t o flow t hro u gh t he

br a in wi t h bet t er a n a stomo s is a nd o s mosis (filtr at ion
,
t hrough a poru s di a phr a gm or memb r a ne ) By this .
me a ns t he gr a y c ell s a re more a b u nd a ntly supplied

with oxygen a nd o t her elemen t s o f c omb u s tion which ,
t oge t he r s u pply it s energy Then too a gre a te r

.
, ,
c a p a ci t y i s at t he s a me t ime a fforded for t he elimin a
t ion of w a s t e p rod u c ts .
As M a n a s cended the s c a le o f me n t a l development

t he s u pply o f blood t o t he b r a in was incre a sed B ot h .
t he Negro a nd t he Ca u c a s i a n h a ve been s u bj e cted to

t hi s morphologi c a l con form i t y e a ch a c c ording to his
,
p a s t environmen t J u dging e a c h o f t he s e r a ces t hen

.
,
— —
by i ts p a s t hi s t ory a reli a ble c ri t erion w e c on clude
t h at the blood o f t he whi t e m a n is e i t he r more a bun
dan tly supplied wi t h elemen t s o f c omb u s t ion o r t h at
su c h elemen t s a re more a cc e ss ible as a re s ult o f a
more highly developed s y s t em o f a n a s t omo s i s a nd
o smo s i s or bo t h
, .
I t m a y be very c orre c tly in ferred from t he f o r e

going t h at we a l s o believe t h a t in c onsequen c e o f a
, ,
mo r e hi g hly organi zed n e r vous system th e Caucasia n ,

T HE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 83
i s m or e capa b le o f vo l u n ta ry excitatio n o f g r eate r

bl o o d supply to the br ai n f o r pu rp oses o f i de atio n ;
-
fo r we a re ve r y ce r ta i n that such is the case .
Physiology o f the huma n b o dy tells u s that du r

i n g me n tal a ctivity m o r e th a n o n e fif th o f the total -
amou n t o f b loo d flows th r ough the br a in .
The vasom oto r n e r vous system o f the white ma n

i s m o r e hi ghly develope d tha n tha t o f the b l a ck m a n .
I n co n se que n ce o f this a n d othe r fa cts p r ese n te d the

b ra i n o f the Eu r opea n o r A n glo Am e r ica n is able -
—upo n occasion o f n ee d— to dem and an d comm a nd

, ,
a greate r pro porti o na te fl ow o f b loo d to itsel f .
The re is still anothe r fa cto r to b e inclu d e d in th e

evi de n ce wh ich at o n ce suppor t s the a r gume n t a l r ea dy
,
m a de an d be a r s m a te r i ally upon f a cility and cle a r

n ess o f thought We r e fe r to r esp i r a tio n As eve ry
. .
o n e kn ows t he gre at est ene r gy p roduce r o f all th e

-
ele m e n ts co n sume d i n the b o dy is oxy g e n ; t h at no

com b ustio n o r lib eratio n o f e n e r gy ca n ta k e p l a ce
without i t This supply o f oxyge n i s de r ived almost
.
e n ti r ely from the lu n gs wh ere the m i n ute b lood c a

,
p i llar i es re ce ive it by o smos is This . excha n ge takes

place through a i r cells estim ate d to b e about s ix h u n
-
d r ed m illi o n in n umbe r Li k ewise the bloo d gives o ff

.
to th e a i r i n the lungs its waste p r oducts fr o m the m a

te ri als co n sume d i n t he b ody We ca nn ot e n te r i n t o
.
a detaile d de sc r ipti o n o f the a n atom ical st r uctu r es

here co n cer n ed o r the chem ist r y o f the exc h ange that
,
ta k es pla ce The stateme n t that the cha r a cte r of th e

.
b lo o d suppli ed to the br a i n is mo r e d epe n de n t upo n

the exchan ge th a t takes place i n the lu n gs tha n upo n
a n y othe r sin gle co n side r atio n must su fli ce , .
T h e co roll a r y i s th a t th e cap acity o f th e lu n gs

,
a n d th e deli ca cy o r thi n n e ss o f th ei r a i r cell s t o

,
-
,
gethe r with a n abu n d a n t supp l y a nd u n i f o rm d i s

t rib u ti o n o f cap i ll a r y bl o od ve ss e l s t o th e l att e r are
-
,
all factors o f p r im e imp o r tance Th at the Caucasi a n

.
i s sup e ri o r t o t he N egro in e a ch o f thes e eve ry ,
s ep a rate i t em o f evi dence whi c h we h a ve p r es en t ed ,
combines to a ttes t Th e Ca uc a sic lu n g cap a city i s

.
a mple r th a n t hat o f t he Neg r o a n d the facility with

which th e exch a nges a re m a de i s simpl e r owi n g t o ,
th e mo re delic at e s t ruc t u re o f t h e t i s sues involved .
Frederi ck L Hoffm a n chie f st at istici an o f the P r u

.
,
den t i a l Insu r a nce C omp an y o f Ame r i c a in a wo rk

,
“
en t i t led Race Tr a it s and Tendenci es o f th e Am e r i
,
”
can N egro p res ents ca re fully ta b u l a ted s t ati stics
,
showing c on clusively th at t h e lung c a p acity o f the

N egro r a c e i s m a te ri a lly less th an t h at o f t h e white
m a n H e a ls o holds — and offe rs t h e b est o f evi
.
—
dence t o p rove t ha t t he lung stru ct u r e o f th e white
m a n i s fa r l ess subj ect t o dis e a s es t h at imp a i r its
e ffi ci ency .
Th e fa ct th at th e N eg r o emits o ffensive o do r s by ,
m e ans o f th e s eb a ceous o r swe a t gl ands o f the skin ,
i s a tt ributed by high a utho ri t i es t o de fective o r ,
p o o r ly developed respi r a t o ry o rg a ns Thi s l ike all

.
,
t h e evi dence t hat h a s gon e b e fo re tends t o sho w a

,
di ffe r en ce i n degre e i f not in kind and must b e i m

,
p u t e d to t h e whi t e m an a s a n a ddi t i on a l qu alificati o n

fo r b ette r ce reb ra t i on . It i s common knowledge
among physi ologists t h a t th e p r ovi si ons o f n atu r e
fo r t he exch a nge o f oxygen fo r w a ste p ro ducts i n
th e lungs a re gre ate r in t he highe r th a n in th e l owe r
anim a ls o r ra ce s— the cell s b eing m o r e n ume r ous
,
and t hei r str u ctu re mo r e deli cate .
In vi ew o f th e eno rmous a ccum u lati o n o f di rect

a nd co r rob o rative evidence to the cont r a ry t h e cl aim ,
th a t t he line a l and ve ry ne ar des c e n d a nts o f th e

A fri can s av a ge trib es c an in on e o r even a hund r e d
,
gene rati ons o f tu t el a ge by C auca si a ns b e m ade

— —
,
equals o r a n ythi n g app r oachi n g e quals o f the lat

te r r a ce i s th e m o st absu r d M e n who m a k e such

, .
a s s e rti o n s do th em s elve s g r o s s i nj u sti ce ; fo r o n e o f

th r e e caus e s o r a co m b i n ati o n o f th em all c on sti
, ,
tu t e s th e o n ly hyp oth esi s up o n whi ch th ei r folly c a n

b e expl a i n e d : Th ey must ei t he r b e a dj udge d i g no r a n t
o f e st abli sh e d t r uths bl inde d wi th b i a s o r p r ej udi ce ;
,
o r fo r on e o r a n oth e r ulte r i o r m otiv e att empti n g t o ,
fo ste r a n d dis s em i n ate do ct r i n e s whi ch they kn o w to

b e fou n de d o n ly i n fall a cy Pe r h ap s it i s n o t s o b a d
.
to b e a fo ol a s a kn ave b ut s i n ce p r e s e n t d ay k no w l
,
-
e dge pl a ce s th em b oth i n th e commo n catego ry o f

n atu r al m i s fo rtu n e s the r e i s littl e to ch o o s e b et w e e n
th em .
Let u s th e n a n ti ci p ate a n d i f p o s s i b l e for esta ll , ,
th e cou n te r ch a r ge th a t w e ou r s elve s a r e guilty o f

-
th e sh o r t co m i n gs wi th wh i ch w e ch a r ge ou r adv e r
s a ri e s . Pe r s o n ally w e wou ld b e m o r e th a n d eli g hte d
i f i n p a st age s n atu r a l l aw o r e n vi r o n m e n t h a d s o
, ,
op e r ate d a s to h av e m a d e th e l o we st o f hum a n r ac e s
f ull e q u al s o f th e hi gh e s t w ith al l th e sup e r i o r m e n
,
tal an d physi ca l qu ali ti e s p o s s e ss e d b y th e l att e r ,
eve n includi n g th e elimi n ati o n o f th e ca rbon or p ig ,
m e n t i m b e dde d i n th e m alp i ghi a n mucous of th e

,
s k i n ; o r an d i n o the r wo r ds p o ss es s e d o f a wh i t e
, ,
i n ste a d o f a b l a c k s k i n But th is desi r e c an i n n o

.
wi s e alt e r th e fa cts n o r do es i t co nf o rm t o t h e w i ll
,
o f a m aj o r i ty o f o u r w hite f ell ow citi z e n s o f th e -
South — wh om we de a r ly l ove a n d i n m a n y r e sp e ct s ,
s ince rely a dmi r e Fo r th ey p o s s ess we t h i nk a l i tt l e

—
.
, ,
m o r e o f tha t insti n ctive r a ce p r ej u d i ce du e p o ssi bl y

-
—
to cl o s e r co n ta ct wh ich caus es m a n y o f th e m t o f ee l
th a t s eg r egati o n o r eve n exte rm i n ati o n w ou ld b e
, ,
b oth m o r e d esi ra b l e a n d m o r e a ccepta b l e th a n o u r

a s s e n t a n d co ns e n t to th e i mp os s ibl e u nd oi ng a nd
redoi n g o f n a tu r e i n ord e r th at th e N e gr o m i ght n o t
,
h av e b e e n c on sti tu te d t h e low e st o f t h e r ac es o f man

86 THE ULTI MATE S OLUTION O F
kind .
Th e m ode r n sci ence o f ethnology divi des th e h u

m a n sp eci es into fou r p rim a ry group s o r va ri eti e s , ,
a nd cl a s sifi es t h em f r om t he highest to t h e lowes t i n

th e following o rde r C auc a s i a n (p ri n cip a lly Eu r o
.
p e an and Am e r i c a n ) M o n gol (Asi ati c ) ; Ame r i n ds

—
,
(i ndigeno s A m e ri can races commonly c a lle d I n

u
di a ns ) ; a nd N egro es (A fri c a n o r Ethi opi an ) .
W e a re aw a re o f no ethnologist o r a nthrop ol ogi st ,
a nd do no t b eli eve on e wo r t hy o f t h e na m e coul d b e

fo u nd wh o would no t a s s ent to t h e co rrec t ness o f
,
t his cl a s s ifi c at i on which pl a ces th e N eg r o a t th e

,
b o t tom a n d t he whi t e m a n a t th e t op .
C ould a ny t hinking m a n with t he f a cts be f o r e hi m

a rrive a t a ny o t her conclu s ion $ I f out o f such po r
t ions o f t he corrobor a tive evidence a s is contai n ed
elsewhere i n these pages we select only that which
assures us th at i n his n a t ive e n vi r o n me n t un re —
str a ined a nd u n in fl u en ce d by con t act with hi ghe r races
—h e h a s m a de no upw a rd progress from his s a vage
condi t ion his a ssigned positio n as t he lowest o f all
, ,
r a ce s would fo rever remain un a ssail a ble Such n a

, .
tive A fric a n tribes a re to d a y pa g a n cannibals o f te n

-
f a tte n ing thei r captives be fore eating ; j ust as we

f a tten hogs for the s a me purpose I f a wi fe o r co n
.
cub ine is not s a tis f a c t ory or fo r a ny cap r ice the man

,
desi res to s u b s t i t u te a no t her sh e is f a ttened an d e aten

, .
“
In his volume o f ess a ys entitle d M an s Pl a ce in ’
”
N a ture (which work 13 i n complete h ar mony with
wh a t we h a ve to s ay o n the s a me subj ect ) the l a te
Pro fessor Thom a s Henry Huxley the gre a t English ,
phy s iologi s t a nd n at uralist t ells us th a t hi s torical r ec

,
ords show t he A f r ic an Negro tribes to h a ve bee n the

s ame forty centuries ago an d gives it as establishe d
,
tru t h t h at wi t h the exception o f such slight cha n ges

a s i n conceivable lapses o f time wil l w o rk in the m ost
THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO BLE M 87
1n ac t iv e , the r e h as b ee n n o evi d e n ce o f p r o g r ess or

m e n tal activiti es duri n g the i n calcula b le m ille nn ium s
s i n ce the sli ght di ffe r e n tiatio n f rom the ea r liest type
“
o f p r im itive M a n No r do th e Ne g r o es eve r see m
.
to ha ve t r avelle d b eyo n d the lim its o f thei r p r ese n t

”
a rea s ays Huxley
, .
I t is i n te r esti n g als o to n ote that Th om as J e ff er

so n , i n spea k i n g o f the evi de n ce o f i n fe r io r ity o f the
Ne g r o r ace an d a f te r r el a ti n g w ith his cha r acte r isti c
,
pe r spi cuity the i r n o t o r ious l a c k o f m e n tality states ,
that it would b e un f a i r to f oll ow them to A fr i ca f o r

this i n vesti gatio n Obviously this last exp r ess io n was
.
a me re fi gure o f spee ch W h at h e m ea n t w as that th e

.
evi de n ce o f i n feriority w a s s o com ple t e and co n vi n ci ng

on eve r y ha n d a n d u n de r hi s da ily o b se rv atio n that
, ,
it was tot a lly u n ne cess a ry to go fu r the r B ut as w e .
a re t r e ati n g the su b j e ct m ore exh a ustively we have

ta k e n p ain s to p rese n t a certa i n amou n t o f this A fr i
ca n evi de n ce We conside r i t esse n tial to a comp r e
.
h e n s iv e unde r sta n din g o f ou r A m e r i ca n questio n I t .
i s n eve r u nf a ir to k now t h e whole truth a n d i n d ea l ,
ing with the evolutio n o f a r ace we ca n unde r sta nd

it b est b y kn owi n g how a n d u n de r what ci r cum
,
sta n ces n atu r e h a s p r oduce d it

,
.
At the conclus io n o f his discou r se o n the Ne g r o ,
Je ffe r s on p r oceeds to r elate the f a ct tha t the I n dia n ,
— —
o r Am eri n d as we now call h im although u n as
s o c i at e d w ith a supe r io r r a ce develope d a ve r y co n
,
s i de rab le de gree o f a rt in e n g r avin g a n d ca r vi ng ,
w h ich he (J e ffe r son ) very co r rectly we thi nk co m

, ,
putes to him a s evi dence o f supe r i o r in tell1g en ce He .
co n c ludes that the In di an is po ssesse d o f f a r m o r e

ori gin a lity th a n the N e gro .
Howeve r th e r e rem a i n s to be m e n tio n e d t h e f act

,
o f more o r less co n ta ct a n d a dm ixtu r e o f Ha m iti c a nd

Se m itic blood w it h ce r ta i n of t h es e A fr ica n N egro
t ribes . This h a s gone on for a numbe r o f ce n tu r ies ,
but when we con s ide r t he fur t her f a ct s th a t Af r i c a

is es t im at ed t o c on ta in a Negro popul at ion o f mo r e
t h a n one hundred million a nd t h at un t il very re c en t ly
,
t he grea t e r p a rt o f th at contine nt was a v a st a nd p ra e

tic a lly u n known wilderness to a ll othe r people s l a den ,
on every h a nd wi t h de at h to the denizen and o ff e r ing ,
few at trac t i on s to t he whi t e m a n we c a n r e a dily u m ,
de rs tan d t h at t his influence h a s n e cess a rily been n e g

ligible Then t oo a prepo n de ra nce o f a given blood
.
, ,
c a u ses a c ons ta n t rever s ion t o that type in all a nimal s
a nd pl a nts For t he s e re a sons such a dmix t ure has no t

.
produ c ed any r a dic a l c h a nge in t hese Afric a n ab

ori gines C ont a c t wi t h t he whi t e man so f a r as it
.
,
h as ta ken pl a ce h a s done m ore fo r t he upli f t o f t he

,
Negro t h an h a s a ct u a l a dmixture o f blood And this .
i s as t rue in Ame ri ca as it is i n A f r i ca As show n i n .
a pre cedi n g chapter unde r such influences a nd i n cer

, ,
tain loc a li t ies in Afric a m a ny Negro t r ibe s have b e

,
come cattle r a isers a nd agri cultu r ists j ust a s they have ,
in Americ a Thus some o f the tribes might mo r e

.
p r operly be c a lled b a rb aria n s th a n sav a ges a nd ,
some— under t he direc t in flue n ce o f the white m a n

mus t be acco r de d t he r a nk o f civilians .
M en ta l f a culties whe t he r acute o r dull are the re

, ,
su lts o f c a uses a c t ing unde r the evolu t ion a ry law o f

,
g r owth an d developmen t Ca use a n d consequence

.
a ccurately a ccount fo r everything hum an thought in ,

—
cluded All we now l a ck a n d c an n eve r fully pos
sess— is a complete knowledge o f an tecede nt s in o r
.
de r to fo r e t ell t he exact result in eve r y given case .
There fore and while ou r in fo rm a tion o n t hese sub

,
j e c t s is far from complete we a re a ble t o prove b e

,
d es ti o n th at it h a s so h appened th a t the n at
y o n q u
ural l a w o f c a us a tion h a s ope ra ted 1n the p a st under

such co n di ti o ns a n d I n such a manner as to p ro duce
, ,
i n the Caucasia n a or t h oug h t m ac h i n e de

b rai n , ,
m s t b ly s p i
on ra u to that o f the N eg r o
er o r .
This i s a vast t r uth o f n atu r e the si g n i fi ca n ce o f

which a ffo r ds the p ivotal po int o f the a r gume n t co n
t ain d in thi s w r iti n g
e -
.All else is su b o r di n ate to t h is
m ome n tous ce n t r al t r uth It i s at o n ce the i n spi r a
.
tio n o f the u n de r ta k i n g ; t h e j usti fi catio n of al l t h at

has gone b e f o r e ; a n d th e b asi s o f a ll su b se q ue n t
co n clusio ns .
The i m m o r tal C h a rl es D a rw i n taug h t us t h at

unde r the exi ge n cies o f this u n ive r sal p r i n cip l e th e
fittest only ca n pe rm a n e n tly su r vive ; an d thus a g r eat
fl oo d o f li ght is let i n upon ou r Am e r i ca n Ne gro
q ues t ion the ultim ate solutio n o f whi ch shou l d n o w
b e ma n i f est to a l l .
CHAPTE R VI
B eg i n ni ng s o f N e g r o Slav e ry i n A m e r i c a
HEN sl aving ship s s ail ed f r om hom e

p or t s fo r the W est Af r i ca n co ast th e y
p rovi ded an el a b o r ate supply o f such
a rticl es a s we re kn own to lu re th e n a
t iv e s
. Amo n g th es e m a y b e m e n ti o n ed a lc o holi c
,
dri nks fl a s hy a rt i cles o f che ap clothing a n d deco r a

,
t i ons va ri ou s a rti cle s o f fo od a nd eve n gold coin

, ,
.
Thes e wa res we r e u t ili zed a cco rding t o ci r cu m

s t an ces ; s om etimes t hey we r e di st r ibute d di r ectly
and indisc r imi na tely a m ong the na tives fo r the pu r
p os e o f cre ating th e 1mp re s si o n that the white V i si
t o r s we re fri e n ds ; aga 1n th ey we r e b es t owed up o n
ce r tain wi cke d a n d uns c r upul ous b a rb a ri a n s to i n ,
duce them to delive r i nto th e h a nds o f t h e do n o rs ,
c a ptives o f thei r ow n ra ce This e nt eri n g i nto in

.
t ri g u e s with n a t ive chi e fs a n d oth e rs was one o f th e

s a fest an d m ost fruit ful m ethods o f s e c u ring ca r
go es A few doll a r s worth o f such a rti cl es a s
.
’
chance d to pl e a s e thes e chi e fs o r o t he r native s

, ,
would o f t en b ring to a ship a s m a ny s a va ge s as he r

decks woul d a ccommo date Some t im es th es e sl a ve r s
.
w ould fo r m thei r own m a r a uding p a rt ies and do

th ei r ow n r ai ding i n t he co ast count r y ; but thi s w a s
f a r mo re p e rilous and cons equen t ly l ess common .
M any s a vages hel d sl a ves o f t hei r own and thes e ,
th ey we re eve r re ady t o t ra de and b a rte r away fo r

such a rticles a s th e whi t e m an h a d to o ff e r Still an .
othe r p r acti ce w a s to s e n d agents with trusted chi e fs

90
THE A M E RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 9 1
in to th e cou n t r y to n egoti ate di r ectly with th e na

t iv e s , a nd to p ro cu r e captive s by such m e a n s as w e re
found to b e m os t succes s ful .
It will b e s e e n th at all o f th e s e m etho ds l e d to th e

t ak i n g an d i mp o rt ati o n o f th e l owest a n d m os t h elp
'
les s o f th es e s ava ge s I n thi s w ay th e N egro e s im

.
p o rted i nto th e Am e ri ca n col o n i e s a nd l a te r into th e

,
Uni te d St a te s we r e alm ost i nv a ri a b ly t ak e n fr om

,
t h e low e r st r at a o f th e s e s ava ge trib es O cca s i o n al .
ly a c h i e f w a s ca ptu r e d a n d del iv e r e d into th e h a n ds

o f a t r a de r b y hi s out ra ged n ei ghb o r s but thi s w a s a,
ra re excep ti o n Thu s i t i s shown th a t th e sto ck f rom

.
whi ch ou r Am e ri ca n N e gro ra ce w as o rigi n ally

d r a wn w a s n o t o n ly th e l owest o f th e fou r gra n d
divi si ons but w a s sp r ung fro m the l owe r elem e n ts
,
o f thi s divi si o n .
I n a ll h i sto ri c tim e s sl ave ry i n o n e f o r m o r ah

,
o th e r h a s p r oven a con stant imp e dim e n t to hum a n

,
p ro gre s s a nd a cu r s e ali k e to b oth s e rv a n t a nd m as

,
t er. At th e t i m e o f t h e di scove ry o f Am e ri ca i t w a s
p ra cti ce d and counten anced b y n e a rly eve ry n ati o n
o f Eu ro p e i ncludi n g ou r Engli sh ances t o rs
, .
W hil e N egro sl a ve t ra de w a s a l ong establi sh ed

-
A f ri can trib a l custom f o rei gn t r a ffi c i n N eg ro

,
s l ave s date s from th e ye a r 1 4 4 2 In th at ye a r Pri n ce

.
H e nr y o f Po rtu g a l received s l a ve s from this s ou r ce .
Th e Eu rop e an sl a v e t r a de comm ence d two ye a rs

-
l a t e r from t h e we st co a st o f A frica Fo r h al f a c e n
.
tu ry Po rtu g a l m onop oli z ed th e t ra de which fi n ally ,
extende d t o th e Sp ani sh p o ss es si o n s i n Am e r i ca .
Sp a i n ente re d th e tra de i n 1 5 1 7 th e Engli sh (unde r

,
Joh n H a w k i ns ) i n 1 5 5 3 a n d France i n 1 6 2 4 ; th ey
,
we r e s o on f ol l owe d b y D enm a r k and Holl a n d a n d

fi n a lly b y th e Am e r i ca n col o n i es th em s elves We st .
Eu r op e an cou n t r i e s a nd t h e Sp a n i s h We st I n di e s
fu rn ished a m a r ket fo r a tim e but th e C o n ti n e n tal

,
Ame ric a n coloni e s l a te r b ecam e t h e chi e f outlet fo r

th e ne f a ri ous tr a de Engl and finally t o ok th e l e ad
.
in t his comme rce gr a nting from th e t im e o f Eli z a

,
b eth t o 1 6 7 0 five s ep a r a te p atents fo r its monopoly

to f a vo red me rch ant s a nd comp ani es .B etwee n
17 12 a nd 1 7 4 9 th e supply to the Sp ani sh coloni es
was gr a nted by Sp a i n to th e English South Sea C om
p a n y Gr a dually thi s comm e r c e i n hum a n b ei n gs
.
w as ex t e nded to the C o nt i ne nta l No r t h Am e rican

col oni e s in const a n t ly incre a sing p ropo rti ons O f .
the t ot a l numb e r o f s l aves imp o rt ed to Am e ri ca (th e

Wes t Indi es incl u ded ) p revi ous to the Am e ri c a n
Revoluti on B ri t ish subj e c t s ca rri ed mo re t h an hal f
,
empl oying in one ye a r one hund red a n d ni n e ty

-
two ship s c a r ry ing fou r hu n dred a nd s even thous and

captives By t hi s tim e th e comp etiti on fo r the rich
.
sp oil s o f the t ra ffi c h a d b ecom e g r e atly dive r sifi ed ,
a nd in a ddi t i on t o th e p rin ci p a l m ar itim e p owe rs o f

Eu rop e t he No r t h Am e ri c an coloni es thems elve s
,
enga ged ac t ively i n th e sh a me ful bus i n ess . Th e

p rincip al Am e ric an p a rti cip a nts we re th e mo r e p r o
re s s iv e s ettl e r s o f th e N o rth — esp eci ally B oston
g
i ans .
Th e p r a cti ce o f captu r e and b a rte r in hum an

b eing s should no t b e to o s eve rely condemned ; i t mu s t
b e rem emb e red t h a t hum a n thought and acti on a re
l a rgely moulded by th e p r a cti ce s and customs o f the
time s a nd th a t we po o r mo r ta ls a r e n ot as f r e e i n
,
o u r conduc t a s ou r egoti stical n atu res i n c line us to

—
b eli eve Th e gre a t m a s s o f humanity even i n ou r
.
—
highest civil i z at i ons i s wonde r fully i nflu enced and ,
i t s ac t i on s l a r gely controll ed by establi shed customs

,
and p r a ctices o f the tim es .
W he n we remem b er that M a n i s the o n ly a n imal

that n atu re h as so elevate d a s to e nd ow wit h eve n a n

imp er fe ct sense o f j ustice and me r cy w e should no
,
lo n ger m ar vel a t the a tro ci t ies o f past ge n e r atio n s.
Co n ve rsely we should b e tha n kful that we n ow h ave

a cle a re r pe r ceptio n o f thin gs a mo r e accurate se n s e
,
o f j usti ce ; a ll o f wh ich c arr i es with it an i n c r ease d

b u r de n o f responsibil ity an d a gre a ter obli gatio n to
ou r f ellow beings We should b e com fo r te d conce rn
-
.
ing our m isdeeds o f the pa s t by the f act th at we

—
A m e ri cans a l ong wi th m o st o th e r highly civili zed
pe oples — h ave a ttained to a mo r a l pla n e whi ch n o
longe r tole rates slave ry in a n y form howeve r g r eat
,
ly we m a y be t em pte d b y cupi dity a n d the lo n gin gs

,
o f the soul fo r ple a sur a ble le isu r e a t th e expe n se o f

othe r s Those f r eest i n the u se o f viole n t te r ms o f
.
exp r ess ion in oppositio n to sl a ve ry a r e the immedi ate

des ce n d an ts o f th e very people m ost a ctive i n the cap
ture an d impo r t a ti o n o f Ne groes to this count r y .
Th ey b u r den e d th e Sou t h with t h e fri ght ful scou rge

for pe cun i a ry ga i n a nd l ate r dem a nde d r eli n quish
m ent o f th e p rop e rty thu s conveyed fo r gol d H ow .
eve r we do n ot bl a m e the o n e side mo re t ha n the oth

“ ”
e r we all fell into the Slou gh o f Despond to
,
gethe r but the South b ein g the weake r came out

, , ,
na ke d s a ve f or i ts yoke o f pe r petu a l pensio n s to the

vi ctors— t he No rth h a ving rel ieve d it o f its clothing
a n d its burden o f gold an d substituted f o r them the
pensi on p a r a s ite as a n anti dote to a reversio n to its
,
forme r c o r pule n cy B ut this is n ot the p r ope r place

.
to dis c uss this fe a ture o f the subj ect .
The e a rliest t ra nsport a ti on o f A fri c a n Ne g r oes

—
from the Old Wo rld to the New in a n y conside r a
ble n umbe rs — w a s th a t ca rried o n by the Spanish .
The s e sav a ges were ca ptu red on the west co ast o f

A fri c a a nd s old at great p r o fit to ea r ly white set
, ,
t le rs in the W es t Indies Then c a me the Dutch wh o
.
,
fir s t s ent the ir hum a n l a den ships to the W est I n

die s a nd l at e r eng a ged in t he tr a de with the B ritish
a nd Fren ch coloni s t s o f Nor t h Ameri c a .
The ci r cum s ta n c e s o f the s endin g o f the fi r st c ar go

o f Negroe s t o t h at p a r t o f Ameri ca which w a s l ate r ,
to b e c om e t he Un ited S tat es a re both inte r esti n g an d

,
in s t ru ct ive W e do no t know the ex a ct d a y but we

.
,
le a rn from ex ta n t record t h at it w a s on a hot d a y n e ar

t he end o f A u gu s t 1 6 1 9 t h a t t he fi rst Afric an Ne
, ,
gro e s we re l a nded a t J a me s t own on the J a m es r ive r

,
a nd wi t hin t he bo u nd a ry o f wh at w a s late r to form

t he pre s ent s tat e o f Virgini a W e i n fer f r om state
.
men t s c on ta ine d in v a rious ex ta nt docume n ts that it

w a s in t he he at o f t he d a y— prob a bly betwee n twelve
a nd two o clo ck— t h at t he c ry went up from some o f
’
t he men o f t he li tt le c a mp known as J a mestown who “

,
h a pp en ed t o b e at wo rk in fu ll vi ew o f t h e r ive r A ,
ship $ a s hip $t h a nk Go d a ship i s coming in with the

”
t ide I I t is h a rd t o im a gine the excitement a nd th r ill
ing emo t i on s whi c h t hi s li tt l e h a ndf u l o f h a l f st ar ved -
se tt ler s experien c ed at t he so u n d o f such wo rds a s

,
t he s e W hen long a go t hey s t ood g a z ing a t a de

.
p a r t ing s hip m a ny o f t hem prob a bly wondered i f ever

a g a in a simil a r sigh t would fill t hei r so u l s with j oy .
A t t he fi r s t a nno u n cemen t o f a n a ppro a c hin g ship a ll

eye s were fixed u pon her a nd m a ny a silent p ra ye r
,
w a s o ffered u p in t h a nk s giving To t hi s mere hand

.
f u l o f forlo rn Engli s h s pe a kin g people t here w as only

-
“
one c ry more s ta r t ling whi c h w a s The hos t ile I n
, ,
”
di a n s a re u pon u s $ Bu t as ye t they knew not t he
fl a g u nde r which t he ves s el s a iled Sp a in a t this time
.
c l a imed a ll No r t h Ame ri c a a nd t he settle rs knew th a t
s h e w as t hre at ening t o l a y w a s t e t he helples s little
b a n d o f B ri t i s h s u bj e cts So the emotion o f the s e t

.
THE A M E RI C A N NE G RO PRO B LE M 95
tle rs a comb i n atio n o f j oy a n d f ea r

w as .
*
The r e m ust h ave b ee n great r ej oici n g a m o n g the

l i ttle comp an y whe n the cu r ious little cra ft hove
n e a re r an d they we r e able to disti n guish the colo r s
,
o f th e D utch fl a g ; fo r the Dutch were fr ie n dly a n d ,
at t h at tim e th e leadi n g tr a ders o f the wo r ld .
T h e n to o th ey w th at h e r ca nn o n we r e n ot m a n
, , sa
n e d ; they we r e n ot eve n cast loose fo r cti fir The a on
m ovem ents a n d o ccup ati o n s o f th e m e n on h e r d e ck s

confi r m ed th e imp r e s si o n o th e rwi s e ga i n e d that
t r a de n o t w a r w th e r e al obj ect o f h e r vi sit Thus
, , as .
th e fe a r s o f t h e fi rst settl e r s a t J am estown we r e

sp e edily di sp ell e d a n d th ey f o rthwith e n te re d i n to ,
f r i endly n egoti a t i ons .
Whe n th e vessel ha d b ee n ma de fa st to t r ees — f o r

a s ye t there we re n o wha r f s— the C aptai n o ffe r ed f o r
s al e am o n g oth e r a rti cl e s o f m e rch an dis e twe n ty
, ,
bl a c k hum an b eings di r e ct from th e wild fo r e st l a nd s ,
*
I f we bco u d th ld h ft i t w ld h
av e o pp d
s e rv e e c ra ou av e a eare
q u e eri d d h w ld h n ee ,i mp s d e tou m ll t b av e re s s e us as oo s a o e
s eaw th y ' d t or h t f an th b d th f h w
oo s or ly or e re a , or s e as n ea r
ro u nd H . d p j t d hi g h i th i th f t
-
er en s ro ec eb w n e a r, e ro n , or o
w as ll d th f
ca e tl d the b k
“
o re c ast th p e,
p
”
an e ac , or s e rn , e
“
oo .
”
Th ese m w na y i g i fi t— hi p f th t ti m li t ll y
es e re v er s n c an s s o a e e ra
id
c ar r e tl t th f
a c as d d
e a th t th ehi d d
o re en -
an an o er a e n e r en -
.
$T h i ld
e re d g i i g th
s an o m f m f th N
re c o r v n e na es o so e o e e
g l d d b t th
ro e s an m e f th u l d th t f h e na m e o e v esse an a o er co
m d
,
an e r are
pp tl y l t f a J h R lf t h E g l h m
a ren os o re v e r . o n o e, e n is an
wh ft w d m i d th b b i P i
o a er ar s ar r eP h t w e ar a r an r n c es s , o ca o n as , as
a id t f J m t w t th ti m th D t h m
re s en o a es o b g ht
n a e e e
“
u c an
”
ro u
th Ng
e p ti
e ro d it i f m h
ca d y t h t w g t th f l
v es, an s ro 1s i ar a e e e o
l wi g A d t h m
o n :
“
f w th t
u c ld tw ty N g
an o arre a so us en e ro es
ca m t J m t w i
e o a es o n n
O th t k f thi h i p
er ac c o u n s s
p D t h t d whil th
ea o s s as a u c ra e r, e o
e rs v et ll h p i
ca t Th f it i p h p
er a r v a e er t t . e re o re s er a s c o rre c o re
g d
ar h t f m
e r as a s o r bi t i h p d m go t d co d p fit na on s i es n ra e an ro
—
,
b t
u dy f w i f d
rea b
or y mm typ f th t m
ar n ee e a v er co on e o e
o
i e.
9 6 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTI ON O F
o f the Da rk C on ti n e n t .
*
Duri n g the same ye a r the T r e a su r e r a vessel ,
sailing under t he B ri t ish fl a g c a me to the sho r e s o f ,
the colo n y be a ri n g a bu r de n o f hum an f r eight fr o m

“ ”
A f r i c a Th e T r e a su re r w a s supp os ed to b e th e
.
p r ope r ty o f the E ar l o f Wa rwick but the n o t orious ,
an d rap a cious scou n d r el Captai n S a muel A r gall ,
who a t t he time w a s r ule r o f the colo n y o f Vi r gi n ia

—also ow n ed a libe r al sha r e o f the s h ip T .
F r om this time o n the impo r t a tio n o f Neg r o c a p

t iv e s gre at ly incre a sed — f o r it w a s an exceedingly lu
c rat iv e oc c upa t ion — a nd thei r st a tus soo n became al
most uni formly th a t o f unco n ditional slavery This .
st a te o f a ff a i rs conti n ued throughout colo n i a l times

a n d w a s not distu rbed i n a n y m at erial way u n til I 8 0 8 ,
wh en l aws we r e p a ss e d by th e United States Co n

gres s p rohibiting th e A fri can tr a ffi c .
However a s t ron g sentiment agai n st the slave

,
t ra de a nd the incre ase o f Negro populatio n existed

a lmost from the first a n d developed an d r ipe n ed as ,
the sl a ves becam e mo r e n ume r ous .
For more tha n t wo ce n turies the conditio n s existi n g

alo n g t he west coast o f A f r i c a and aboa r d the sla ,
ve rs co n stitute d a ve r ita b le hell The poo r de f ense

, .
less savages we r e to r n fo r eve r f r o m eve r y tie tha t

Th
* Ng es e e
g ll y b li d t h b
ro e s a re e n e ra ld i t e ev e o av e een so n o
ab l t
so u e l y b t s av er t , h h w th t th y w
u re c e n ld
re s earc s o s a e e re so
on ly i t li m i t d
n o i t d A t th t t i m th w
e s e rv u e . t t t y a e e re as n o s a u or
re co g i ti n f b l t
on o l y i th A m i
a s o u e s av e r l i R g n e e r c an c o o n e s . ec o
nit i onf b l t l y i th A m i
o a so u e s av e r l i n d i e e r c an c o o n es o c c u rre n
Ma h
s s ac tt i 64 i C
use s n ti 1 t i 65
1, i Vi gi i i
n o nn ec66 cu n 1 0, n r n a n 1 1,
an d l t ia er ll th th
n a l i e o er c o o n e s .
lA ‘
f t
'
t h er g h h
o ro u i t th hi t y f
re s e a rct h ti m it
n o e s or o e es
m w ll wi thi th b
s ee s e d f p ibili ty th t th T
n e o un s o o ss a e re as u re r
whi h i k w t h
c s no i i t d th l i d i g t h m y
n o av e v s e e c o o n es ur n e sa e ea r
—m y t ll y h
a ac u a p d d th D t h m
av e d th
rec e b e ti tl d e u c an , an us e en e
to th die o di ti ti
ous f h i g l d d th fi t i d t d
s nc on o av n an e e rs n en u re
N g e s T h ere is n w y f d fi i t l y d id g th p i t
ro e . o a o e n e ec in e o n .
b i n ds without me r cy a nd appa r e n tly wit h out sha m e

, , , ,
ei th e r to di e o f i ll tr e atm e n t o r to sp e n d th e r em a i n
de r o f l i fe a s chattels o f a superi o r but me r ce n a r y
ra ce in a str a n ge lan d an d f o r the most p a r t u nd e r
,
the l a sh o f h ar d task m aste r s Whe n o n ce captured

.
they we re l i t e r a lly without hope a n d w ithou t r ewa r d

, .
M a n y o f them comm itte d suici de a b oa r d ship C l ose .
w atch h a d to b e ke pt to p r eve n t se r ious fi n a n cial

losses to the ca pto r s by this m e an s To thi nk of these .
p oo r w r etches b ein g ta ke n b y cu nn i n g deceptio n a nd , ,
shee r fo r ce f r om t he i r t r i b al a n d f am ily r el ati on s

, ,
an d pla ced imm edi a tely a n d f o r eve r u n de r co n diti on s

o f to rtu r e is g r ewsom e b eyo n d exp r essio n
, .
As a m e a n s o f eco n omi zi n g sp a ce th ey we r e f re
qu e n t l y p ac k e d sp o o n fa sh i o n (th at i s l a i d up o n
-
th ei r si d e s o th at th ei r k n e e s a n d oth e r p a r ts o f th e
s
b o dy fi tte d i n to e a ch oth e r ) o n a dec k co n st r uct e d

for t h e pu r p o s e I n m a n y i nstances th ey we r e put
.
i n to i r o n s a n d ti ed dow n to a h a r d pl a nk fl o o r o n a n
ill v e n til a t e d a n d p o o rly i f at all li ghted d ec k s o
-
, , ,
c l o s e to th e n ext a b ove th a t i f th ey ch an ce d to h ave a

f r e e h a nd i t could e a sily b e exte n de d to t h e ceili n g .
I n thi s p o s iti o n th ey r em a in e d du r ing th e p a ss age

a p e r i o d o f f r om six to ei ght we e k s Du r i n g th e s e .
p a s s a ge s i t wa s no t uncomm o n fo r th e p o o r c r e a
tu r e s to di e o f th i rst I t w s u n til v e r y r ece n tly a
. a
comm o n o ccu r r e n ce f o r a ship to r u n sho r t o f wate r

a n d on such o cca si o n s th e imp r i s oned c a pti ves w e r e ,
o f cou rs e th e fi rst to su ff e r Th e ho rr o rs o f th e
,
.
“ ”
m i ddl e p a s s a ge a s i t i s c a ll ed a r e ab s olutely i n
, ,
d e sc r ib a b l e I n m a n y c a s es — i f th e r e a de r will ex
—
.
cus e th e i n el egan t l a n gu a ge th es e N e g r o es m ay
t r ut hf ully b e s a i d to h av e b e e n b oun d down t o th e
fi lthy fl o o r o f a v e r ita b l e du n ge o n to rot al ive Th e .
l o s s o f a thi rd i n t r a n si t f rom dep r ivati o n a nd its

,
i n ci d e n t a l d i s e a s es w as no t a t all u n usu a l a nd i t f re
,
que n tly h a pp ene d th a t mo re t h an h a l f p e ri shed b e

fo re re aching thei r des t in at i on Th e dre a dful fa c t s
.
i n th es e c a s e s we re c on ce a led as f a r a s p ossibl e how ,
eve r t he evi dence i s p res e rved t h a t in one in s ta nce

, ,
at l e a s t t h e ship s crew b e c a m e s o depl e t ed from

’
—
,
de ath a nd illness consequen t u pon t h e de c a ying h u

m an b odi es l a shed t o t h e de cks b elow t hem — t h at
th e ship c a m e n e a r b eing l os t i n a c a lm s e a fo r w an t
o f s a ilo rs t o m a n h e r .
From 1 6 9 5 onwa rd s t a t u t es we re p a ss ed imp o s

,
ing duti e s wi t h t he a vowe d inten t i on o f di scou r a ging

th e tra ffi c bu t o n a cco u n t o f t h e gre at m a rgi n o f
,
p rofi t t hes e m e a s u res a ll p roved a like in effectu al, , .
I n f a ct i t m a y well b e doub t ed i f t ho s e in a u t ho ri t y
eve r intended t o a r res t t he t ra de by t h e p a s s a ge o f
such l a ws I t w a s a conveni en t m e a ns o f r epl eni sh
.
ing th e tre a s u ry a nd sup erfici a lly s u ch a c t s b o re th e

, ,
g a rb o f att emp t ed j usti c e They we re design ed

.
r ath e r to a pp e a s e t ho s e wh o fe a re d t he cons equence s

o f fu r th e r incre a s e in N egro pop u l at i o n on t h e one
ha n d a nd on the o t h e r t h at mu c h l a rge r c l a s s who
, , , ,
h aving no in t e res t i n t h e p rofi t s we re c l a mo rous fo r

,
j usti ce Th e p en a l t i es we re no t s u ffi ci en t to a r res t

.
th e trade eve n i f th ey h a d b e en rigidly enfo r c ed a nd ,
i f we m ay j udge from t h e cons ta n t a nd op en vi ol a

ti ons t hei r en fo rcem en t w a s neve r in t ended In o t he r .
wo rds th e a rres t o f t h e a b omin a bl e p r a c t i ce w a s

,
cont r a ry to t h e wi shes o f t ho s e in a u t h o ri t y whi ch i s

,
t h e b es t o f evi den c e t h a t th e p owe r s b ehind t h e rep

re s e n t at iv e s we re in re a li t y oppo s ed t o closing ou r
p o rts to the t ra de .
In 1 8 1 8 ce r ta in m emb e r s o f C ongre s s m a de an
— —
othe r a t t empt a pp a ren t ly in goo d f a i t h t o en a ct
a n effi c i en t l a w b u t when t h e m e a su re r e a ched t he
,
President i t h a d b een s o compl e t ely em a s cul a ted by

me mb e r s domi n ate d th r ough inte r ests f avo r abl e to
T HE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO BLE M 99
a conti nu a ti on o f N egro imp o r t ati o n s th at i t w a s ,
s ca r cely wo rth th e p ap e r up o n whi ch i t w a s wr itte n .
I n p r a cti ce i t p r oved wholly i n e ffi ci e n t .
At th e foll owing s e ssi o n s (1 8 1 9 ) tho s e f e a r i n g

t h e co n tinu ati on o f th e tra de and t h e al a r m i n g i n
,
c r e a s e i n N egro p opul a ti on succe e de d i n p a ss i n g a n

,
a c t wh i ch i f i t oul d h a ve b e en r igi dly en fo r ce d

, , c
woul d h ave p r a c t i cally e n de d th e sh a m e ful captu r e

an d b a r t e r o f t h e s e hum a n b ei ngs B ut i ts executi o n
.
p rove d l a rgely a failu re p a rtly owing to th e i m

,
p o s sib ili ty f gu a rding ou r enti r e Atl ant i c co a st a n d

o
p a r tly i n cons equ ence o f th e n eut r ality o r O p e n sym ,
p athy o f a l a rge cl a s s with t h o s e engage d i n th e

,
t r a de .
B eginning wi t h th e s evente enth ce n tu r y a n d c o n

tinu n i g w ell i n t o th e ni ne t e en t h — sp an o f m o r e a
—
th a n two hund re d ye a r s a ll t h e m a ritim e p owe r s
o f Eu rop e a i ded by th e Am e ri can col oni e s th em
,
s elves to ok an a c t iv e p a r t i n N egr o sl ave t rad e

,
-
.
Spite o f t h e co nvi c t i o n a nd desi r e o f a ce rt a i n p o r

ti on o f hum anity t h a t ri ght shoul d r a n k g a i n it i s
, ,
l am en t ably t ru e t h a t wh e n pu t to th e t r yi ng te st o f a
p e r s on a l a ppl i cati on a di st r e ssingly l a rge p o r ti o n o f
,
th e r a ce h a s a lw a y s b e en fou n d o n t h e si de o f p r ivate
ga i n Ev en in th e m i dst o f ou r vaunted A n glo Saxo n
.
-
a n d A n gl o Am e ri ca n civili z ati o n s a nd i n thi s ye a r

-
,
o f ou r Lo r d 1 9 1 3 this statem ent still holds go o d

,
.
I n all t h e d a rk ch apte rs o f hum an hi sto r y the r e a r e

n one m o r e humili at i ng an d sham e ful th an th e d a m
n a b l e a nn a l s o f t hi s N egro sl ave t r a de I t mus t eve r
-
.
r em a i n a s a n un e r a di c a bl e bl ot on t h e p a ge s o f
A m e r i can h i s t o ry .
I f w e we r e unde r n o o th e r obli g a ti o n s to ou r b l a c k
b roth e r s we c o u l d n eve r f r e e ou rs elves o f th e de b t
,
whi ch th e s e r evolti n g f a cts enta il Wh en w e r e fl ect

.
up o n thes e d a rk r e co r ds o f th e d e eds o f o u r an ces

10 0 THE ULT I M AT E SOL U TION O F
to r s tho s e o f us who a ccep t th e doctri n e o f a u n i
,
ve rs al a nd uninte rr up t e d reign o f n a tu r a l l aw app a r

en t ly p o s s es s a m o re com fo rt a bl e fai t h t h an t ho s e
who beli eve i n a n in t e r p osi n g Providen c e ; fo r science
t e ach es t h at na tu ral l a w h a s o rda ined th at on e living
cre atu re should eve r p rey up on anoth e r a nd tha t th e
,
stronge r shoul d s u bj ug at e a nd o fte n ex t e rmin a te the

, ,
we ake r In t h e hum a n sp eci es we s e e n o excep t i on

.
,
s a ve in s o f a r as civi li z ati on h a s develop ed h i s m en

tal fa culti es t h e reby s o ftening hi s b a s e r a nim a l in
,
s t i n ct s
, and supplem enting t he simpl e r l aws o f n a
tu r e .
—
Th e m o t h e r country as we h ave alw a ys fo n dly
—
r eg a rded ol d Engl an d des e rves t h e highe s t p rai se
fo r he r hum a n e a tt i tude and a c t i on o n this qu e sti on
o f l eg a li z ed cap tu re a nd en s l a vem en t o f huma n
b eings during th e l a t t e r ye a rs o f t h e p r a cti ce By
, .
an a ct o f th e B ri ti sh p a rli a m en t in th e ye a r 1 8 3 3
—
e ff ective August 1 1 8 3 4 t wen t y milli on pou n ds
,
ste r ling was app rop ri at ed t o p rovi de lib e r t y fo r an

i n fe ri o r a n d ali en r a ce In a ddi t ion t o t hi s (a n d
.
b eginning with thi s p e ri o d ) s h e sp ent a n nu a lly mo re

t h a n five million pounds ste rling an d sacrifi ced thou
s ands o f h e r s e a m en i n th e m a in t ena n ce o f he r Afri
—
ca n squ a drons all fo r th e b enefit o f t h e despi s ed
N egro ra ce .
On August 1 1 8 3 4 sl a ve ry fo r li fe wa s fo r eve r
, ,
a b oli sh e d wi t hi n t h e b ounds o f t h e B riti sh Empi re .
Thi s recogniti on o f G re at B rit a in o f t h e obligati o n

du e an in fe ri o r and subj ec t r a ce by a sup e r i o r an d
domin an t one h a s no p a r all el in hi s t ory Ou r ow n
,
.
em a ncip ati on o f fou r milli on s l a ves by a singl e edi ct

i s n ot a p a ra ll el i t b eing a n uninten t i o na l a n d u n
,
fo res een cons eq u ence o f civil w a r Othe r nat i ons

.
have a b ro g a ted th e p r a c ti ce o f sl a ve ry bu t thi s h as

,
u s u a lly com e to p ass reluctan t ly a nd by fo r ce o f ci r

,
c u m s t an ce s , —a s i n ou r ow n ca s e— i n co nf o rm i ty to
som e d e fin i te i n te rn al p r es su r e o r b y r e a s o n of l es s
,
d e fin a bl e i n te rn ati o n al ci r cumsta n ce s I n ou r o wn
.
l egi sl ati ve e n a ctm e n ts on thi s su b j e ct (1 8 1 8

m emb e r s o f C o n g r es s we r e n ot— a s s om e w ron gl y
—
sup p o s e a ctuated b y s el f s ac rifici n g co n victi o n o f
-
duty t o a n a b us e d a n d w e a k e r r a ce ; but co n t r a r i wi s e
,
th ei r a cts w e r e s ca r cely l e s s s elfi sh th a n th e p r a ctice s

o f th e smuggl e r s wh o alm o st op e n ly vi o l at e d the m .
Fo r th e m o r e no r t h e rn ly sta te s o f th e U n i o n h a d
al r e ady fou n d sl ave r y unp r o fi ta bl e a n d i n the South
,
—
e rn st a te s wh e r e th e i n sti tuti on w a s b eli eve d to b e
p ro fi tabl e a nd pl ante r s o f th e gre at stap l e s o f c o tt on
,
a n d to b a cco co n sta n tly d e m a n de d a cces si o n s to th e i r

—
supply o f s l av e l ab o r th e m o r e th o u ght f ul el e m e n t
s aw pl ai nly th e di s a dv a n ta ge s an d da n ge rs o f th e
eve r i n c r e a si ng N e g ro p opul ati on H o weve r mo st ,
—
.
—
o f th o s e di rectly th ough t emp o r a r il y b en e fit e d b y
hum a n ch attel i sm w e r e qui t e wi l li n g to clo s e t h e i r
eye s a nd e a r s to exi sti n g co nd iti o n s a n d futu r e c on
s e q u e n ces.
CHAPTE R VI I
Th e A tti tu d e f
o C h ri s ti a n i t
y To w a rd Slav e r
y i n C o
lo n i al Ti mes — O t h er Fac ts
ANY have m a de the cl a im that the s e

cre t o f our modern civili z at ions with ,
their gre at ly improve d moral s ta ndards ,
i s to be s ought and found in the C h r is

t ian reli gion I f t his s tat ement is rigidly re s tri cte d
.
t o the mor a l te a chings o f Jesus it cer ta inly co n tains

a n element o f tr u th bu t i f it b e m a de to cove r t he
,
hi s tory o f the ch u r c h a nd the pr a cti c es o f those call

,
ing thems elve s C h ris t i a ns its cl a im s will not s ta nd

,
t h e test o f i nves t i gation Fo r t he hi sto ry o f t h e

.
chu rch i s C lo s ely a s s o ci at ed wi t h a m ost abho r re n t

reign o f crim e and bl oo dsh ed .
C hri s ti an s h a ve alw a ys c ondemned t he c r uel pra e

t ices o f t he Moh a mmed a n s while ex t olling t he i r own
ins t i t utions a nd t e a ching do c tri n es which t hey rar ely
,
pr a c t ice in d a ily cond u c t They st r ive t o fo r ge t thei r

.
own history a nd to con c eal the records o f thei r d a rk

deeds from ea c h succeeding gene ra t ion But with .
a ll t heir tempor a l a uthority a nd wholes a le mu r de r, ,
in p a st cen t uries o f those who loved t ruth even bette r

,
th a n li fe t hey h a ve no t been able to blo t out the se c

,
u l a r records o f such inhuman conduc t a s the seve n ,
o r — t o include only t he m ore no t orious — the four

scourges o f t he C hris t i a n C rusaders a g a inst a people
an d a f a i t h qui t e as s in c e re i f no t s o well fou n ded in
,
i t s in i t i a l mor a l p re c epts .
There a re few i f a ny ch a pte r s i n human history

mo re r evolting a nd bloo d cu rdling than thos e o f
,
-
,
10 2
THE A M ERI CAN N EG RO P RO BLEM 10 3
th e C hr istia n s a gai n st the Sa r a ce n s i n the Spa n ish ,
I n q u 13 1t 10 n a n d the pe rs ecu t io n s o f such me n as B r u

,
n o a n d Galileo fo r t e a chi n g t he g r eat t r u t hs o f n a

,
tu r e They co n ve n ie n tly fo r get to r e m e m be r thei r

.
ow n at r ocities while retai n in g a vivi d r ecollectio n o f

,
the less ho r ri fying c r imes o f othe r reli gio n s T h ey .
a r e m o r e tha n willi n g to ma g n i fy a n d exhib it the mote

i n t h e eye o f o t h e r fa iths we r e th ey n ot bli nded b y
th e r e al m ag n itu de o f th e b e a m i n th ei r ow n .
Le t u s take fo r instance th e si e ge o f J e rus alem

a n d th e c r im es en a cted withi n its wall s o n th e 1 5 th o f
July 1 0 99 A fte r l ayi ng si ege to th e city f o r m or e
, .
tha n a m o n th a n d c a usin g t he wholesale deat h o f

,
me n wom e n an d ch ildren by st a rvatio n it was ta k

, , ,
e n by sto r m When fi nally thes e m e r ciless Ch r istia n s

.
e n te r e d th e ci ty s w a lls th ey v e n ted th ei r wr ath by

’
i n disc r iminate mu r de r The b r a i n s o f b ab es we r e

.
b e ate n out aga i n st the cu rb ston es They s pa red n ot .
y o uth n o r a ge n o r sex bu t murde r e d the poo r help

, , ,
less childre n an d b a b i es along wi t h all co n diti ons o f

me n a n d women N o r can t hey j ustly claim th a t they
.
tem po r a r ily lost sel f control in the he at o f passi o n ;

-
fo r thei r lea de r s a fte rwa rds wrote h om e exulti n gly ,

“
I n Solomo n s Porch and in hi s Tem ple ou r men r ode
’
i n th e bloo d o f the S a r a cens up to the kn ees o f thei r

h o rse s .
Th e s e h i ghly imm o r al p r a cti ces o f s o called Ch ri s -
ti ans a re ci t ed me rely t o show that the pa r t pl ayed

b y p r o fessin g Ch r is t i a ns in ou r Ame r ica n slave t r ade -
,
as well as th roughout the e n ti re h isto r y o f Ne g r o

s l ave r y i n Am e r i ca i s n othing s trange o r n ew I t
,
.
h a s alw ays b e e n th e ca s e t h a t C h r i sti a n i nstituti o n s

h ave m a n i feste d more o f e mo ti o n al p ro f ess i o n tha n
o f m o r al e x a mp le The m o re re c e n t co n duct o f th e
.
v a r i ous Ch ri s ti an i s ms o r s ects i n conn ecti o n wi th

’
, ,
N eg r o sl ave r y i s n ot o n e whi t l e s s ce n su r abl e th ar

,
th e c r imes o f th e C rus ade r s o r th e cru el p racti ces o f

,
th e Sp ani sh Inqui siti o n .
W e h a ve re ferred b riefly to the merciless r aids o f

C hris t i an peoples upo n the homes o f Afri c a n Ne
groes during whi ch they murde r e d t he b a bes and the
,
a ged prese rv i n g only the lives o f t hose most s a l a ble

.
—
.
I t w a s a C hris t i a n people o r seve ra l Ch r isti a n

—
peoples t hat perpe t r at e d these inte n sely immo r al
a cts The very people who c a me to this coun try
.
fo r reli gious freedom imm edi a t ely deni ed th e s am e

t o o t her s They denie d the Negro the r ight to live
.
,
unless his exis t ence could be r e a dily conve rted i n to

dollars a nd cent s W e c an not ce a se to wo n de r wh eth
.
e r or not t he s e e a rly C hristian s et t lers — in thei r g r eed

for g a in — eve r p a used t o r efl e c t w h at J es us wo u ld
h av e d o n e in t he premises The pessimis t o fte n tells
.
us th a t hum anity i s growing wo r s e ; but o n the whole

we c a nno t a gree wi t h him for there is an abundance
,
o f evide n ce to t he con t r a ry Bu t duri n g those ce n

.
tu rie s o f Negro sl a ve t rade and sl a ve holding we

-
,
-
,
Ca ucasi a ns cert a inly l a pse d into a st a te o f mind su f

fic ien tly immor a l a nd inhum a n to h a ve p ar alleled the
re c o rds o f a ny leg a li zed p r actices o f the p a st N ot .
one o f t he e a rly c oloni a l communities is exempt fr om

this odium I t is t r u e howeve r th a t New E n gla n d
.
, ,
s a w the error fi rs t and eve r a f t e r waged a n hono r

,
a ble w ar ag a ins t t he co n ti n uation o f the institutio n .
C ontr a ry t o the gener a l convictio n o f the Southe rn

people yet witho u t inte n ded re flection it must be
, ,
a dm i t t e d t h at (wi t h ce rtai n p rominen t excepti o n s )

y
t he Nort hern h a l f o f ou r common country has always

been — a nd s t ill is — en t i t led to the ho n o r o f leade r ship
in bo t h though t a nd a ct ion This is by n o me an s a
.
ple a s a nt a dm issio n for a Souther n man to m a ke but ,
we hold i t noble r t o con fess the t r uth th a n to a ppea r

more loyal by a t t empting to pe r ve r t o r supp r ess th e
evi d e n ce .
Ma n y Sout h e rn peo ple beli eved t h at the o n ly di f

f e r e n ce 1n the attitude o f the two secti o n s r e g ard i n g
huma n chattelism w a s th at the N o r t h f ou n d it u m
p r ofi ta b le while th e a g r i cultu r a l re qui r em ent s o f the
South m ade the system hi ghly r e m u n e r ative U n .
q uesti o n a b ly t h is V iew co n ta i n s a ce r ta i n amou n t o f

t r uth b ut i t h a s b e e n g r e atly ex agge r a te d b y s ome
,
Sout h e rn pe ople who evi n ce d to the b itte r e n d a

, ,
do gge d dete r mi n atio n to pe r petuate sl ave r y r i ght o r ,
w r o n g sim ply b ecause it could b e tu rn e d to p ro fit

,
as they thou ght Like a l l othe r peoples i n all his

.
,
to r i c times t h ey t r ie d to co n vince thems elves b y in

,
g e n i o u s a rgume n ts th at the course t h ey electe d to pe r

s u e w a s th e m o r al o n e As a n exte n u ati n g ci r cu m
.
st a n ce i n th e South s attitude towa rd s l ave ry a n d th e

’
,
sl ave t r a de i t sh oul d b e r em emb e r ed th a t th e N eg ro

-
,
i s ce r ta i n ly a mu ch l owe r o r de r o f b ei n g th a n th e
w h i te m an a n d t h a t h a rsh t r e at m e n t do es n o t p r o
,
duce i n him th e m e n tal a n g ui sh th a t i t do es i n th e

hi gh e r r a ce Th i s h oweve r by no m e ans j usti fi e s
.
, ,
th e co n clu si o n th at h e i s wholly devoi d o f suc h at

t r ibute s a s l ove symp athy and altrui sm i n ge n e r a l
, , .
Th e s e qu a l iti e s a r e sup e r fi ci ally quite a s i n te n s e a s

i n t h e hi gh e r r a ce s b ut n o t p e r h ap s s o de ep s e at e d
,
-
a nd e nd u r i n g I n divi du al s h ave o fte n sho wn th e m

.
s elves to b e th e e q u al s o f th e w hites i n such qu a l iti es .
Mu l at t o es with a p r ep o n de ran ce o f whi te bl o o d

, ,
must ha ve b e e n n e a r ly e q u al to th e m a ste r cl a ss i n
the s e r e sp ects .
I n th e ye a r 1 6 1 8 (1 6 2 0 s om e give it ) wh e n th e
Dutch ves s e l l a n de d th e fi r st N eg r o sl aves at Ja m es
tow n En gl a n d a n d o th e r Eu r o p e an cou n tri e s h a d
,
al r e a dy l a r gely com e to l o ok up o n th e p r a ctic e a s

co n t r a r y to j usti ce an d n atu r a l r i ght I t w a s e st a b
.
li s h e d op i n i o n th r ou g h out We ste rn Eu r op e t h at
C h ri sti a ns could not b e held a s sl ave s Thi s im “

.
muni t y howeve r di d not ex t end to i fid ls a nd n e
h e a then — a s t h ey we re wont t o c a ll a ll non Chri s

, ,
t i a ns W hile a ll t h e n ewly establi shed Am e ri can

.
coloni es we re in t en ely pi o s — i ex t e rnal fo rm at

s u n
l e a s t— a nd a ll h el d devo t ly t o C hri s t i a ni t y— unde r

u
’
s —
on e i m o r a no t h e r t hey wer e neve r t hel ess g uil t y
o f t h e a b su rd p racti ce o f s ep a r a ting t h ei r religi on
from ,
— i f or —
you pl e a e con fo rming it to t he
s un
godly a nd inh m a n i n tit t i on o f he redi ta ry sl a ve ry

u s u .
They o f t en wi t hheld C h ri s t i a ni t y from b o t h l a ve s s
and fre e N egro e a like ; t he one p rivil ege which t h ey

s
e s t eem ed fo r t h em elve a b ove a ll o t he rs ; t he on e

s s
”
t hing whi ch Th e B o ok m os t emph at i c a lly m
“
co
m a nd t hem t o m a ke known t o a ll cre at u res

s .
Th e re a ons fo r t hi a re no t f a r t o
s s I n th e see .
fi rst pl a ce it s e emed t o t hem mo re consi t en t t o hold s
p a g a n o r i fid l ( t hey we re pl e as ed t o all t hos e

s n e s as c
o f oth e r f a ith ) t h a n C h ri t i a n thems elve s But a

s s s .
m ore vi ta l re a on fo r t hi i t o b e found i n th e f a ct
s s s
—
t h at Engli h l a w t h e re a l f nd a m en ta l l a w o f t he
s u
—
coloni t s de l a re d a C hri t i a n t o b e a fre em a n a nd
s c s ,
exp res sly forb a de hi s red c t i on to unlimite d s e rvi u
tude even fo r crim e .
One o f t h e chi e f s ou rces o f a t temp t s t o j us t i fy

sl ave ry i s t o b e fo u n d i n t h e anti qu at ed s o c a ll ed ,
-
,
mo r a l te a chings o f M o s es .
In t he colony o f M a s s a c hu s e tt s a nd i n t he ye a r ,
1 64 1 a b o dy o f wh at t hey c a ll ed f u nd a men ta l l a ws
,
w a s p romulg a ted— i h mo re mo dern u s a ge we wo u ld

s ay a c ons t i t u t i on w a s a dop t ed fo r thi s w as to s e rve
, ,
t h em as t h ei r o rg a ni c l a w a s long as th e King di d
not i n t e rfe re a nd i t s c on t en t s we re no t found t o b e
i ncon s i s t en t wi t h Engli sh l a w On e o f th e s e a r t i cle s .
,
“
b a se d on t h e M os a ic code p rovi des t h a t The re ,
sh a ll neve r b e a ny b ond sl a ve ry vill ein a ge no r c a p , ,

THE A M E RI CAN NE G RO P RO BLE M 10 7
ti v i t ya mong u s u n l e s s it b e l aw ful captive s t a k e n i n

, ,
j ust wa r s a nd such str ange rs a s willi n gly s ell th em

,
s elve s a r e s ol d un t o
or a n d th es e sh a ll h ave all
us,
th e l i b e rti es an d C h r i sti a n u s a ge s whi ch th e l aw o f

Go d e st ab li sh e d i n I s ra el re qui res (whi ch a r e ”
“
no n e ) .Thi s exempts n o n e from s e rvitude wh o
sh a ll b e j udge d th e r e n to by a th o rity u u .
”
“
Thi s l aw r e fe rs to th e Ch r i sti a n us a ge s esta b
”
li h d i n I s r a el
s e N ow thi s coul d n ot h ave b e e n a n
.
o ve r si gh t fo r M o s e s di d n ot te a ch th e I s r a el i tes
,
Ch ri sti an ity o r C h ri s t i a n us ages si n ce h e live d

, ,
th ous ands o f ye a rs b e fo r e th e tim e o f J esu s M o r e .
ove r hi s foll owe rs r ej ecte d Ch ri sti ani ty at th e tim e

,
o f i t s in au gu r ati on an d h av e ste a d fa stly r em ai n e d

,
i n opp o siti o n to i t .
Som e m ay inte rp re t thi s M a ss a chu s etts a ct a s in

di t i g a n u n du e r ega r d fo r th e a n ti qu ate d J ewi sh
ca n
l a w b t m o re co rr e ctly i t i s a sh r ewd p r o ces s o f

, u
“ ”
whi pping th e d evil a rou n d th e stump to m e et th ei r
s elfi sh ends Th e de cl a red i n tenti o n o f thi s col o n i al
.
“
C o n sti tuti on to con fo rm stri ctly to th e l aw o f Go d
”
e st a bli sh e d i n I s r a el app e al ed st rongly t o a ce r t ai n
t r uly pi ous el em e n t i n t h e community N ot th at th e .
—
l aw m e a nt an y t hi ng fo r its re al pu rp o rt w a s th e
ex a ct o pp osite f rom the const ru cti on put up o n i t
but s imply b e caus e th e ph r a s e ol o gy w a s pi ous I n .
th at co m mu n ity i n oth e rs and th e n a s at p r e se n t

, as , ,
a ce rta i n cl a s s si nce rely b eli eve d an d st r enuously

co n tende d th a t establi sh e d r eligi ou s dogm a s ho ul d
fo r eve r r a n k r e a s o n a nd p rogres s Th e a b su r di ty .
o f su ch a p o siti o n m ay b e i l lu st ra ted b y t h e f oll o wi n g

qu otati o n f r om th e fou rte e n th ch apte r o f D eute ron
o my a nd th e twenty fi t v e rs e Y e sh al l n ot e at o f
-
rs :
an ythin g t h a t di eth o f it el f ; thou sh alt g ive it u n to

s
th e str a nge r th at i s i n thy gate s th at h e m ay e a t it ; ,

”
o r t ho u m ayes t s el l i t u n to a n ali e n N o p eop l e ca n .
follow such doc t ri n e a s this and hop e to adva n ce

to highe r mo ral ide als .
We ta ke i t tha t whe n D r C h a r l es W m Eli ot o f . .

,
Ha r va rd s a i d we n eeded a new r eligi on he h a d in

mi n d n o t—as som e would p erve rt hi s wo rds to
,
—
,
m e a n a r emodeli n g o f ou r m o ral code dow n wa r d ,
bu t t h a t th e peopl e n e eded a pu re r mo r e m ode r n , ,
and high e r code o f mo ra l p r ecep t a n d p r ac t i ce .
I f at th e tim e o f th e pla n ti n g o f th e colo n i es o f

J amestow n an d Plymouth we could h ave p r o duce d a
n ew Mos es to h ave give n u s a new mo r al code
w
,
b ased o n pure livi n g a n d te a chi n g th e eo p le t o b e

go od an d j ust to rega rd altruism af ays ab ove
,
ego is m b ec a use it i s righ t s o to live and b ecau s e

, ,
hu m an exp e ri en ce h as p roven t h at high a n d u n s elfish

living i s the only ro a d to t h e full es t attai nme n t o f
p e r s on al h app iness we would n eve r h ave h a d a
,
N eg r o p r obl em Such a code would h ave show n th e

.
i nj ust i ce o f hum a n ch attelism a n d s ave d us th e p e n ,
alti es o f vi ol at ed n atu ral rights which we h ave su f ,
f e re d eve r si n ce We r elucta n tly ab a n do n ed the

.
p ra c t ice o f sl ave r y but a s yet h ave n ot b e e n abl e to

,
sh a ke o ff i t s s h ack els .
The l a st s e n te n ce o f th e quotati o n f r o m th e M a s
sa c h u s tts C onstitu t i o n
e — “
Thi s exempts n o n e f r om
s e r vitude who sh a ll b e j udge d th e reu n to byy autho r
ity ”
— w a s evi de n tly added t o mak e su r e th at th e
l aws o f the a nci e n t I s r a el ites coul d not b e mi sco n
s t ru e d s o as to admi t o f inte r fe re n ce
, i n any w a y , ,
with the p ractice o f a b solute sl ave r y o f N eg r o es .
This a rti cle n ot only p e rmitted sl a ve ry an d t h e

Negro s l a ve tr ade but it also e n abled the colo n ists
-
,
t o c a ptu re buy s ell and us e as they pl ea s ed th e

, , , ,
A m e rica n I n di ans who we r e u n abl e to p r otect

,
themselves agai n st th ei r supe r i o r e n emi es who h a d

al r e ad y taken f ro m t h e m th e te rr it or y itse lf .
THE A M E RI CA N NE G RO P RO B LE M 10 9
Ju st i n p ro p or t i on a s M a n h a s i n c r e as e d i n wi s
d o m h e h a s a d va n ce d i n m o r al sta nd a r ds a nd th i s
,
m ay b e appli e d ali k e to n ati ons a n d i n divi du al s ; f o r

th e f o rm e r i s r e ally b ut a r e fl ecti o n o f th e l atte r .
But i n a l a rge m e a su r e i t i s un fo r tu n ately t r u e th a t

, ,
“ ” “ ”
mig h t r a th e r th a n ri g h t p rev a i ls . We h ave ad
v an c e d a n d i m p r ove d w on de r fully i n m o r al sta n d
a r ds si n ce th e e a rl y s ettl e m e n t o f thi s cou n t r y N o .
b ette r evi d e n ce o f thi s is n e e ded th a n t h e f act t h at

th e c r u el p r a cti ces o f sl ave ry i n a n y f o rm h ave b e e n
a b a n d on e d .
O cca si o na lly w e still h e a r i t co n te n ded t h a t the

Wa r o f Se ces si o n o r o f th e R eb elli o n a s you
,
—
—
p l e a s e wa s wa ge d l a r gely t h r ough p r ej u d i ce a nd
j e al ou sy on th e p a rt o f th e N o rth e rn st a tes h ow ,
eve r such w a s n ot th e ca s e Bu t n o dou b t th e r e

,
.
, ,
exi ste d a cl a s s o f N ew E n gl a nde r s wh o we re m o r e

o r l es s b i a s ed a n d b i tte r tow a r d th ei r si ste r state s o f
th e S o uth a n d l i k ewi s e a co rr esp o nd i n g cl a s s o f
,
South e rn e rs wh o d etested th e N o r th .
U n de rl ying al l thi s t h e r e wa s a p r o fo u nd a nd
g r owi ng co n vi cti o n th at sl av e r y w a s u n j u st im m o r al
, ,
a n d d a n ge r ou s to th e p e opl e a n d th e n ati o n .
I n col o n i al ti m e s o r du r i n g t h a t p o r ti o n o f ou r
,
h i sto r y a n te d ati n g th e r evolt agai n st th e m othe r

cou n t r y sl av e r y i n p r op o r ti o n to its n um b e r s i n ,
volve d f a r m o r e hu m a n su ff e r i n g th a n i n i ts l ate r
stage s Th e N eg r o e s wh o we r e to rn f r om th ei r n a
.
tive h e ath s a nd fo r eve r s epa r a te d fr om f a m ily ti e s ,
a n d a ll el s e de a r to th em su ffe r e d f a r m o r e th a n
,
—
th o s e b o rn i n Am e ri ca who i h s om e i n sta n ce s at
l e a st— we r e allow e d to live am ong t h ei r r el ati o n s
a n d f ri e n ds Up to t h e ve r y e nd o f sl ave r y th e r e
.
w e r e i m p o r t ati o n s fr om A fr i ca b ut m o r e l atte rl y
,
th e v a st m aj o r ity o f sl ave s w e r e n ative b o rn A fro

Ame r i ca n s .
W i th t he e e a rly l a ve i n fact with a ll N eg r o

s s s,
Am e ri a n sl a ve t he ch a nce fo r imp rovem ent was

c s,
sligh t ; t hey were gene r a lly deni ed b ook l e a rni ng -
even fo r religi o s p rpo es B t t hey could n ot b e

u u s . u
deni ed t he opp o r t ni t y to ob s e rve th e conduct and

u
wo rks o f t hei r m a s t e rs whi h in i t sel f h a d the e ff ect

, c
o f civili z ing a nd imp rovi n g the N egro ch a racte r .
I n o rde r t o give the re a d e r a le a re r ou t line o f t h e

c
re a l h a rd hips o f l a ve ry in coloni a l tim es and t o

s s ,
s ppo r t ou r own st a t em en t o f t he facts b y exta nt

u s
reco rd we will quote in t he following ch a pte r c e

s, r
t ain extr a cts from l a ws b e a ring on t h e ubj ect s .

CHAPTE R VI I I
H ars h L a ws a nd R e g u la ti o n s o f N e g r o Slav e s i n
C o lo ni al Ti m es
RO M th e p l a n ti n g o f th e col o n y o f V i r
gini a at J am e stown and th at o f M as s ach u
,
s etts a t Plym outh until l o n g a fte r th e Wa r

, ,
o f R evoluti o n a n d th e i n dep endence o f th e

,
thi r te e n o r igi n al col on i e s V i r gi n i a w a s a n u n di s

,
p u t e d l e a de r a m o n g h e r si ste r comm o n we alths Sh e .
suppli e d m o r e statesm e n a n d m o r e g r e at s oldi e r s

th a n a n y oth e r col ony o r state Sh e al s o to ok fi r st
.
r a nk i n f o rm ul ati n g l a w s a n d r egul ati o n s suite d t o

th e n e w co n diti on s .
Thus w e fin d th a t th e O l d D om i n i o n — a s sh e
—
w a s l ate r f a m i l i a rl y a n d a ffe cti on ately call ed e n
acte d m o r e l aws co n ce rn i n g th e N eg r o sl ave t r a de -
,
a n d th e r e gul ati o n o f sl aves th a n a n y oth e r stat e

, .
At l e a st thi s app e a r s to b e tru e f r om su ch do cu m en

ta r y evi de n ce a s h a s b e en p re s e rved Po ssi b ly it i s .
o n ly ap p ar e n t b e c a u s e o f th e high r e ga r d o f th e
,
o th e r colo n i e s f o r th e a cts o f th e e a r ly H ous e o f

B u r ges s e s a nd l at e r l egisl a ti o n b y V i r gi n i a s Ge n
,
’
e r al As s em b ly C e rta i n it i s th a t th e oth e r col o n i e s

.
l o o k e d up to h e r a s a k i nd o f m oth e r and l e a de r i n
th i s N eg r o q u esti o n a s i n all o th e rs
,
.
Up to th e ye a r 1 6 6 2 th e white s ettl e r s i n th e co l
o ny o f V i r gi ni a we re vi r tu ally a l aw u n to th em s elve s
a s r ega r ds th ei r N eg r o ch attel s fo r th ey h a d n o,
statuto r y l aws o n th e subj e ct a n d E n gli sh l aw o f th e

day p r es crib ed t h at n o Ch ri sti a n could b e h el d as a
sl ave a n d E n gli sh cou r ts discou r a ge d i n eve r y p o s
, ,
1 1 1
sibl e w a y a system s o obvi ously co n t r a r y to n atu r al

,
rights .
A t t h e t im e o f th e s e t tl emen t o f J a m es t own sl a v
e ry w a s r a pi dly di s app e a ring I n Engl a nd by indivi d
u al em ancip a tio n Howeve r there was n o E n gli sh
.
l aw exp ressly fo rb i ddi n g sl ave r y o f n on C h ri sti a n s

i n th e col onies .
W e m a y e as ily im agi n e th e r ough tre a t m ent th at

t h e e a rly bl a ck p eopl e re ceive d in thi s a nd oth e r
s e tt l emen t s fo r th e whi t e emi gr a nts were no t a ll
,
Engli sh ge nt l em en no r we re they a ll religi ous e n

,
th u s i as t s a s som e s eem to supp os e

, But even i f they .
h ad b e en— a s we h ave s a id els ewhe re — t h e customs

o f the times combined with th e well nigh unive rs a l -
hum a n f a iling o f s elfish gre ed would h ave a ffo r ded

th e po o r devils s ca n t mercy .
The impo rt ed Af r ica n s avage s a n d thei r desce n d

a n ts vi r tu ally h a d no r ights i n a ny o f the e a rly c o l
o u i es ; th e m a s t e r wa s fre e t o do wi t h them a s h e
pl e as ed ; he could f o rce them to wo rk chas t i s e th em , ,
use them fo r t he gr a ti fic a ti o n o f hi s an im a l p a ssi on s ,
an d eve n mu r de r t hem a t h i s own indivi du a l ch oi ce

,
an d c a p rice Th ey we r e in th e t ru est s ens e ch attels

.
,
an d fo r the most p a rt s o rem a ined to t h e end o f

, ,
sl ave ry Unde r such f r e edom o f acti on on th e p a rt

.
o f th e maste r s t h ei r t re at m ent was ve ry b ad Th e re

, .
we r e o f cou r s e in Vi rgini a a s els ewhe re ce rtain

, , , ,
n obl e me n a nd wom en who m a de t h e conditi on o f

th ei r sl a ves i de a l s o fa r a s th e t e rm c an b e appli ed
-
to an immo r al p ra c t i ce — a nd i n m a ny instances th ey
w e r e g r e atly humo red a n d sp oil ed ; bu t t hi s w a s the
r a re excepti on a nd even in th es e ins ta nces it m o re
,
frequ e nt ly appli ed only t o ce r ta in f a vo rite house

s e rv an ts an d not t o t he fa r m o re num e rous cl ass o f
,
me n an d women who t ill ed th e s o il unde r t as km as

—
te r s and ove r s e e rs field hands a s they we re call ed -
.
THE A M E RI CAN N E G RO P RO B LE M 1 13
Th e fi r s t a cts o f th e V i r gi n i a l egi s l atu r e to d e fin e

a nd r egul ate sl ave r y w e r e n ot f o r th e b ette r m e n t o f
th e co n di ti o n o f t h e s e humb l e p e opl e ; th ey p e r h ap s
m a d e th ei r t r e atm e n t m o re c r u el an d i nhum a n We .
get ou r b e st vi ew s o f th e atti tude o f th e domin a n t

cl a s s tow a rd s th ei r hum an ch attels f r o m th e ge n e r a l
ten o r o f thes e e a rly l aws .
I t w a s a t a s es si o n o f th e V i rgi n i a l egi sl atu r e i n

D e cem b e r 1 6 6 2 th a t th e fi rst attempt wa s m ad e t o
, ,
give a l egi sl ative b a si s to th e system o f h e redita r y

sl av e ry I t wa s en a cte d th at chil dre n should b e h el d
.
“
b o nd o r f r e e a cco rdi n g to th e conditi o n o f th e
”
m oth e r . Un de r thi s a ct i t n ot in f re que n tly h ap
p ene d th a t a m a st e r s ill egitim a te child r e n we r e f o r e
’
o r da i n e d to th e li fe and h o rr o r s o f a b s o l ute s l ave r y

u n de r th ei r ow n f ath e r .
V i r gi n i a s n ext l egi sl a ti ve en a ctm e n t o n t h e su b

’
j c et w a s i n 1 6 6 7 I t p r ovided th at N eg r o es th oug h
.
,
co n ve rted an d b a pti s e d i n to Ch ri sti a n i ty should n o t ,
th e r e b y b ecom e fr e e Thi s w a s i n di rect oppo s iti o n

.
to E n gl i sh l a w which decl a r e d th a t n o Ch ri sti a n

,
coul d b e h el d a s a sl a v e ; but th e m othe r cou n t r y

showe d n o i ncli n ati o n t o i n te r fe r e .
At th e s a m e s es si o n it w a s al s o e n a cte d th at k il l
i n g sl ave s by ext r emity o f co r r ecti o n shoul d n ot b e
“
este em e d fel ony si n ce i t canno t b e p resum ed th a t
,
p r ep e n s e m ali ce should i nduce a ny m an to dest ro y

”
hi s own e s ta te . Thi s u n j u st a ct wa s als o co n t r a ry
to E n gl i sh l aw .
Si n ce th e r e we r e s om e go o d p eopl e wh o f r e e d
thei r sl ave s from tim e to tim e th e V i rgini a l egi s l a
,
tu r e n ow p a s s ed a n a ct su b j ecti n g fr e ed N eg r o e s t o
compl ete civil di s a b iliti es
—
.
Aga i n i n 1 6 8 2 th e co de o f V i rgini a r ega rd i n g

sl ave ry— w as augm ente d b y th e foll owing a dditi o n s :
Sl ave s we r e d e n i e d th e r i ght to ca rr y a rm s e ith e r o f ,
fe n sive o r de fe n sive o r t o go off t he pl a n ta ti on o f ,
thei r m as t e r s wi th ou t a wri tt en p a ss o r t o l i f t h a nd ,
agains t a C h r i s ti a n even i n s el f de fen s e R u n a w a ys .
r e fusing to b e a pp reh ended mi ght b e l a wfully kill ed .
In 1 6 9 2 Vi rgini a p a ss ed a n a c t en t i t led An a ct
”
fo r supp ress i ng ou t lyi n g sl a ves a fte r s e t ti n g fo rth ,
i n a p re ambl e t h at M a ny t im es N egro e s mul a tto es , ,
and o t he r sl a ves u nl a w f u lly a b s en t t h em s elve s from

thei r m asters a n d mi s t re s s es s e rvi c e a nd li e hi d
’ ’
, ,
and l u rk in ob scu re pl a ces killing hogs a nd commit , ,
ting o t h e r i nj u r i es to th e inh a bi ta n t s o f th e do
mini on ,
—
a utho ri z es a ny t wo j us t ices one cons t i
—
tu t i ng a qu o rum to i ssu e t h ei r w a r r a nt s t o th e she r
i ff fo r t he a rrest o f any s u ch outlying sl a ve s Whe re .
up on the she ri ff i s t o u s e th e necess a ry fo r c e a nd i f ,
su ch sl aves r esist o r r un aw a y o r re fus e t o su rrend

, ,
“
e r th ey m ay b e l a wfully ki lled a nd des t royed by
,
guns o r a ny othe r w a y wh at s oeve r t h e m aste r i n

, , ,
such c a s es to receive f r om th e publi c fou r t hous a n d

,
p ound s o f tob a cco fo r the l o s s o f h i s s l a ve *

.
I t w a s no t a n unu s u a l o ccu rren c e i n Vi rgini a fo r a

poo r mi s u s e d N egro o r m u l a t t o — s om e t im es v i r
, ,
t u ally whi t e — t o b e d riven t o desp e r at i on a nd at

temp t to live t h e li fe o f a re c lu s e a nd m a r a ude r .
This w a s mo re commo n p erh ap s a mong t ho s e s l a ves

who we re mo re t h a n h a l f whi t e .
Th e a uth o r i s hims el f a n at ive Vi rgini a n a n d c an

tes t i fy o f hi s own knowl edge t o the f a c t th a t s om e
o f thes e ve ry ligh t colo red mul att o e s who fo r t he ,
most p a rt h a ve only su c h c u l t iv at i on a s t h ey h a ve
acqui red unaided a r e m en o f m a gnifi c en t Ca uc a sic
,
m en t al endowm ent Unde r s u ch c i rcum s t a nces i t i s .
*
l
C au s e si l ddi nc u e n q u o t at i
on k
m ar s are th e e x ac t w o rdi n g o f
x t f m th l w — mu c h k d ly f ro m
o
e trac s ro e a s f th e re st i s t a
o en i re c t
t h es e l w b t th x
a s u e e ac t l an g u ag e i s n o t a a s lw y l c o se l y f ll w do o e .
TH E A M E R I CA N N E G R O P RO BLEM I 1 5
e a sy to u n de rsta n d th a t hi s l o t a s a ch attel w a s o fte n

b eyo n d hi s p owe r o f e n du r a n ce Su ch m e n w ould .
s om eti m es conclude th at th ey woul d r ath e r take a

l ong ch ance a t eki ng out a n exi ste n ce as wild m en i n
th e fo re sts th a n b e k i cke d a n d cuffe d ab out by th e i r
‘
m a ste r s wh o w e r e o fte n th ei r ve r y n ea r est o f blo o d

,
r el ati ons o r i n m a n y i n s t a n ce s hum a n b r ute s wh o

, , , ,
vi ol ate d eve r y l aw o f hum anity i n th ei r t r e atm e n t

o f N egro sl av e s H e r e i s a sp e ci al a ct m a de to fit
.
such a ca s e :
Ab out th e ye a r 1 7 0 0 we fin d a V i rgi n i a act s etti n g
1
“
f o r th th a t O n e B illy a N egro sl a ve to J o h n Tit t el
, ,
h a s s eve ral ye a r s u n l aw fully a b s ente d him s el f f r om

hi s m a ste r s s e r vi ce lying ou t a n d lu r king i n o b
’
, ,
s c u re pl a ce s supp o s e dly wi thi n th e cou n ti e s o f J am es

,
C ity Yo r k a nd Ke n t devou ring a n d dest r oyi n g t h e

, , ,
s to c k s a n d c r op s r obb i n g th e h om e s o f a n d co m mi t
, ,
ting and th r e a t ening oth e r i n j u r i es to s eve r al o f h i s

m aj esty s goo d a n d l i ege p e opl e wit h i n thi s colo n y
’
a n d domi n i on o f V i rgi n i a i n cont e m pt o f th e go o d

,
l a ws th e r e o f ; wh e re fo r e th e s a i d B illy i s decl a r e d
by th e a ct gu ilty o f a c a p i tal o ff e n s e ; a n d who s o ,
eve r sh a ll kill a n d dest r oy th e s a i d N eg r o sl ave B illy ,

”
a nd app reh en d a n d delive r hi m t o j u sti ce i s to b e ,
r ew a rd e d with a t h ous a nd p ounds o f tob a cco ; a n d o f

p e r s o n s e n te r t a ini ng hi m o r t r a di n g a n d truc k i n g
,
wi th him a re d ecl a r e d guilty o f f elo n y ; h i s m a ste r

, ,
i f h e b e kill ed t o re ceiv e a comp e n s a ti o n f r o m th e

,
pu b li c o f fou r thou s a n d pounds o f tob a cco .
I t i s cl e a rly di s ce rnibl e f r om a ca r e ful co n si de r a

,
ti o n o f th e s e e a rly sta t ut e s th a t th e w h ol e s o ci a l
,
statu s o f th e tim e s w a s s o fa r r em ove d f r om p r e s e n t

conditi ons th a t i t i s di ffi cult fo r u s to i m agi n e i t .
Fo r i ns t ance i t w a s found n e ces s a ry as we sh al l

, ,
p res e n tly show to p a s s sp eci fi c a cts a n d i m p o s e p en

,
alti e s up o n white w o m e n f o r h avi n g N eg ro c h i ldr e n .

This fact alone should h ave gre a t w eight i n co n

v i n ci n g the p essimist a n d a dvocate o f am algam atio n
th a t we ar e not only b e coming m o r e m o r al but that ,
t h e po ssibili ty o f am a lgam atio n i s fu rthe r f r om us

to day tha n at a n y p e r i o d in th e histo ry o f th e coun
t r y Ou r obs ervati on l e a ds u s in fact to the co n
.
, ,
elusi o n th at no im agi n able ch a n e i n existing s oci al

g
conditi o n s would p rove p o t en t in b ri n ging to p as s
such an ab ominati o n to any consi de ra bl e extent .
Th e re a l t ru th i s — p a r a doxi cal though i t m ay

—
,
s e em th e p opul ati on o f ou r day i s l ess r e lig i o us

,
a nd fa r mo re m o ra l i n eve r y way th an we r e ou r
,
coloni al ances t o rs Take fo r inst a nce t he i nt e rm a r

.
ri ag e o f whi t e wom en wi t h N egro m en a n d ille it i

g
m a t e chil db e a r ing o f whi t e wom e n by coh ab itati o n
with N egro m e n ; a common occu rre n ce in coloni al
times whi ch h ad to b e ca r e fully res tr i cted by l aws
,
but almo s t unknown at p r es e nt .
I t i s tru e Vi r gi n i a h a s a l aw i n fo rce t o d a y w hich

-
p rohibits such m a r r i age s in eith e r di recti on ; but we

h ave r a rely k n own o f a whi t e wom a n giving bi r th to
an illegi t im a te mul atto child .
W i th thi rty times t h e p opul at i on sh e h a d i n 1 7 0 0

we doub t i f every b i rth could b e c a re fully i n vesti
,
gated i f a singl e such i n stance wo u ld b e r eco rded i n

,
a twelve months Th e Vi rgini a s t atute which we

.
l as t cited fo r th e supp r essi on o r mu rde r o f outlying

,
“
N egro sl aves also con ta i n s the following : Fo r th e
,
pr event i on o f th a t ab omin abl e mix t u r e a nd spu ri ou s

i ssue whi ch h e re a fte r m a y incre a s e i n t hi s domini o n ,
a s well by N egro e s mul a tto es a nd I n di a ns i nte r

, ,
m a rrying with English o r othe r white women a s by ,
t h ei r unl awful a ccomp anying with one a n othe r any ,
free whi t e m an o r wom a n in t e rm a rrying wi t h a

N eg r o mul a tto o r I n di an i s to b e fo reve r b a ni sh
, ,
ed . A f e w yea r s l ate r thi s pu n ishm en t w as ch a n ge d

THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO BLE M I 1
7
t o s ix m o n th s imp r i s onm e n t a nd a fin e o f te n p ou nd s
’
st e r l i n g. Wh ite w om e n h avi n g mul atto child r e n

w ith ou t m a rr i age w e r e to pay fi f te e n p ou n ds ste r li ng ,
o r b e s ol d fo r fiv e ye a r s ; th at p e r i o d i f they w e r e ,
s e r va n ts to ta k e effect fr o m th e expi r ati o n o f th ei r

,
fo rm e r te rm th e m ul atto chil d r e n t hu s b o rn w e r e t o
,
b e bo u n d o ut as s e r v a n ts (te rm sl ave r y ) u n ti l th ey -
w e r e thi r ty ye a r s ol d .
Still a n oth e r fe a t u r e o f thi s s a m e a ct atte m pt e d t o

dis c o u r ag e th e e m a n cip ati on o f N eg ro es It p ro .
v i de d that n o N eg r o o r m ul atto sl ave s h oul d b e s e t
fr e e u n l e s s th e em a n cip ato r p a i d f o r h i s t r a n sp o r ta
,
ti o n o ut o f th e cou n t r y withi n s ix m on th s Thi s act .
di d n ot r e n de r vo i d th e m a n um is s i o n but only sub ,
j e c t e d t h e e m a n cip at o r w h o vi ol ate d i t to a f
i n e o f
te n p ou nd s I t f u r th e r p ro vi de d th at th e fin e th us
.
i m p o s e d shou ld b e appli e d o r ap p r op r i ate d t ow a rd s

t h e t r a n sp or t ati o n o f th e fr e e d sl ave o ut o f th e c o l
o n3
A n oth e r r e m a rk a bl e d evi ati on fr o m t h e E ngl i s h
l a w w a s a n act put i n f o r ce a bo ut t h i s ti m e f o r
sp e ci al sum m a r y tri b u n al s fo r the t r i a l o f s l av e s
,
ch a r ge d w i th c r i m e s A n y s l av e j udge d gu i l ty of
.
a n y o ff e n s e pu n i sh a b l e b y t h e l aw o f E ngl a nd w i th
d e ath o r l o s s o f m emb e r s w a s to b e f o r th , w i th co m
“
m itt e d to th e cou n ty j ail th e r e to b e k ept w e ll l a d en
,
”
w ith i ro n s a nd up o n n o ti ce o f th e f act t h e g o v e r
, ,
n o r wa s to i s su e a co m mis si o n t o a n y p e r s o n o f th e
cou n ty h e m i ght s e e fi t b e fo r e wh o m th e p r i s on e r
,
“
was t o be a r r ai g n e d i n di cted a n d t r ie d W it ho u t
, , ,
th e s olem n i ty o f a j u r y a n d on o at h o f tw o Wit
,
“
n e ss e s o r o n e wi t n es s w i th p r eg n a n t ci r cu m
, ,
”
sta n ce s o r c onf es si o n w a s to b e fo u nd gu i l ty a nd
, ,
s e n te n ce d .
Thi s vi r tu a l ly m e a n t t h a t th e p o or dev 1l h a d no
l eg a l p r o tect i on at a ll b u t was c om p l et el y at th e
,
11 8 TH E U LT I M ATE S OLUT I O N O F
m e rcy o f whom eve r chanced to b e hi s m aste r o r
j udge ; who in thi s c a s e was a s likely to b e a co n
,
s c i en c e le s s sl ave t r a de r
-
o r a m e r cil ess b r ute a s an
, ,
hono r a bl e gentlem a n .
Thi s s am e l a w also p r ovi d es th at the ow n e r

should b e stri ctly account a bl e a n d r esp o n si b l e fo r
“
d a m a ges don e by a n y N egro o r othe r s l ave livi ng
a t a qu art e r where t h e r e i s n o Ch r i s t i a n ove rs e e r .
A fi f t h revi si on o f the V i r gi n i a co de wa s m ade b y

a commi tt e e from the council o f Bu r gess es Its .
work was i n p rogress du r ing th e space o f five ye a rs

from 1 7 0 0 to 1 7 0 5 Thi s new code p r ovi des th a t
.
a ll serv ant s impo rt ed o r b r ought i nto thi s count r y

by s e a o r l a nd who we r e n ot C hri sti an s i n thei r n a
,
t ive country (excep t Tu r ks a n d M oo r s i n a mi ty with

,
his M aj esty a nd o t he rs who can m ake du e p r o o f o f

,
th ei r b eing f r e e i n En gl an d o r any othe r C h r isti an

cou n t r y b e fo re they we re shipp ed in orde r t o tr a n s
p o rt at i o n thi t he r ) sh a ll b e a ccounted a nd b e sl a ves
, , ,
n o twithstanding
”
a conve r si on to C h ri sti ani ty a f t e r
wa r ds al t hough th ey m a y h ave b ee n b o r n i n Eng
,
“
l a n d ; all childre n t o b e b o n d o r fre e acco rdi n g to ,
”
the co n diti o n o f thei r mothe r .
This fi fth r evis e d co de ci te d a b ove also co n t a i n ed

the fi r st p rovi si on which could b e const ru ed t o take
i n to conside r a ti on th e well b ei n g o r h appin ess o f
-
Neg r o s l a ve s and thi s s eems to h a ve b e e n b rought

a b out not by th e m a s t e rs ta king thought fo r th e do
,
m e s ti c feli ci ty a n d stab il ity o f th e despi s ed N eg r o es ,
but a s a m e a n s o f p rotecti o n o f the l a n d a nd sl a ve

holde r a gainst hi s j u st debto rs By a p rovi sion o f .
this code sl a ves we re m ade re al estate and thus b e

c a m e more o r l ess p e rm a ne n t fixtu r es Th e sl aves .
,
howeve r did no t by thi s a ct b ecom e wholly fre e

, , ,
f r om s ei z u re fo r deb t ; i n f a ct they rem ained li abl e

,
a s b e fo r e but p rovi si o n was m a de by whi ch th e hei r

,
THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M I 19
o f t h e pl a n tati on coul d b u y out th e i n h e r ited i n te r

e sts o f o t h e r s i n th e N eg r o es wh o dwelt up o n i t .
Th i s f e atu r e c on ti n u e d i n fo r ce to th e e n d of B r iti sh
co n t r ol .
F o r th e b e n e fi t o f t h os e n o t f ami l i a r with th e sys

te m o f gove rnm e n t u n de r whi ch the e a r ly colo n i sts
lived i t m ay b e wel l t o state th a t all l egi sl ative acts
,
b y th e c o l o n i sts h a d to b e su b mi tte d to hi s m aj esty

th e Ki n g b y t h e gov e rn o r o f th e col o n y w h o w a s
, ,
a n app o i n te e o f th e Ki n g A r ti cl e s thu s su bm itte d .
w e r e e ith e r app r ove d o r r ej ecte d I t w a s a sta n di n g .
i n st ructi o n o f th e Ki n g to th e gove rn o r n ot to co n ,
s e n t to th e e e n actm e n t o f a n y l aw once r ej ecte d b y

r -
th e Ki n g wi th out exp r e s s l e ave fi r st o b tai n e d up o n

,
r ep r e s e n tati o n o f th e re a s ons a n d n ecessi ti es f o r i t .
I n 1 7 5 1 V i rg i n i a r evis ed a n d co n s oli d ated all th e

l aws wh i ch w e h av e r e fe rr e d to i n to o n e act c n o
ce rn i n g s e r va n ts a n d sl aves Thi s act em b o di e d .
al l th e h o rr o r s a n d cru elti es co n tai n ed i n tho s e al

r e a d y give n ; s o m e o f th e st r i ctu r es b ei n g slig h tl y
m odi fi e d Th e st r a n ge fe atu r e i s th at th e Ki ng re
.
v o k d th i s c on s oli date d N eg r o sl av e law

e an d w h il e ,
it d o e s no t app e a r th at hi s co n s e n t w a s a ft e rw a r ds
give n it w a s e e n a cte d withi n a ye a r a n d co n ti n u ed
,
r -
i n f or ce to th e e n d o f hi s M aj es ty s autho r i ty b y th e ’
Wa r o f Revoluti on .
*
Simil a r l aws w e r e e n a cte d i n oth e r co l o n i es Fo r .
i n sta n c w e fin d r eco r ds o f the i n t r oducti o n o f sl aves

e,
i n to N e w A m ste r d am (N ew Yo rk ) a b out th e ye a r
1 65 0 a n d th e fi rst Dutch l aws co n ce rn i n g th e m w e r e
,
th e m o st f avo r a b l e a n ywh e r e r e co r ded du r i n g the
* w th y f t th t t th l
It is or o no e a a e c o se of l i
th e R ev o u t o n th e
N g p p l ti (N g
e ro o d m l tt )
u a on e ro an u a o i
c o n s t tu t e d
no t l
e s s t an h
i x th p t f th t t l p p l ti
a s ar of th e o a o u a on o e U n i te d
Stat e s ; icwh h
is a m h l g p uct g f bl k p p l
ar er e rce n a e o ac h
o u ati o n t an w e h av e to
day .
whol e hi s t ory o f N egro sl ave ry in Am eric a M ost .
o f them rem a ined the p rop e rty o f t h e Dutch C om

p a ny a nd th e mo re trusty and i ndustri ous — a f t e r a
,
—
limi t ed s e rvitude were gr a n t ed sm a ll fa rm s p a y ,
ing on a n equit a bl e a nd e a sy pl a n a ce rtai n amount

o f p roduce Thi s t r e at m ent by th e Du t ch sounds
.
mo re like th e conduct o f a p eopl e wi t h souls a n d h u

m an symp a t hi es th a n a nything to b e found o n th e
s ubj ec t o f sl ave ry in t h e enti re reco r ds o f coloni al
hi s t ory Howeve r s t range and incon s i s tent it m a y

.
a pp e a r thi s em a ncip a ti on di d no t extend t o N egro

children Th e Du t ch c ommo na l t y o f th e day de
.
cla re d i t to b e ex t ra o rdin a ry a n d i ncomp reh ensibl e

to t hem th at children b o r n o f a fre e C hri s t i a n
, ,
moth e r coul d n everth el ess b e sl aves

, .
In a code o f l aws known a s the Du k e s Laws

“ ’
,
enac t ed fo r the gove rnm e n t o f N ew Yo r k in 1 6 6 5 ,

“
th e re i s a p rovi si on th at no C h r i s t i an sh all b e k ept
i n b ond sl ave ry villei na ge o r captivi t y except such
, , ,
as shall b e j udged t he reun t o by au t ho ri t y o r such a s ,

”
willingly h a ve sol d o r sh a ll s ell t hems elves in ,
whi ch c a s e a reco rd o f such s e rvi t ude sh a ll b e ente r

ed i n th e cou rt o f s essi ons h el d fo r th at j u ri sdi ctio n
whe re the m a s t e r sh a ll inhab i t Thi s p rovi si on wa s .
evi den t ly in t ended to m e et th e dem a nds o f Ch ri s

ti a ns who fel t t h a t common decen c y requi red som e
l a w th at a t le ast ap p e ar e d to a ff o rd th e un fo rtunate
bl a ck m a n s om e m e a su r e o f p rotecti on a nd j usti ce .
But it di d not exempt the non Ch ri sti an Negro es -
“
from a ny s o r t o f ill u s age a nd t h e word s except
-
, ,
”
such a s shall b e j udged th e reunto by autho ri ty p rac
tic a lly rendered th e whol e act null a nd void *
.
It s e ems to h a ve b e en even m o r e comm o n i n e a rly
*
Thi s ac t is a lm o stid i l
en t c a in i ts w dior ng with an e ar ly
M as sac h u s etts ac t l
e se wh ere g i v en .
c o l o n i a l ti m es t h a n at p r es e n t t o pl a ce such m e a n i n g
l ess l a w s on t h e statu te b o o k s i n r esp o n s e to pu b li c
de m a n ds or de m a n ds f r o m s o m e i n flu e n ti a l cl a ss
, .
Th e f oll o w i n g i s a go o d illust r ati o n o f a m e a n i n gl es s

o r de a d l ette r l a w o f ou r ow n ti m es
-
V e ry r ece n tly i n V i r gi n i a a n o r ga n i z ed d e m a nd
wa s m a de u p on a l egi sl ative a ss embly b y ce r tai n ,
l e a ding th eol ogi a n s i n the n am e o f th ei r pi ous f ol

l owin g f o r th e p a s s age o f a n a ct p r ohib iti ng th e
,
h a uling o f f r ei ght b y pu b l i c ca rr i e r s o n Su n day Th e .
va ri ou s m e mb e r s o f th e l egi sl atu r e a n d p a r ti cul a rl y

,
th e l e a de r s s aw th at th ey we r e b et w e e n th e d evi l
,
a n d th e b lu e s e a So m e pl a n h a d t o b e devi s e d th a t
.
w oul d m e et th e d e m a n ds o f th e chu r ch e s i n o r de r t o
hold th e vote s o f th ei r m e m b e r s i n f utu r e el ecti o n s ;
o n th e ot h e r h a nd th ey w e r e co n f r o n ted w ith th e
s a m e p oliti ca l n ece s s iti e s r eg a r di n g th e r a il r o a ds a s ,
w ell a s t h e n ece s sity o f p r ote cti n g th e mutu al i n te r

ests o f th e w h ol e co mm u n i ty ; th e f utu re vot e s o f al l
inte r e sts h a d to b e co n si de r ed Wh at d i d th ey do $
.
Th ey si m ply p a ss ed a n a ct dec l a r i ng i n th e mo st
p o s itiv e te rm s th at f r ei ght sh oul d n ot b e mo ve d on
Su n day ; th e n th ey q u ali fi e d thi s n e a r th e e n d of th e
—
b ill in the f ewest possi b le wo r ds b y sayi ng u n — ,
l e s s s o m e p e r i sh a b l e a r ti cl e s such a s f r e s h v eg e
,
tabl e s h a d to b e m o ve d to p r eve n t u nr e a s on a b l e
,
loss . Th is m a de it easy of cou r se for t h e t r a n s

, ,
p o r t a t i o n co m p a n y t o pu t i n to th e t r ai n o n e o r m o re
ca r s co n ta i n i n g p e r i sh a b l e a r ti cl e s o r a r ti cl es sup
,
p o s e d to b e p e r ish a b l e ; a nd th e t r ai n s m ove d al mo st
a s f re ely a s b e fo r e whil e th e p i o us m em b e r s o f th e
,
com m u n it y h a d t h e s ati s fa cti o n o f f e el i n g th at th e y

h a d full y p e r fo rm e d th e i r r eli g i ous d u ty a nd th e ,
p o l i tici a n s r e tai n ed th e supp o r t o f all i n te r ests .
Just s o i t w a s w ith m ost o f t h es e e a r ly l a w s co n

c e rn i ng th e hold i ng o f s l av e s a s c h atte l s T h ey w e r e
.
so wo rded as to m a ke th e imp ressi on on th e co m

muni t y at l a rge t hat they am el io ra t e d t he conditi o n
a nd h a rdship s o f a s e rvile race ; whil e any on e t a king
t he troubl e t o refl e ct up on thei r re al pu rp o rt an d ,
p rop e r interp ret at i on s aw a t once t ha t th e m aste r

,
w as i n a lmo s t eve ry i n s t a n ce l e ft fre e to u s e a n d

abus e h i s sl a ves a t will .
B e a ring in mind th e a b ove f a ct s l e t u s di ss ec t t he

ex t r a c t from t h at p o rti on o f t he e a rly M a ss a chuse t ts
l a w given i n the p receding chap t e r t h e fi rst posi t ive ,
“
en a c t ment on t he subj ec t o f N egro sl a very : Ther e
sh a ll neve r b e a ny b ond sl ave r y vill ein a ge no r c a p , ,
t iv i ty among us unl e s s i t b e l a wful c a p t ives t a ke n

, ,
i n j u st wa rs and s u ch s t r a nge rs as willingly s ell

,
t hemselves 0 1 a re sol d un t o u s a nd t h es e s h all h a ve

,
all t he lib e r ti es a nd C h ri s t i a n us age s whi ch t h e l aw

o f Go d es t abli she d i n I s r a el requi re s Thi s exempts .
none from s e rvitude who sh a ll b e j udged t he r eunto

”
by a u t ho ri t y .
The fir s t words here quoted t he r e shall n ever

,
b e a ny b ond s l ave ry vill ei n a ge no r c a ptivi ty a mong

—
, ,
”
us , a re calcul ated to cre a t e th e imp ression t h a t
the rul ing cl a s s was a lo f ty minded p eopl e dete r
-
,
mined n o t only to b e mo r a l a nd j u s t b u t t o live up

, ,
to the high est i de a l s o f th e mo s t godly m e n i n t hei r

conduct towa rd tha t p o rti on o f t h e r a ce who we r e
unabl e to p r otect th ems elves Thi s howeve r w as .
a me re s u b te r fuge o ff e red a s a s o p to t h at mino ri t y

, ,
which we a lways h ave wi th us and who a re res olved ,
t o do j u s t ly a nd to l ove m e rcy a n d to w a lk humbly

“
wi th t hei r God wh eth e r o r no t thi s c ou rs e i s co n

,
si s t en t with thei r m at e ri a l inte res t s Thi s c l a ss al .
w a y s puts right b e fo re eve ry othe r c onsi de r a ti on .
Then a lso i t s a tisfi ed m o re compl e t ely th a t o t h e r

, ,
much l a rge r cl a s s who like t h e Ph a ri s e e s we re desi r ,
ous o n ly o f imp r essi n g t hei r f ellow me n with thei r -

p i ety ; b ut ap a r t f r o m t h at c a r ed l i ttl e o r n o thi n g f o r

r e al j u sti ce Th ey t o o a r e s t ill co n sp icuously with
.
, ,
u s Th e n ext cl a us e o f th e s am e s entence r e a ds a s
.
“
foll ows : unl e ss it b e l aw ful cap tive s ta k e n i n j ust,
w a rs a n d such st r ange r s a s willingly s ell th ems elves

,
”
o r a r e s old u n to u s Thi s p o r ti o n o f th e s e n te n ce
.
r ende r s th e fi r st cl a us e abs olutely m e an i n gl es s a n d

s a ncti o n s sl ave r y without a n y rest r i cti o n s w h ats o
ev e r a n d wi th out th e l e a st p ro t ecti on to su ch ch at
,
tel s ; whi ch th os e i n te r este d cl e a rly unde rsto o d we r e

to b e m a de h e r edi ta r y sl ave s a n d a r ticl es o f t r a de
a n d b a rte r .
Th e th i r d cl aus e o f th e s am e s ente n ce i s v e r y el ev
e r ly put a n d i s i n te n ded to m e et th e dem a n ds o f at
,
l e a st th re e cl a s s es e a ch h ol di n g i t s p ri n ci pl es to b e
,
i n opp o siti o n to o r i nco n s i ste n t with th e o th e r s

, ,
.
A n d th e a stute d r a fte r o f th e a ct h as show n hi ms e lf

equ al to th e o cc a s i o n H e r e a r e th e simpl e wo rds :
.
“
An d th e s e sh all h a ve a ll th e lib e rti es an d Ch r isti a n
u s a ge s whi ch the l a w o f Go d e stablish e d i n I s r a el
”
re qu ir e s . N ow i n th a t d a y an d tim e th e r e i s no
doub t th a t to th e r e ally mo ral cl a ss o f o r din a r y l ay
,
citi z ens as well a s to th a t much l a rge r cl a s s o f re

, ,
li g i o u s p r etende rs thi s cl a us e o f the a ct s e emed to

,
gu a ra n te e to th e N eg ro sl ave ab solute r eligi ou s fr e e

dom ; b ut to th e l eg a lly t r a i n e d mi nd i t w a s o f n o
such pu rp o rt ; it mi ght a s well h a ve b e en l e ft uns ai d ,
a p a rt from i ts influ ence up o n ce rt a i n citi z e n s by v i r

tu e o f th e religi ous clo ak whi ch cove r e d and co m .
p le t e ly n ullifi ed wh
,
a t w e r e supp o s e d to b e its m o r e
vi ta l p a rts Le t u s examine th e cl a us e m o r e ca r e
.
fully : I t t ells u s in sub sta n ce th a t sl a ves shall h ave

all th e l ib e rt i es a n d Ch ri sti a n u s a ge s which th e l a w
o f Go d e stabli sh e d i n I s r a el requi re s N ow th e ol d
.
J ewish l a w whi ch i s impli ci t i n t he Pentateuch (th e ,
fi r st fi ve bo o k s o f th e ol d te sta m e n t ) i s no t a l a w
12 4 TH E ULTI MATE SOLUTION O F
of r eligi ous lib e rt y but a l a w o f th e strictest civil

,
a n d r eligi ous compulsi o n Fo r a s we have ob s e r ved .
i n sub sta n ce i n the p r eceding ch a p t e r i t contai n ed

,
n ei th e r C h ris t i a n lib e r ti es no r C h ri sti an us ages ; fo r

this p eopl e (t h e I s ra elites ) l a t e r exp r essly deni ed
the claims o f the N a z a rene to divi nity Th ey h ave .
always b e e n di a m etri cally oppos ed to C h ri sti a n ity .
Not t h a t t hey de n i ed th e wi s dom o f much tha t J esus

i s s a i d t o h a ve t aught but t h a t they di sb el i eved a n d
,
res e nt d h i cl aims to divini ty Th es e f a c t s i n th em

e s .
s elves a us e t h at fe a tu re f t hi s e a rly M a ss a chus etts

c o
l w to exp res ly a n d pu rp os ely a pp e a r t o b e wh a t

a , s , ,
it is not ; fo r I s ra el knew no t C h risti a n i t y i n any o f

the multi fa rious fo rms whi ch it w a s to a ssum e i n
ce n tu ri es yet unb o rn .
M o re ove r i f thi s l e a ves the cl a us e with a n y p

, a
p a re n t me aning wh at s o eve r i t can b e no n e oth e r

th a n su ch mo r a l t e n et a s a re contained in th e Pe n ta
s
teuch W h a t th en do we find in the claus e to com

.
fo rt t he despi sed a nd ill tr e ate d N egro sl a ve $ O f -
all th e bigoted a nd s elfi h peopl es the wo r ld h s eve r

s a
know n the s e anci ent I s r a eli t es a re p e r h a p s the mo st

conspi cuous ex a mpl e Th ey t a ught a n d b eli eved th at
.
they we re a cho s en p eopl e o f God a nd th at it w a s

pi ous hono ra bl e and comm end a bl e for a Heb rew
, ,
to outwi t a nd imp os e upon a n y a n d all othe r r a ce s

o f m an ki n d .
A l a w the re fo r e pu rpo r t ing to h ave b e e n e na cted

, ,
fo r the b enefi t a nd p rotec t i on o f an i n fe ri o r dow n ,
tro dd a nd ensl a ve d p eople b a s d upo n a s t o f

en , , e e
w ri t i ngs s o obvi ously const ruc t ed fo r th e b enefit o f a

n
sup e ri o r r a ce at th e exp ens e o f all othe rs c a nnot ,
p rop erly b e reg a rded a s anything bu t a subte r f uge ,
intended t o imp r ess a pp e a s e and deceive ce rtain

,
cl ass es o f cl amo rous citi zens One o f t h es e cl a ss es .
r e ally dem a n de d j usti ce ; a n othe r ca r e d o n ly f o r os ,

THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO BLE M 12 5
di spl ay o f p i ety ; whil e a thi rd— who r e al

t e n t at i o u s
ly e n a ct e d th e l aw— to o k p a rti cul a r p a i n s to m ake
su r e th at i ts p r ovi si o n s h a d n o s e r iou s b e a r ing o n th e
s t a tu s q u o .
Th e co n cludi n g s e n te n ce o f thi s M as s a chu s etts

e n act m e n t (Thi s exemp ts n o n e f rom s e r vitude wh o
,
”
sh all b e j udge d the r eu n to b y autho r i ty ) wa s a d de d
to m a k e ce r tai n th a t eve n i f th e subtl e imm o r ality o f
th e r es t o f th e ac t h a d i n eve r y ca s e b e e n oth e r wi s e
, , ,
const r u ed thi s C l osi n g s e n te n ce would compl etely

,
n ulli f y th e godly s oundi n g wo r ds th at p recede d it

-
.
Th e di r e ct qu ot ati on s whi ch we h a v e give n a r e su f

fici e n t to supply th e r e a de r with a cl e a r p e r cep ti o n o f
th e ge n e r a l te n o r a n d pu r p o r t o f th es e e a r ly l aws ,
a s wel l a s to sh ow th e co n diti o n s u n de r whi ch th e
b l ac k ra ce li ve d f r om th e s ettl em ent o f th e col o n i e s

to th e r evolt a ga i n st Engl a n d .
A s to th e a ttitu de o f th e s eve r al s ectio n s th e r e

s e em s to h ave b e en n o well d e fin e d di ff e re n ce s i n
-
th ei r t r e atm ent o f th e sl ave qu esti on excep t a s re ,
g a rds th e Dutch s ettl em e n t o f N ew Am ste r da m

( N ew Yo r k ) wh ,ich w a s much m o re lib e r al a n d co n
s i d e rate th a n th e r est Th e l ate r di ff e r e n ce s a nd
.
p r ej udices b et we e n N o r th a n d South app e a r to h av e

b e en n ece ss a r y evil cons eque n ces o f n a ti o n al devel
Op m e n t . As th e n a ti on evolve d s e cti on al a n d local
,
inte r ests dive r ged a n d p r ej udi ces devel op ed u n ti l at ,
l a st wi th th e h e a t o f p a s si o n centr e d a round th e
,
gre a t qu esti on o f hum a n sl a ve r y th e gl owi n g co al s

,
bu rst i nto fl am e a n d th e deva stati n g scou r ge o f Wa r

,
o f Secess i o n w a s up o n u s .
Thi s e a r ly sl ave t r ade an d th e l egi s l ative a cts fo r

-
i ts regul ati on a r e ce rta i n ly deplo r a bl e ch apte r s i n

ou r n ati o n al li fe a n d si n ce they a re p ast and go n e
,
fo rev e r i t s e em s th e p a rt o f wi s dom to l et th em
al o n g with all su b s e q u e n t a cts o f c r u elty a nd b r uta l
—
i ty i n thi s co nn ecti on r est a s qui etly a s p ossi b l e ex
,
cept in s o fa r as t hey c an b e m a de to se r ve in well

.
m e aning b enevol ent e ff o rts to solve th e g r e at a n d

thre a te n ing N egro qu es t ion whi ch at this moment
,
—
c a sts a ve ry d a rk but we b eli eve a slowly di ssi
—
p at ing shadow ove r th e conti n ued p e ace a n d p r o s
p e ri t y o f thi s n atio
. n
CHA PTE R I $
Th e Sta tus o f th e N eg r o ,
a nd N eg r o Slav ery D ur ,
i ng th e Clo s i ng Y e ars o f B ri ti s h So v e re ig n ty,

a n d U n d e r t h e C o nf e d e r a ti o n
HE RE i s n owh e r e t o b e f ou nd a p r ove rb
m o r e p r eg n a n t w it h t r ut h th an th at gov
e rn m e n t s a r e a s g o o d a n d n o b ette r th a n
, ,
—
th ei r u n its th e i n divi duals who comp os e
t h e m ; g ove rn m e n ts a r e i n co n s equ e n ce found t o
, ,
v a r y s o m ewh a t wi th di ffe r e n t p eopl e s a n d i n di ffe r ,
e n t ti m e s a cco r di n g to th e i n divi du al a n d comp o si t e

,
ch a r a cte r o f th ei r citi z e n ship Th e r e fo re it must b e

.
a d m itte d t h a t a t b est hu m a n gove r nm ent i s ve r y

, ,
i m p e rf ect a n d n eve r e n ti r ely fr e e f rom co rr upti o n

—
.
Thu s we fin d co n t r a r y to th e b eli e f o f s om e
t h at th e ave ra ge s ta n da r d o f j usti ce a n d ri gh t am o n g
t h e e a rl y co l o n i sts w as— l a r gely th rough i gno r ance
—n o n e to o hi gh I t wa s di sti n ctly l owe r th a n th a t
.
o f t h e l ate r p e r i o d o f gove r nm ent u n de r th e Co n

,
fe d e r ati o n a n d u n de r th e Co n sti tuti o n

, .
I n a cc or dance with the p r i n cipl e j ust st ate d th e

dr e a dful c ond i ti o n a n d t r eat m e n t o f th e subj ect
N e gro r a ce w e r e s o m ewh at b ette r unde r th e C o n
fe de r ati o n a n d c on ti n u e d to imp r ove slowly u n de r
, , ,
t h e C o n sti tuti o n u n til we r e a ch e d a p oi n t wh e n th e

,
m o r a l sta n da rd s o f th e w h ol e p e opl e h ad b e e n s o
el evate d th at sl ave r y wa s n o l o n ge r tol e r abl e
—
.
I t s h ou ld b e wel l r em em b e r ed a s a p oint to b e
m a d e us e of i n o u r l ate r a r gum e n t co n ce rn i n g th e
—
,
fi n a l s oluti o n o f th e N eg r o qu e sti o n th at thi s em a n

c ip ati o n d i d no t co m e to th e b l ac k r a ce t hro u gh a n y
12 7
e ffo r t o r ability t o a ss e r t its r ights ; i t was wholly

, ,
th rough t h e imp r ove d mo ral sta n da rds o f the gre a t

e r p o r t i on o f ou r whi t e p opul a ti on I n oth e r wo rds .
t h e N egro p o ss ess e d no ability wh a ts o eve r to help

o r fre e hims el f So long a s h e h a d pl enty o f fo odp
.
a nd o u t lets fo r hi s o rdin a ry a nim al p a ssi ons h e re ,
m ained h a ppy a nd conten t W e could no t h a ve hel d

.
a s ch a ttels t h a t numb e r o f Jews o r even a like num ,
b e r o f J a p a nes e I n f a ct i t i s q u es t ion a bl e i f i t
.
would h ave b e en po ssibl e to enslave a nd so gro s sly

punish a nd abus e a simil a r n u mb e r o f Am e rinds .
The mode s t m en ta l c a p a c iti es o f t he N egro we re in ,
the fi rst ins ta nce th e secret o f hi s captu re and redue

,
ti on to unlimi t ed s e rvitude ; and s econdly th e ex , ,
pl an a ti o n o f hi s p eace ful s u b mi s si on i n grea t num ,
b ers t o a co n di t i on o f a b s olute sl ave r y exte n ding

,
ove r a p e ri o d o f centu ri es .
In th e ye a r 1 7 7 6 and a fte r l a ws we re p ass ed a n d

, ,
attemp t s m a de t o ab ol i sh sl a ve ry in t h e colony o f
M a ss a chusett s and j u ri es i n one c a s e a f t e r anothe r
, , ,
uni fo rmly de cl a red t h a t th e l a w s then on the st a tu t e

b ooks di d not s a ncti on sl ave ry Thei r de c isi ons from
.
th a t tim e o n wa rd we re inv a ri ably a g a ins t sl a ve ry

a nd i n f a vo r o f fre edom Thi s enligh t ene d a nd
.
p rogressive attitude o f M a ss a chus e tt s h a d con t em

p o r a n e o u s supp o r t by t he cou r t s o f Engl a nd .
Ab out thi s t im e the cel eb r at ed c a s e o f on e J a m es

Su m e rs e tt was b rought b e fo re t h e co u rt o f Ki ngs
b ench in Engl an d Thi s sui t w as b rought o n a writ
.
o f h a b e a s c o rp us a nd a rgued fi rst b e fo re Lo rd ,
M an sfiel d and t hen b e fo re th e full cou r t Th e fin a l

, .
opinion h an ded down by Lo rd M a nsfi eld that t h e r e

, ,
was n o posi t ive l aw t o s u ppo rt sl avery in Engl a nd ,
a nd th e re fo re the bl a ck mus t b e di sch a rged Thi s

, ,
.
noted c a s e s e ems t o h a ve est a bl ished a l a s ting p rece

d e n t and set tl e d th e q uestio n i n E n gl a n d i n favo r o f
u n ivers a l hum a n fr eedo m f o r al l f utu r e ti m e .
N o twi thst a n di n g th e fa ct th a t eve r y ca s e b r ought

b e fo r e a j u ry i n th e commo n we alth o f M as s ac h u
s etts a fte r 1 7 7 6 r esulted i n i n divi du al fr e edom it
, ,
f a il e d to p ro duce a n y gen e r al em ancip a t i o n Thi s .
o f cou r s e w a s du e to th e i n h e r ent g r e e d o f a l a r ge
cl a s s o f ci ti z en s Th ey w e re h ol ding fa st to thi s
.
p e r ni ci ou s p r a cti ce r ega r dl es s o f i ts e st a b li sh e d in
,
j u sti ce a n d imm o r ali ty .
A ye a r o r two l a te r a de cl a r ati o n i n s e r te d i n to th e
“
M a s s achus etts B ill o f Ri ghts decl a re d th a t all m e n
”
a r e b o rn fr e e a n d e qu al T a ke n l i t e r a lly thi s state
.
m e n t whi ch J effe rs o n h a d al r e a dy i nco rp o r at ed i n to

,
th e D ecl a rati o n o f Am e r i c an I n dep endence i s ce r ,
t ai n ly f a r f ro m t r u e H ow eve r th e Sup rem e Cou r t

.
,
o f M a s s a chu s etts h el d th a t thi s D ecl a r at i on p ro h ib

i t e d sl av e r y with in h e r co n fi n es ; thus annulli n g all
l e gal cl a im s to p r op erty r ights i n hum a n b eings s o ,
f a r a s th at col o n y o r comm o nwe a lth w a s co n ce r n e d , .
I n th e v e r y r e ce n t a n d excell ent publi cati o n o f

, ,
th e l ate H on o r abl e B B Mun fo r d o f Ri chm o n d

. .
,
“
V i r gi n i a o n V i rgi ni a s Attitu de Tow a rd Sl ave r y
,
’
an d S eces s i on hi s p a t ri oti sm an d comm e n dab le a r

, ,
do r to pl a ce th e m o s t favo r a bl e cons tru c t i o n on V i r

,
g i n i a
’
s atti tu de r eg a r di ng th es e qu es t i o n s s e em a t ,
tim e s to h av e domi n a t e d hi s b ette r j udgme n t a n d ,
—
caus ed him in spit e o f th e n obl e st i nten t i ons to —
vi ol ate ce r t a i n r e co rd e d fa cts o f hi s t o ry Fo r i n .
sta n ce h e giv es Vi rgi n i a cr e dit fo r a p os iti o n whi ch

u n qu e s ti o nab ly b elongs to M a s s a chus etts b y vi r t u e ,
o f th e l a tte r s l a ws a nd co u rt de c r e es h e rei n rel ate d

’
-
.
“
M r Mu n fo r d s a ys : Fo r em ost am ong th e l aws
.
e n a cte d by h e r G ene r al Ass em b ly a fte r V i rgi n i a s ’
decl ar a t i o n o f i ndep ende n ce from B riti sh r ul e w a s

h e r cel e b r ate d st a tut e p rohib iti n g th e sl ave t r a de -
.
—
Thi s a ct was p a ss e d i n 1 7 7 8 thu s a n te d ati n g b y ,
thi r ty ye a rs th e like acti o n o f Gre a t B r itai n By thi s .
l aw i t was p rovi de d th a t from a nd a f t e r t he p a ssing

‘
o f thi s a ct no sl a ves shoul d h e re a f t e r b e imp o r ted

i n to t his commo n we a l th by s e a o r l a nd no r sh a ll a ny ,
sl ave s o imp o rte d b e s old o r b o u ght by a ny p e rs on

whats o eve r Th e s ta tu t e imp os ed a fine o f o n e
.
’
thous and pounds up on th e p e rson imp o r t ing them

fo r e a ch slave imp o rted and a lso a fine o f five hu n ,
d r e d p ou n ds upo n a ny p e rson buying o r s elli n g a n y

such sl a ve fo r e a ch sl a ve bough t o r s old The crim e .
o f b r i n ging i n sl a ves i s still fu rthe r gu a rde d a g a ins t

by a p rovi sio n whi ch decl a res t h a t eve ry s l a ve shall ‘
upon such impo r t a t i on b ecom e f r ee O f thi s act .

’
M r B a ll agh i n hi s Hi s to ry o f Sl a ve ry in Vi rgi n i a
.
, ,
s ays Vi rgi n i a thus ha d t h e honor o f b ei n g th e fi rst

,
‘
p oli t ic a l comm u ni ty in t he civili z ed mo de rn w o r l d to

p r ohibi t th e p e rni ci ous t rafli c .
’
I n thus s a nc t i oning t he c omme n t an d cl aim o f M r

B allagh M r Mun fo rd — like M r B a ll a gh— we n t a
.
, . .
li tt l e t o o fa r fo r M a s s a chu s e tt s by a comb inati o n

, ,
o f he r o r g a ni c l a w a n d a deci s i on o f he r hi gh est
j u di ci a ry h a d t wo ye a rs p revi ou s ly (1 7 7 6 ) st r u ck
,
a de a t h b low at t he ve ry ro ot o f t h e vil e p r a ctice

-
,
and s ou n ded th e de at h kn ell o f hum an c h at teli sm s o

-
f a r a s h e r j u ri sdic t i o n wa s co n ce rned Mo re ove r .

,
Engl a nd h a d at o r ab ou t th e s a m e tim e — b y th e ,
cou r t dec r e e which we h a ve give n —p e rm an e n tly

-
ab oli shed sl ave ry .
Th e re fo re a dmi tting th e wi sdom o f th e Vi rgi n i a

,
act quoted a nd comm ending i t s o f a r a s it goes

, ,
M a ss a chu s etts w a s a nd i s c l e a rly en t i t l ed to th e high

ho n o r which t he este emed a u tho r s o s ince rely com
pu t es t o Vi r gini a Th e ve ry f a c t t h a t the autho r
.
him s el f i s a son o f Vi rgini a wo u l d incline him t o b e

the mo re scrupulou s a nd p a in s ta ki ng in a s si gning his
to r i c ho nor a nd glo ry w h e r e such glo r y a n d ho n o r
T HE A M E RI CAN NE G RO PRO BLE M 131
j us tly b el o n g
Th e tr u h t o tell p a i n ful th o ugh i t b e—V i r gi n i a
.
t —
wa s h ol di ng fas t to sl a ve r y wi th th e m o st s eve r e
st a tutes fo r its r e gul ati on o n th e o n e h a n d whi l e o n
, ,
th e oth e r exp re s s i ng h e r out r a ge d s e n s e o f j ustice

,
a t th e co n t i nu ati o n o f th e A f r i ca n t r a de A n d i t .
does no t r equi re extr a o rdin a r y p ow e r s o f p e n et r a

ti o n i n t o th e m o t ives o f m e n to s e e th e si n i st e r side
o f such l egi sl a t i o n a s t h e Ho no rabl e B B Mu n fo rd . .
,
with th e b est o f i n tenti o n s a cc r edite d to h e r as r i g ht

,
eo u s n e s s .
M ay we a s k wh at we r e h e r m otive s fo r thi s i nco n

si ste n t a tti t u de $
Hi sto ry tells u s th a t a t th i s ti m e th e n um b e r o f
b l a c k sl ave s i n Vi rgini a — a s i n o t h e r Sou t h e rn s tate s
— wa s r api dly a p p ro a chi ng th e total n um b e r o f fr e e
whi tes a nd th a t i n ce rtai n di stri cts the f o r m e r ac
,
tu ally out n um b e re d th e l at t e r ; th a t th e p e op l e w e r e
gre atly al a rm ed a t th e r api d i n c r e a s e o f n e w captives
f rom A fr i c a wh o un d e r such c r u el a n d i n hu m a n
,
t r e atm e n t a s th ey f r equ e n tly r eceive d coul d o n l y ,
h ate th ei r capto rs and e nte rta i n th e st r o n gest p o ss i

b l e d esi re fo r reve n ge o r e scap e Fu r t h e r m o r e i t
.
,
w a s fou n d l es s dange rous ch e a p e r and i n eve r y re

, ,
sp e ct m o r e s a ti s fa cto r y to b re e d th e b l ac k s l av e
wo m e n th a n to i mp o rt n ew captive s
,
.
I n th es e m a t t e rs o f hi sto ry l et u s t ell th e u nv a r
n i s h e d t ruth fe a rl es sly ; fo r th e re i s n othi n g p e rm a
u ently to b e ga in ed b y i ts p e r ve rs i o n V i e w e d in thi s
.
t r u e li ght w e d o not s e e th a t V i r gini a h a s a n y go o d

r e a s on to b o a st o f th e act i n qu esti on .
O n th e oth e r h a n d i t m ay b e s ai d wi th e qu al f o r ce
, ,
th a t th e l aws o f M a ss a chus etts a n d th e Sup r e m e

Cou rt d eci s i ons which ab oli shed l egal sl ave r y i n th at
,
comm o n we alth w e r e i n enti re co n fo rmi ty with wh at

,
t h e fr e e w hites o f th a t p oli tical com m u n i ty co n ce i ve d

to b e thei r highest s el f inte res t M a ss a chus etts di d

-
.
n o t need o r desi r e sl ave l a b or as di d th e a gri cul t u ral

Sou t h ; an d s h e s aw th at t he mo r a l a nd indu s t ri a l
effect o f t he ins t itu t i on w a s cont r a ry to th e highest
inte rest s a nd developmen t o f he r fre e citi z ens ; it
t ended t o p rodu c e a sen t imen t a mong h e r white citi
zen s th a t l a bo r w a s di shono r a ble Th e immedi ate .
caus e o f t hi s s entiment was t h e f a c t t hat l ab o r o f

any kind b rought th e fre e whi t es t o a pl a ne o f equ al
i t y— at l e a s t indus t ri a lly— wi th Negro slaves
w
.
H u m a n n at u re i s no t a f t e r a ll s o di ff e rent a s ou r
, ,
egoti s m inclines u s to s u pp os e I t will gene r a lly b e

.
found i f we s c ru t ini z e wi t h s u fli ci e n t c a re t h at legis

,
‘
l a t ive a cts— like a ll o t he r hum a n a cts — a re founded

p rim a rily ei t he r in th e in t e re s ts o f an individu al o r
, ,
a colle ct i on o f indivi du a l s ei t h e r comp o s ed o f or

, ,
di rec t ly influencing t ho s e en t rus t ed with thei r m ak

,
i ng .
Th e re c a n b e no que s t i on o f doubt t h a t du ring th e

p e riod imm edi at ely p re c edin g t he R evolu t i on t he r e
w as a r a pi dly developing s en ti men t i n t he N ew Eng
l a nd s tat e s a g a in s t h u m an s l a ve ry M o st o f thei r
, .
own hi s t o ri a n s h a ve given a s a b a s i s o f s uch s en t i

m en t t h at t hey di d no t b eli eve su ch ch a tt eli s m ri ght ,
an d i t i s c e r ta in t h at su ch i s p a rtly the t r u th fo r it ,
-
i s h a rd to conceive h ow a ny ri ght thinking hum a n -
—
b eing co u ld c onclude o t he rwi s e but it i s a much
f u lle r st at emen t o f t ruth t o a dmi t t h a t th at s ecti on
o f t he coun t ry w a s mo re s t rongly imp ell ed by a c o n
v i c ti o n ,
th at t h e ins t ituti on milit a ted ag a inst its m a
t e ri al wel f a re .
Unde r t he o ri gin a l C on fede r at i on o r d u ring t h e ,
b ri e f in t e rv a l b etwe en t h e c a lling o f t he s e c ond C on

t i n e n t al C ongress (i n 1 7 7 5 ) a nd t h e putting i n t o
—
e ff ec t o f t he p res en t wri tt en C on s t i tution at the
close o f the ye a r 1 7 8 8— th e re w a s lit t l e o r n o ch ange
ei th e r i n th e sta tus o f th e A f ri ca n sl ave t r a de o r th e -
h a r sh r egul ati o n s an d tr e atm e n t o f sl aves Th e r e .
we r e wi s e a n d nobl e m e n i n all th e colo n i es who de

l e d sl av e ry a n d th e sl ave t r a de a n d who di d all
p o r ,
-
,
th ey coul d a gai n st i t by p r e cep t a s well a s by exam

pl e ; b ut thi s typ e o f m an w a s s a dly i n th e mi n o ri ty ,
a t l e a st s o fa r as th e Sou t h e rn state s w e re co n ce rn e d .
Th e exampl e o f M a s s a chus et t s m ay b e ta k e n a s a
fa i r c ri te ri on o f th e a t titude o f N ew E n gl a nd i n ge n
e r a l whi ch a s w e h av e s a i d now s a w th a t th e i n sti
, , ,
tu ri o n an d p r a cti ce wa s opp os e d to its fu tu re s a fety

a n d m ate ri al well b ein g -
.
Wh e n th e N ati o n al C o n stituti on al C onve n ti o n

op e n e d i ts s es si ons i n I ndep e n de n ce Hall i n Ph iladel
phi a o n th e i 4 th o f M ay 1 7 8 7 thi s qu esti o n o f
, , ,
sl ave r y an d th e sl ave tr a de wa s o n e o f th e m o st
,
-
,
p e rpl exi ng with whi ch i t s m emb e r s we r e co n fro n ted ;

—
a n d wh il e that spl e n di d i n strum e n t i n i ts fi n al d ra f t
— wa s es s e n ti ally a comp romi s e i ts attitude towa r ds ,
the N e g r o qu es ti o n w a s n othi n g sho rt o f a compl et e

stra ddl e w h e re ab s olut e eva si o n w a s found i mp o s s i
,
bl e I t i s n o t h a rd t o find th e u n derlying caus e s f o r

.
thi s cou rs e ; th e wonde r i s th a t th ey we re eve r ab l e to

a g r e e up o n a n ything i n th e p r es ence o f such dive r si
,
fie d opi n i o n s and confl i cti n g i nt e re sts Fo r i n sta n ce

.
,
w e h a v e s e e n th a t th e N ew Engl an d state s n o t o n l y
h a d comp a ratively f e w sl ave s b ut t h ey h ad fou n d b y
exp e r i e n ce th a t th e i nsti tuti o n— unde r th e co n di ti o n s
—
th e n existing in th a t s ecti o n o f th e count r y wa s at
once unp r ofitabl e a n d d em o r ali zing ; whil e i n th e
cotton ri ce a n d t ob a cco states o f th e South th e c o n
, ,
s e n s u s o f op i ni on wa s to the eff ect that i nh e r i te d
sl ave r y w a s hi ghly p r ofita b l e a n d mu st b e gu a r a n

te e d a n d p e rp etu ate d .
E a ch South e rn m emb e r o f thi s C o n ve n ti o n wa s

re qu i re d to define hi s p o siti on on th e N eg r o sl ave
1 34 THE ULTI MATE SOLU TIO N O F
q u estio n b e fo r e h e could b e s el ected to s e rve h is

p eople i n thi s all imp o rt an t c a p a city Thus whe n
-
.
t hey came to con fe r i n op en s essi o n th ey found t hei r

—
vi ews as well as t hos e o f t hei r cons t i tu ents di a
,
—
m etri c a lly oppos ed i n m a ny c a s es Thi s was n ot all .
,
s uch lib e r a l intell e cts a s a m aj o r i ty o f the m emb e r s

,
p o s s e s s ed might h a ve b een exp ec t ed t o w a ive much

,
in o rde r t o a g r ee upo n a m att e r o f such vi ta l impo r

t a nce as wa s th e wo rk i n hand Bu t when th ey ha d .
exp ended t hei r ene rgi es i n framing such a comp r o

mi se i t w a s wholly inop e r a tive and me a ningl ess u n til
i t h a d b een duly r atifi ed by t h e C onven t i o n s o f n i n e
out o f the to ta l numb e r o f t hi rteen s ta tes .
The instrumen t as i t w as at l ength a gre ed up o n

, ,
i s date d Septemb e r 1 7 1 7 8 7 I t w as a t once t r a n s

, .
m itt e d to C ongress wi t h t h e r ecomm enda t i on t hat it

b e submitted to th e s eve ra l S ta te Co n venti o n s f o r
r at i fic a ti o n which w a s a cco rdingly done
, It was .
adopted by el eve n s t a t es i n th e following o rde r

D el a w a re D ecemb e r 7 1 7 8 7 ; Pe n nsylvani a D e
, , ,
c e mb e r 1 2 th ; N ew Jer s ey D ecemb e r 1 8 t h ; Ge o r gi a
, ,
J a nu a ry 2 1 7 8 8 ; C onnec t icu t J an u a r y 9th ; M a s s a

, ,
c h u s e tt s Feb ru a r y 7 th ; M a ryl a nd Ap ril 2 8 t h ; South

, ,
Ca r olina M a y 2 3 d ; a nd N ew H ampshi re June

, ,
2 1 8 t whi ch m ade t h e ins t rum en t e ff e ctive b ei n g th e

, ,
requi red n i nt h s ta te r at i fyi n g Vi rgini a r at ifi ed .
June 2 7 th ; N ew Yo r k July 2 6 th N o rth C a roli n a

, .
a nd Rhode I s l a nd di d not rati fy th e Co n stituti o n

until 1 7 8 9 a nd 1 7 90 resp ec t ively .
Th e r atifi c a ti on o f t h e C o n sti tuti on by th e states

encou nt ered its mo s t s e ri ous oppositi o n i n M ass a
c h u s e t t s N ew Yo rk a nd Vi r gini a wh e r e fo r a tim e
, , ,
i t s ultim at e f a te— s o f a r a t l e a s t a s thes e s t a t es we r e

—
con c e rned was a m a tt e r o f th e gravest doub t I n .
thei r co nven t i ons the r e we re m en on b o t h sides o f

t he ques t i o n o f r a ti fica t i on who h ad b een memb e r s
,
TH E A M E R I CA N NE G R O PR O B L E M 13 5
o f t h e N ati on a l Co n ve n ti o n a ss o ci ate d wi th o th e r s
,
o f di sti n gui sh e d a b il iti e s Th e re w e r e a dve r s e in fl u

.
e n c e s i n M a s s achus etts th at woul d almo st c e r tai n ly
h ave d e fea te d r ati ficati o n i n th at state h a d n ot th e ,
p r op osi ti o n b e e n a cco m p ani e d b y a bill o f r i ghts a n d

p r op o s e d a m e n dm e n ts to b e sub mitted by Co n g r es s
,
to th e s eve r al states fo r th ei r s a n cti o n Th e a d o p .
ti o n o f th e s e by th e conve n ti o n ga ined th e sup p o r t o f

H a n co c k a n d Samu el Ad am s f o r th e Co n sti tuti o n ;
a n d th e qu e sti o n o f ra ti fi catio n w a s c a r ri ed by a vo te
o f o n e hund r e d a n d eighty s eve n t o o n e hu n d r e d a nd
-
sixty ei g h t
-
.
We m o de r n s s e e m to thi nk a g r e at d e al m o r e o f
th e C on stituti o n th a n di d th e l e a ding m en who c o n
trol l e d th e n ati o n a n d ste e re d th e shi p o f state a t th e
tim e th at o r gani c l aw w a s m ade t h e m o st influ e n ti al
wr iti n g o f th e a ge a n d desti n ed to b ecom e l ate r th e
,
g u i d i n g sta r o f th e gre ates t temp o r al p owe r i n h i s

to r y.
Thi s i n st r um e n t w a s veh e m e n tly o pp o s e d i n t h e

V i r gi n i a Conve n ti o n by su ch b rilli ant li ghts a n d
wo r l d ren o w e d state sm en as J am e s M on ro e Ge o r ge
-
—
,
M a s o n an d Pat r i ck He n ry M as o n h aving al s o
,
b e e n a m em b e r o f t h e f am ou s Co nventi o n th a t
fr am ed i t A r r ayed o n th '
. e oth e r s i de we r e such me n
a s M r M a dis o n M r P endl eto n Joh n M a r sh all
.
, .
, ,
E dm o nd R a n dolph an d G e o rge Wyth e ; th r e e o f

whom we r e als o m emb e rs o f th e N ati onal C o n v en
ti o n o f fr am e r s M r R a ndolph who h a d re fus e d
. .
,
t o s i g n th e inst r um ent h ad b ecom e o n e o f i ts st r o n g

,
e st a dvo cat e s H e r e a g a i n w e fi n d th e r atifi cati o n

.
a dvo cates g r e atly ai de d by a b ill o f ri ghts an d c e r

ta i n p rop o s e d a m endm e n ts I t i s quite ce rta i n th at
.
th e Co nsti t uti o n coul d n ev e r h ave b e e n r ati fi ed by

th e r equi r ed n u m b e r o f states h a d i t n ot b e e n fo r the
p r omi s e o f ce r tai n am e n dm e n ts a nd th e a dop ti o n o f
I 3 6 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTI ON O F
bills o f r ight s Unde r t h e ci r c umstan c es t he o r ganic

.
l a w o f thi s gre at republic w as fin a lly r a ti fi ed by the

Vi rgini a l egi s l at u re by a vo t e o f eigh t y eight ye a s -
a g a ins t eigh ty n a ys .
In N ew Yo rk t h e opp ositi on w a s even s tronge r

th a n in Vi rgini a a nd r at ific at i on was m a de p o s sibl e
,
i n t he fin a l vote o f thi r ty one t o twen t y nine only by

,
- -
,
t he p revi ous a dop t i on o f a bill o f righ t s and num e r

ous a m endmen t s ; a nd i n th e N at i on a l C onventio n o f
fr a me rs two o f N ew Yo rk s th r e e del eg a tes a ctu a lly
’
we n t s o f a r a s t o wi t hd r a w Am ong t h e opp onents.
we re Yate s Lansing a nd Geo rge C linton ; t h e two

, ,
fo rmer b eing memb e r s a ls o o f th e Gene r a l C o n v e n

t i on ; while its s t ronges t a dvoc at e s we re J ohn J a y ,
Rob e r t R Livings t on and M r H a mil t on

.
, . .
All o f the s tat es we re ve r y t a rdy ab ou t ratificati on

a nd som e app e a r t o h ave wa ited to s e e wh a t thei r
s i s t e r s t a t es would do .
Th e inj unc t i on o f s ecre c y a s to th e p ro ce edings o f

t he Na t i on a l C onven t i on w a s neve r removed I n .
a c c o rd a nce wi t h a p revi ous vote t he Jo u rn a l was en

t r u sted t o t he cu s t ody o f Wa shi ngton by whom it ,
was a fte rwa rd depo si t ed i n th e dep a r t men t o f st a te ,
and by o rder o f C ongres s i t wa s fi r s t p rin t e d in 1 8 1 8 .
—
Yates on e o f t he memb e rs from N ew Yo rk
, ,
took s ho r t no t es o f th e e a rli e r deb at e s whi c h we re ,
publi shed a f t e r hi s de at h i n 1 8 2 1 The mo re p e r fect .
note s o f M a di s on publi s hed l at e r with t he o fli ci al

,
Jou rn a l t he notes o f Y at es a nd a rep res ent a ti on t o

, ,
the l egi sl a tu re o f M a ryl a nd m ade by Luther M a rt in ,
f u rni shed m at e ri a ls for a mo re o r l e s s c ompl e t e V i ew

o f t he c onfli cting opinions whi c h divide d t h e c o n v e n
t ion a nd o f a p ro c es s o f att ri t i on a nd comp romi s e
,
ove r m att e rs o f t he mo s t vi t a l in t e res t which fin a lly ,
molded t he Fede r a l C on s t itu ti on ou t o f t h e o ri gin a l

m a ss o f once ch a oti c vi ews Fo r few i f any o f th e .
TH E A M E RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 1 37
m e n th at co n stitute d th e co n ve n ti o n we r e th em s e l ves
s ati sfi ed with th e comp o site st r uctu re whi ch i n th e ,
en d r ep res ente d no i ndivi du al p e r fectly but w as

, ,
p e r h ap s th e b est th at coul d b e do ne a n d n o doub t

,
mu ch b e t te r th a n any i ndivi du al m em b e r coul d h ave

p r o duce d .
We h ave s ai d th at th e i n strum e n t w a s a str a d dl e

o n th e vit al questi o n o f N egr o sl ave r y How could .
i t h av e b e en oth e r wi s e wh en h a l f th e m en i n th e Co n
v e n ti o n b eli eve d i t to b e unj ust t o th e N egro a nd ,
i n j u r i ou s o r rui n ous to th e m o r a l ity and i n dust r y o f

, ,
th e white s ; whil e th e oth e r h al f l o oked up o n th e

b la c k m an a s a l egi tim a t e ch a ttel a n d hi s co n diti o n
,
a s es s e n ti al to th e p r o sp e rity o f the South e rn h al f

o f th e country $
I n th e f oll owing ext ra cts f rom a r ti cl es o f th e C on
s t i tu ti o n we give th e only p o r ti on s whi ch a re s u p
p o s e d to rel at e eve n v agu ely t o the qu esti o n o f slav

e ry
P re am b le We the people o f the U n ite d States
.
,
i n o rde r to fo rm a m o re p e r fect Uni o n e s t abli sh ,
j usti ce i n su re dom e sti c t ranquil ity fo r th e com m o n

,
de fens e p rom o te th e ge n e r al wel f a re a n d s ecu re th e

,
b l es sings o f lib e r ty to ou rs elve s and ou r p o ste rity ,
d o o r d a i n thi s Consti tuti o n f o r th e U n it e d State s o f

A m e r ica .
Article I Se ctio n 1 All legisl ative powe r s he r e i n

. .
gra n ted sh a ll b e ve sted i n a C ongress o f th e U n ite d

,
Sta te s which sh all co n s i st o f a Se n ate and a H ous e

,
o f Rep re s e n tative s .
“
Section 2 Re p r ese n tative s a n d di rect taxe s shall
.
b e app oi nte d am o ng th e s eve r al sta t es which m ay b e

i ncluded within thi s U n i o n a cco r ding to th ei r re s p e c
t ive num b e r s whi ch sh all b e dete rmi n e d by a ddi n g
,
th e whol e n umb e r o f f r e e p e rs ons includi ng th o s e

,
b ound to s e r vitude fo r a te r m o f ye a r s and ex clu d ,

13 8 THE ULT I M ATE SO LUT I ON OF
ing Indi a ns no t taxed th r ee fif th s o f a ll o t he r p e r
,
-
sons .
Se ction 9 The emigr at io n o r im p ort a tio n o f su c h

.
p e rsons as a ny o f t he S tat e s now ex i s t ing sh a ll t hi n k

p rop e r t o a dmi t sh a ll not b e p rohibi t ed by t he C on
,
gress p ri o r to t h e ye a r 1 8 0 8 b u t a t a x o r duty m a y ,
b e impos ed no t exceedi ng t en doll a r s on e a c h p e rs on

,
.
“
The privilege o f t he wri t o f h a b e as c o rp us sh a ll
n o t b e susp ended u nle s s when i n c a s e s o f reb ellion
, ,
or inv a sion t h e p u bli c s a fety m a y requi re i t

,
.
“
No bill o f atta inde r or ex p o s t fa c to l a ws sh a ll
, ,
be passed .
Ar t i cle I I I Sec t io n 3. Tre a son a g a inst the

.
Uni t ed St at es s h a ll c on s is t only i n l evying w a r

ag a in s t them o r i n a dhering t o t hei r enemi es giv in g
, ,
them ai d and com fo r t .
Ar t icle IV Se c t ion 2 . The c iti zens o f e a c h S t a t e

.
sh a ll b e en t i t l ed t o a ll the p rivil ege s o f citi z ens i n t he

s eve r a l S tat es No pe r s on h eld t o se rvi ce o r l ab o r
.
in one St a te unde r th e l a ws the reo f es c a ping into

, ,
a nothe r sh a ll in cons eq u ence o f a ny l a w o r re g ul a

, ,
t i o n the rein b e di sch a rged from su c h s ervi c e o r

,
l a b o r but sh a ll b e delive re d up on cl a im o f t h e p a r t y
,
to whom such s e rvi ce o r l a b o r m a y b e du e .
“
Sec t ion 3 New S tat es m a y be a dmi tt ed by t he
.
C ongres s int o thi s Uni on ; bu t no new S tat e sh a ll b e

fo rmed o r e recte d with ih t h e j u ri sdi c t i on o f a ny
othe r St a te ; n o r any S t ate b e fo rm ed by t h e j unc t i on
o f t wo o r mo re S tat es o r p a rts o f S tat es wi t hou t
, ,
the con s en t o f t he l egi sl a t u res o f t he St a tes c once rn

ed as well a s o f t h e C ongress
, .
“
The C ongre ss s h a ll h a ve power t o dispose o f and ,
m a ke a ll ne edful rule s a nd regu l at ions respec t ing th e

t erri t o ry o r o t h e r p rop e r t y b elonging t o the Uni t e d
S ta te s ; a nd no t hing in t hi s C on s t i t u t i on s hall b e so
con s t ru ed a s t o p rej udi ce a ny cl a ims o f t h e United
Sta tes o r o f a n y p a r ti cul a r State

, .
“
Secti o n 4 The U n ited State s shall gua r a n tee to
.
eve r y Sta te i n thi s Un i o n a r epubl i ca n fo r m o f gov

e rn m e n t and sh all p r ot ect e a ch o f th em a gai n st i n
,
v as i o n ; a n d on appli cati on o f th e l egi sl atu r e or of ,
th e executive wh e n l egi sl a tu re ca nn ot b e co n v e n e d ,
a gain st dom esti c vi ol e n ce .
“
Ar t i cle VI Th is Co n stitutio n a n d t h e la ws of
.
,
th e Un ited State s wh ich sh a ll b e m a de i n pu r su a n c e

th e r e o f a n d all the t r e a ti e s m a de o r whi ch sh all b e
, ,
ma de unde r th e auth o rity o f th e Unite d Stat e s sh all

, ,
b e th e sup rem e l aw o f th e l a nd ; a n d th e j u dges i n

eve ry Stat e sh all b e b ou n d th e r e b y a n ythi n g i n th e ,
C ons t i tuti on o r l aws o f a n y Stat e to th e co n t r a r y

n otwithsta n di n g .
I n s o fa r as w e a r e abl e to a s ce rtai n t h e a b ove ,
qu ote d p o r ti o ns o f th e Fe de r al C o n s ti tuti o n a r e all

t h e cl aus es o f th at i n st rum ent th at h ave b e e n a t a n y
t i m e r e fe rr ed to a s b e a r i n g up o n the su b j e ct o f
N eg r o s l ave r y .
I t i s wo r t h y o f n ote th a t t h e wo rd sl av e o r ,
”
sl ave r y w a s ca r e f ully ev a de d a nd d o es n ot ap
, ,
p e a r once i n th e e n ti r e i nstrum ent M r M a d i s o n . .

,
wh o w a s a l e a di n g m em b e r o f th e Co nve n ti o n a nd
wh o to o k f ull no tes o f its p ro ce e dings tells u s t h i s ,
—
sil e n ce w a s i nte n ti o n al th e C o n venti o n b ei n g u n wil l
i n g th at th e o r g a n i c l aw o f th e U n ited States sh ou ld
d i r ectly s a n cti o n p r op e rt y r i ghts i n hum a n b ei n gs .
I n such p as sa ges as sl ave s a r e p r esum ed to b e co n

“
t e m p lat e d th ey a r e u n i fo r mly desi g n a te d a s per
” “ ”
so n s n o t a s p r op e rty
, C on temp o r a r y hi s to r y a f
.
fi rm s th at it w as th e opi n i o n o f a l a r ge n u mb e r
,
p e r h ap s h al f o f th e del ega tes th a t sl ave r y c o u l d

-
,
n o t long su r vive th e stopp age o f th e sl ave t r a de -

,
w h i ch wa s exp ecte d to o ccu r a n d di d actu ally o ccu r

, ,
a cco rd i ng t o a cl au s e o f th e C o n s ti tu ti on i n 1 80 8 , .
A n d s o fa r a s its l egali z ati on w a s conce r n e d it cam e

to a n end in t h at ye a r bu t N egro c a p t ive s continu e d
,
to b e sm u ggled i n i n gre ate r o r sm a ll e r numb e rs a s

, ,
l ong as th e i ns ti t uti o n o f sl a ve r y exi sted .
At t h e t ime o f th e fr a mi ng o f th e C onstituti o n
Washingt on J effe rson a nd P at ri ck Henry h eld in
, ,
common wi t h m a ny oth e r l e a ding c iti z ens o f V i r

gini a t h a t t h e in s titu t ion o f sl a ve ry wa s no t o nly
wrong from a mo r a l standp oi n t a nd contra ry to th e ,
v e ry p rinci pl es upon which t h e gove rnment wa s

founded bu t t h a t in t he end i t could result o n ly in
,
di s as t e r t o t h e m a ste rs Think how much b ette r .
wo u l d h a ve b een t he m at e ri al c ondition o f the South

to d a y i f th e cru el p r a c t i ce co u ld h ave p a ss ed from
-
i t wi th t he th rowi n g o fl o f t h e B riti s h yoke inste ad ,
o f holdi ng to i t a s s h e did until comp ell ed to desi st

, ,
by th e ho rribl e and devasta t ing scou rge o f C ivil

Wa r .
Jeffe rson denou n ced th e whol e system o f sl a ve r y

i n t he most emph ati c te rm s a s f ata l to m a n ne rs a n d ,
ind u stry and enda n ge ring the ve r y p r i n cipl es o n

,
whi ch the lib e rti es o f th e s tat e we re fou n ded— A “
p e r p e t u a l exe rcis e o f the most un r emitting desp oti sm

on the o ne h a nd a n d degr a di n g submissi o n on th e
,
”
othe r s a i d J e ffe r so n
, .
Simil a r s entime n ts we r e e n te r tai n ed a n d fr e ely ,

“
exp ress ed by P at ri ck Hen ry
, Would any one b e .
” “
li eve h e wrote th at I a m a m a ste r o f sl aves o f
, ,
my own pu rch a s e $ I am draw n a long by the gen

e r a l inconveni ence o f living h e re wi t hout th em I .
—
will no t I c a nnot j u sti fy it $ I b eli eve a tim e will
come wh en a n oppor tunity will b e o ff e red to a b oli sh
this l a m e nta bl e evil Eve rything we c a n do i s to
.
imp r ove i t i f i t h app en s in ou r d a y ; i f n o t l et us

, ,
tr a nsmi t to o u r descendants togeth e r wi th ou r ,
sl aves a p ity f o r th ei r u n happ y lo t a nd a n a b ho r

, ,
r e n ce o f sl ave ry Th e s e a r e s o m e o f th e w or ds o f
.
th e illust r i ou s H e nr y Wa shi n gton avowe d th a t it

.
“
w a s am o n g hi s fi r st wi sh e s to s om e pla n a do pte d
see
”
b y whi ch sl av e r y m ay b e ab ol i sh ed by l aw Um .
fo r tu n ately th e s e ge n e r ou s a n d truth ful s enti m e n ts

w e r e co nfin e d to a comp a r atively few lib e ral a n d n e
li ghte n e d m en . Th e u n e du cate d a n d e fl ect i n g unr

— —
m as s e sp eci ally in th e South di d n ot sh a r e th e m .
Th e foll owi n g i n te r esti n g a nd co ns e qu e n ti al ex

t r a ct i s from o n e o f J effe r s o n s l ette r s w r itte n to a
’
fr i e n d i n hi s ol d a ge
“
:
F r o m tho s e o f a fo r m e r ge n e r a ti on wh o w e r e i n
t h e fulln es s o f a ge wh e n I cam e i nto publi c li f e I ,
s o on s w th at n othi ng w a s to b e h op ed Nu rs ed a n d
a .
e d ucate d i n th e d aily h ab i t o f s e ei n g th e degr a de d

co n diti on b o th b o dily a n d m ent a lly o f th e s e n f o r
, , u
tuna e t b ei n gs n o t refl e cti n g t h a t d g d t i

,
was e re a on
ve r y m uch th e wo rk o f th em s elve s a n d th e i r f a th e r s ,
f ew h a d yet doub te d th a t th ey w e r e a s l egi tim ate

su b j ects o f p r op e r ty a s th ei r h o rs es and cattl e Th e .
qui e t a n d m o n otonou s cou rs e o f col oni al l i fe h a d

b e e n di stu r b ed b y n o al a rm and li ttl e re fl ecti o n o n
th e v alu e o f li b e r ty an d wh e n al a rm wa s take n at
,
a n e n te rp ri s e o f thei r own i t w a s n ot e a sy to ca rr y
,
th em th e wh ol e l ength o f th e p rincipl e whi ch th ey

i n voked fo r th em s elve s I n th e fi rst o r s eco n d s e s
.
si o n o f th e l egi sl atu re a fte r I b ec a m e a m emb e r I ,
d r ew to thi s subj ect th e a ttenti o n o f Col on el Bl and ,
o n e o f th e ol dest abl est an d m o s t r e sp ectabl e m e m

, ,
b e rs a n d h e unde r to o k to m ove fo r ce rta i n m o de r ate

,
exte n si o n o f th e p r o tecti o n o f th e l a ws t o th e s e p e o
pl e I s eco nde d h i s m oti o n and a s a you n ge r m em
.
, ,
b e r w a s m o r e sp a r ed i n th e deb at e ; but h e wa s de
n o u n c e d as a n en emy to hi s cou n try a n d w a s t r e ate d ,
”
wi th th e g r e ate st i n deco ru m .
Pa r tl y on a ccou n t o f th e p r i n ci p l e s e n u n ci at e d i n
th e Decl a r at i on o f I n dep ende n ce up o n w hich th e ,
R evolu t i on w a s b egun th e s e n time n ts o f J e ff e r so n

,
ma de consider a bl e p rogres s among th e m o r e e nlight

ened s tr ata o f t he p eopl e o f Vi r gini a a n d a s els e ,
wh e r e r el ated sh e p a s s e d th e a c t p rohibiti ng th e
,
sl ave t r ade and con fe r red up on h e r ci t i z ens g r e ate r

-
,
f r e edom o f em an cip a t i o n But ap a rt f r om such

.
m e a gre and eve n doub t ful ri gh t s a s the acts c o n

fe rred up on the down tro dden a n d much abus e d
-
, ,
Negro r a ce t he conduct o f Vi rgi n i a like th at o f

, ,
othe r Sou t he r n s ta tes and eve n the N atio n al gove rn

,
m en t it s el f w a s stro n gly cont ra di c t o ry to t h e a ss e r t

,
ed na t u r a l equ a lity o f m a nkind a nd th e exp r ess ed ,
in a li en a bl e r igh t s o f eve ry hum a n b eing a s con t ained ,
i n the C ons t itu t i on o f Vi rgini a as well a s i n th e ,
Decl a r at i on o f Indep endence a nd the l ate r Co n sti

,
tu ri on o f th e United S tat es In 1 7 8 5 W a shing t o n

.
“
compl a ined in a l e tt e r to L a Fay e tt e th a t ce rtai n p e
t i ti o n s fo r t h e a b oliti on o f s l a ve ry p res ente d to th e
,
”
Vi rgini a Legisl at ure could sc a rcely obt a i n a he ari n g
, .
Othe r st a tes foll owed t h e ex a mpl e o f M a ryla n d

an d Vi rgini a i n p rohib iting t h e fu rth e r i nt r oduc t i o n
o f N egro es stole n o r captu red i n A f ric a but we
, ,
en t e r a p ro found p ro t est a g a i n st t he ab su r d cl a ims

o f p a rti s a n s th a t such l egi sl a tive a c t s a re to b e c r ed
i t e d to these states a s evide n ce o f r ega r d fo r th e
ri ghts o r in t e rests o f t he bl a ck m an On the c o n
, , .
t ra ry t h ey we re co n ceived in fe a r a nd s elfishness a n d ,
en a c t ed fo r th e pu r p o s e o f w a rding o ff th e sel f in -
cu rred p enal t i es o f mu rde r a nd i nsu r r ecti on a s els e ,
wh e re poi n ted out I n fu rth e r s u b s tanti a ti o n o f ou r

.
vi ew we give an extr a ct from the p r e a mbl e o f a n ac t

o f t h e No rth C a rolin a l egi sl at u re do n e in 1 7 8 6 , ,
whi ch i s highly comm e n d a bl e in t h a t i t con fess es i ts

re a l motives i n pl a i n wo rds Thi s p re ambl e de
.
cl a r es th e i n t r o ductio n o f new c a ptives from A fr i ca

T HE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 1 43
to b e O f evi l co n s e q u e n ce s a n d hi ghly i mp ol i t ic ,
and a ffi xes a p en a lty o f fi ve p ou n ds p e r h e a d on all

sub s e q u ent i mp o rta t i o n s
.
Thus we fi n d th a t a t th e tim e o f th e a dop ti on o f

th e p re s en t Co n sti t uti o n th e South e r n s ecti on o f th e
count r y w a s ti ghteni ng r at h e r th a n l oo s eni ng i ts
g r a sp up o n th e a b ho rr e n t p ra cti ce o f hum an ch a ttel
i sm wh il e i n th e N o rth th e re w as a di stinct a n d
,
growing b eli e f th a t a p a rt f rom any m o r a l co n si de r

at i o n s
,
such g r o s s vi ol ati on s o f fu n d a m ent a l m o r al
p rinci pl e s mus t n eces s a ri ly e n t a il and p recip i t a te
—
i n th e no t di s t a nt futu re i ts i n evitabl e p en alti es .
And j u sti ce r equ i re s u s to a dd th at th e m o re no r th

e rn ly states l a cke d t h e ince nt ive o f th e South , in
h olding to sl ave ry f o r it h a d b e en f ou n d th at th e
,
insti t uti o n wa s l ittl e i f at al l p ro fi tabl e n o r th o f

M a r yl a nd .
C HAPTE R $
Fr o m th e A d o p ti o n o f th e C o ns ti tu ti o n , i n 1 7 8 8 , to
th e Y e a r 1 8 6 0 — Th e G r o wi ng Se n ti m e n t i n
Op p o s i ti o n t o Slav ery
'
REAT rej oicing t h rougho u t the n ew and
s ove reign s tat es o f Ame ri c a foll owe d th e
gl a d tiding s o f r at ifi c at i on o f t h e C o n s t i
t u ri on Th e opp res s ed c oloni s t s h a d re
.
lu ct an tly de c l a red a nd triumph a ntly g a ined t hei r i n

,
dep e n de n ce by the mo s t p e rfec t i f no t the mo st h u

m a ne o f all a rbi t raments— t h at o f a rms — and we r e
,
n ow secu rely b ound t ogethe r by ti es o f commo n i n

t e res t s a nd a gove rnm ent fo r mutu al b e n efit .
The q u es t i on o f sl a ve r y w as now to h a ve a p ro
t r a c ted p e ri o d o f comp a r at ive r est Th e p ressi n g
.
ne eds o f n a ti onal qui et a nd tim e fo r phys ic a l re

h a bilita t i on a f t e r th e s even ye a rs str u ggl e fo r f r e e
’
dom dep rived t he p eopl e o f t i m e to discuss a ny ques

,
t i on th at could b e pos tp oned Al t ho u gh l ivi ng in a

.
l and o f pl enty t he exigenc i es o f w a r h a d s o depl eted

th e a v a il a ble suppli es o f all kinds th a t f a rmi ng ,
hom e m a king and t he s e t ting in o rde r the m achi n e ry

-
,
o f a new gove rnm en t dem a nde d a ll t h e ene rgi e s o f

,
t he peopl e Th e wo rk o f put t ing into p racti cal o p

.
c r at i on t he newly writ t en C o n s t i tuti on w a s n o e asy
ta sk esp eci a lly when we rememb e r t h a t t h e co ff e rs

,
o f t h e n at i on a l t re a sury we re emp t y Th e m a ke r s
.
o f t h e new o rganic l a w o f the l a nd ha d only bl a z ed

a n u nb roken t r a ck th rough t he t a ngl es o f a n u n
k n own poli t i c a l wilde rne s s I t rem ained fo r Am e ri
.
can st a tesme n to c l e a r t he w a y fo r th e ship o f Sta te

1 44
a nd d evi s e w ay s a n d m e a n s f o r th e esta b l i sh m e n t
and c o rdi n ati o n o f th e s eve r al dep a rtm ents o f g o v
o-
e rn me n t .App a r e n tly o n accou n t o f thi s p r e occup a

-
ti o n i t wa s thi r t y ye a r s b e fo r e th e qu e sti o n o f N egro

,
sl ave r y a ga n c a m e p romi nentl y to t h e f r o n t

1 .
Whil e th o s e wh o to o k p a r t n th e f r ami n g o f th e
i
C o n sti tuti o n eva d ed di r ect r e fe r e n ce to N eg r o sl av

e r y th e m aj o ri ty we r e n eve rth el es s oppo s e d to i t
, , , ,
an d fi r mly b eli eve d th a t th e i n s t r um e n t co n t a i n e d th e

di s gu i s e d l e ave n which woul d i n th e en d wo rk th e
compl ete e ra di cati o n o f th e evil ; a n d i n thi s t h ei r
augu r y w a s a ccu r ate .
Thi s m aj o r ity co n s ented to such cl aus e s i n th e

Co n sti tuti o n asw e h ave qu ote d— m aki ng sl ave r y
—
t emp o r a rily p o s si b l e o n ly b e caus e such a cou r s e
wa s a n a cceptance o f th e l ess e r o f evil s ; th ey d i d n o t
endo r s e th e p r a cti ce i n a n y othe r s ens e Th e q u es .
ti o n whi ch th ey h a d to de ci de was Sh all w e a cce d e

.
to th e dem a n ds f o r th e co n tinu ati o n o f sl av e r y o r ,
sh a ll w e fail to u n i te th es e di sj oi n te d s t a tes i n to a
s ta b l e gove r nm ent unde r a w ritte n Co n stituti o n
,
.
Th ey s aw th a t th e C ons tituti o n mu st b e a dopte d

even at th e co s t o f th e p e rp e t u ati on o r cont in u ati o n
, ,
o f sl av e r y ; s o th ey mi n imi z e d th e neces s a ry en do rs a
ti o n o f hum a n chatteli sm a nd ga in e d th e compl ete
,
t r iumph o f th e gre a test co n s e r v ative fo r ce f o r h u

m a n r i ghts th e wo rl d h a s eve r kn own .
Th e re a re s om e am o n g u s wh o te a ch tha t n o co m
p romi s e with j u sti c e ca n b e ri ght ; b ut a s th e ca s e i n
qu esti on aptly illustr ates such p r op aga nd a i s t h e
,
ve r i est s ophi stry All s ou n d logi ci ans will a ss e n t t o

.
th e axi om th a t wh e n co n f r onte d with a ch o i ce o f

—
evils wh i ch l a ngu age i mpli e s th a t w e ca nn ot avo i d
—
a deci si o n b etwe e n th em i t i s th e p a r t o f wi s d om
to a ccep t th e l es s e r thou gh w e co n fes s a ce r ta i n
,
a m ou n t of i nh e r e n t i n j usti ce T h e Co n sti tuti o n

.
coul d n eve r h a ve b ee n adopted o n any oth e r b asi s ,
fo r a s we have els ewhere s een m a ny o f th e coloni es

, ,
o r s t a t es while strenuously advoca t ing t h e s t opp age

,
o f th e Afri c an t rade we r e holding fa s t t o t hei r h u

,
m an p rop e r ty ri ghts wi t h t h e mos t unyi elding t en

-
ac i t y . P a r t i cul a rly w as t hi s t rue o f c er ta i n Sou t he rn

s t ates wi th Vi rgi n i a i n cluded i n t h at group although
, ,
at t imes — a nd th r ough t he infl u ence o f ce rt ain s u

—
,
p e rio r ci t i zens Vi rgini a s legi s l a t ive b odi es we r e

’
cl osely divi ded o n the que s t i on .
Lincoln h a s s ai d i n s u b s ta nce th at des i re i s de

, ,
t e rm i n e d by two facto rs th e mo r a l s ens e and

, ,
s el f in t e rest O f cou rs e a m a n o f su c h r enow n

-
.
and i nfluence mus t h a ve p receden c e fo r h i s u tt e r ances

ove r o rdi na ry mortals ; bu t we b eli eve none t he l ess ,
- -
,
t h a t i f h e h ad reve rsed thes e two c on t rolling facto r s

— giving s elf i n teres t p r e ference over m o ral s e ns e
-
h e would h a ve mo r e co rrec t ly sta t ed th e c a s e It i s .
als o p rob abl e th a t i f he h a d b een writing s oci ology

o r philosophy inste a d o f m a king a poli t i cal sp e ech
—in whi ch h e was ve ry l a udably t rying to s ecu re
,
vo t es —h e would h a ve g i ven s el f in t e res t p rece

, ,
“ ”
-
”
dence ove r wh a t h e c a ll s m o r a l s en s e
“
I f one .
would b e s u re o f his ground i n a n t i cip at ing ave rage

hum a n co n duct h e should re ckon fi r s t wi t h wha t the
— —
p eopl e howeve r e rrone ously b eli eve t o b e s el f
in t e res t ; then coun t a ll o t he r influ en c e s a s s ub o rdin
ate On no o t he r b a s i s c a n we a cc o u n t fo r t h e su p
.
p o r t whi ch sl ave ry a nd t he sl a ve t r a de re c eived from

Ch ri s t i a ni t y .It i s true thi s m ode rn a lli a nce o f
,
C hristi a ni t y with crim e and at roci t y i s bu t a r ep eti

t i on o f its e a rli e r hi sto ry ; yet i t i s a s t ounding tha t i n
t hi s mo re enli ghtened a ge the pu re mo rality a nd
humbl e b ro t he rly love which J esus s o cl e a rly ta ugh t
, ,
could b e so di s t o rted and di s guis ed a s t o l end it s

, ,
suppo r t to a p r acti ce th at s o m a n i festly vi ol ated th e

T HE A ME RI C A N NE G R O P RO B LE M 1 47
l o fty te n ets o f the n o b le N a z a r e n e .
“ ”
I s i t n o t a littl e su rp r i si ng s ai d P at r i c k H e nry
,
’
th a t Ch r i sti a n ity who s e chi e f excell e n cy co n s i sts i n

,
s o fte n ing th e hum a n h e a rt ch e r i shing a n d im p r ovi ng

,
i ts fine r fe eli n gs shoul d e n cou r a ge a p r a ct i ce s o

,
totally r epug n a n t to th e fi n e r i m p r e ss i o n s o f r i ght

a n d w r ong $ Wh a t a dds to th e wo n de r i s t h at thi s
a bo mi n a b l e p r a cti c e h a s b e e n i n t r o du ce d i n th e m ost
”
e n lighte n e d ages .
Although J e ff e r s o n w a s n o t a Ch r i sti a n i n th e
r eli g ious s ens e a n d wa s r ega rded a s m o r e o r l es s
,
— —
m ate r i al i sti c but m o r e co rr ectly a g n o stic h e p e n
“
n e d th e s”e godly s oundi n g wo r ds i n hi s N ote s o n
-
V i r“gi n i a i n re fe r e n ce t o th e e n sl aved N egro e s .
C a n th e lib e r ti e s of a n ati o n b e th ought s ecu r e

wh e n w e h ave r em ove d t h ei r o n ly fir m b a s i s a c o n ,
v i ct i o n i n th e m i nds o f the p e opl e th at th e s e li b e r ti e s

a r e o f th e gi ft o f Go d ; th a t th ey a re n ot vi ol ate d
but w i th hi s w r ath $ I nde ed I t r em b l e f o r my cou n
t r y wh en I r e fl ect th at Go d i s j ust ; th a t Hi s j usti ce
”
ca nn o t sl e ep fo r eve r .
To r ev i ew th e n am es o f th e s e e a r ly state s m e n
wh eth e r th ey b e N o rth e rn o r South e rn —w h o u n re
s e rv e dly co n dem n ed th e p r a cti ce o f sl av e r y i s t o
m e n ti on p r a cti cally th e enti r e l i st Th ey al l s a w

, ,
.
its i n j usti ce but th e g r e a t m a s s o f sl ave h oldi n g p eo -
—
,
—
pl e w h o r e si de d i n th e South b a s e d t h ei r r e a s on
— —
ing on s el f i n te r e st a s th ey s aw i t a n d ove rl o ok e d
-
o r di s re ga rde d t h e m o r al a sp ect I t was n o t u n ti l

.
w e we r e well i n to th e fi rs t qu a r te r o f th e n i n ete e n t h
ce n tu ry th a t Southe rn p oliti ci a n s b ega n to w h it e
w a sh o r attemp t to w hitew a sh th e p r a cti ce o f h u
, ,
~
m a n ch atteli sm .
Th e r e c an b e n o qu e stio n th a t m a n y o rd i n a ry
pl a n te r s a n d oth e r citi z e n s h avi n g known no hi gh e r
,
stat e of s o ci et y a nd b ei ng i n cap a bl e o f i nd ep end ent

,
148 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTI ON O F
r e a soning sin e rely b eli eve d the system t o b e j ust

, c
a nd p rop e r A like reg a rd fo r a u t ho rity and te a ch

—
.
—
i n g i r resp ective o f mo r a li t y a mong t he gre at
m a ss o f p eopl e i s equ a lly a m a z i ng t o d a y
o ur
—
.
,
Ap a rt from t he cu t t i ng ff o f t he l a ve tr a de in o s
so s —
fa r a s it leg a l s ta tus w conce rned b y an t o f as ac
C ong re s e ffec t ive J a nu a ry 1 1 8 0 8 and t h e growing

s , ,
sent i men t in f a vo r o f i ndi vi du a l m a num i ssi ons the ,
condi t i on o f the N g — who we re l a rgely co n ee n

e ro e s
t t d in t he Sou t h
ra e — unde rwen t li tt l e ch a nge du ring
the thi rty ye a rs from t h e r at ifi at i on o f the C onsti c
t tiu on ( 7 )
1 8 8 until t he reviv a l o f poli t ical anti sl av
e r y s entim e nt in 8 1 8 1 .
D rin g t hi s sp an o f three dec a de s o f fr eedom

u
from a g itat ion the conditi o o f th e b ondsme n whil e n ,
s li ghtly imp roved t o i t cruelti es rem a ine d i n

as s ,
eve ry essen t i a l re p ect the s am e One thing should

s .
b e kept eve r b e fo re the mind in s r t in i zing the c u
a ctual ondi ti o n a nd envi ronm en t o f N eg r o slaves

c
during t h e peri od with which th i s ch apte r h as t o do ;

whi ch i t h a t the conditi on o f sl aves w a s va r i ed
s, as
as w a s t hat o f the m a ste r The re we re h ous e s e r s .

-
vants who e envi ronment was a t once com fo r t ab l e

s ,
hygi eni c and el evating Th e p o si t i on o f val et to a

,
.
—
Vi rgini a gen t l em a n w a s to a m an devoi d o f that
s ense o f wounded p r i de whi ch we Anglo S a xo n s ,
-
would h ave felt — mos t ca r e f r e e a nd com fo rtabl e

a
situ a ti on Such s e rv a nts re a llyy ente red into n e a rly

.
eve ry pl e asu re o f t he m a ste r I t h e cha s e fo r . n , in
s ta n e h e wa s a lways a well mounte d a tte n dant and

c , ,
by re a s o n o f hi s recent conditi on o f s av a ge r y p rob

a bly go t mo re re a l enj oym e n t out o f t h e sp o t tha n r
di d t he m a ste rs t h ems elves .
As mu h m a y b e s a i d o f t he fem a l e a tte n d a nts o f

c
the l a di es ; t hes e m a i ds we re o f t en humo re d d i an n
d lg d th ey l ite r ally dwelt i n p al aces a n d b r e athe d

u e ,
th e atmo sph e r e o f th e fi n es t South e rn cultu r e Se r .
va n ts o f thi s cl a ss both m e n a n d wom e n we r e i n

, ,
eve r y m at e r i al s e n s e fa r b ette r o ff i n sl ave r y th a n i n

fre e dom s o l o n g a s th e m a ste r was s olve n t ; b ut th e y
,
al w ays sto o d i n th e g r i m sh a dow o f fin a n ci al re

ve r s es a n d b ankruptcy o n th e p a rt o f th ei r ow n e r s ,
w hich usu ally m e a nt r uin t o such favo r e d s e r va n ts

al o n g wi th th e r es t Th ey we r e the n li a b l e to f al l
.
i n to th e h a n ds o f u n sc rupulou s sl av e t r a d e r s o r l e ss -
i n dulge n t m a s te r s a n d m i st r es s e s .
A much h a r d e r l o t w a s th a t o f th e g r e at m a s s o f
S o u th e rn sl ave s g e n e r all y kn ow n a s field h a n ds ; th i s
,
-
cl a s s w a s u su ally e n t r us te d to ta skm a ste r s o r o ve r

s e e r s wh o i n tu rn w e r e r e sp o nsi b l e to th e o wn e r s fo r
,
r e q ui r i n g o f th em al l th e h a r d l a b o r o f w hi ch th e y
we r e c ap a b l e a nd tha t to o wi th th e s m al l e st p o s si bl e
,
outl ay fo r th ei r supp o r t H a r d i nd e e d w a s th e l ot .
o f th e field h a nd Th ey we r e o n ve ry m u ch t h e s a m e
-
.
f o o ti ng as th e mul e s a n d oxe n w hi ch th ey dro v e It .
wa s co n si de r e d highly imp r op e r a n d i n m a n y l o ca l i ,
ti e s ill egal to b e stow up o n th em eve n th e m e r e st

,
ru dim e n ts o f e ducati o n Th ey coul d r a r ely r e a d or

—
.
w r i te an a cco m pli shm e n t ve r y co mm o n a mong

hous e s e r va n ts T h e ov e r s e e r s w e r e p e r m itte d t o
-
.
fl og a n d o th e r wi s e pu n i s h th e toil e rs e n t ru ste d to
th ei r k eepi n g whi ch su b j ecte d thi s cl a s s o f sl ave s t o
,
th e co n s e q u e n ces o f ill n a tu r e cap r i ce a nd a n u n

-
, ,
usu al d eg r e e o f r a ce h a t r e d Th e s e o ve r s e e r s w e r e.
—
r e q ui re d a s a co n diti o n to th ei r co n ti n u e d emp l o y
m e nt — to f o r ce th e field h a n ds to th ei r ut m ost c a -
p a c i t
, y a n d t o tu rn t h ei r l a b o rs to fi n a n ci a l p rofi t .
M a n y a f r ail o r ill m a n h a s b e e n f o r ce d or b e a t e n
to de ath u n d e r th e exa cti n g r e q ui r em e n ts .
Thi s h o weve r w a s b y n o m e a n s th e wo r st f at e
, ,
o f th e b o n dsm e n c r u el a nd i nh um a n as i t o fte n w a s
, ,
i t i s no t to b e c om p a r e d w i th t h e lo t o f th at l a rg e
.
n u mb e r who fo r one caus e o r anothe r s oo n e r o r

, ,
l a te r fell in t o th e h a nds o f t he s l a ve t r a de r ; fo r thi s

,
-
w a s a ve ri t abl e hell on e a rt h as a ll know who h ave ,
given t he N egro ques t io n even c a s u al att en t io n .
Th e o c c u p at i on of s l ave t r a ding w a s so repul sive

-
th at i t att r a c t ed almos t exclusively the mos t degen ,
—
,
e ra t e indivi duals men devoi d o f pi ty a nd incapabl e

o f remo rs e
—
.
When a ge n tl em an m ade a n a ssignmen t which

w as c ommon — at l e a s t a p o rti on o f h i s hum an ch at
tel s we re s old a t a ucti on and som e pu rch a s e d by th e

sl a ve t ra de r It m a kes one shudde r fo r sh a m e on
-
.
the one hand a nd fo r pi ty o n the oth e r to call b ack

, ,
t o V i ew t h e ci rcums ta nces th a t t his w a s mo r e likely

to b e t he f at e o f th e m a im ed aged o r p re t ty hous e , ,
m a i d t h a n th at o f th e s t ronge r gross e r a nd pu re
, ,
blo o ded Negro es Th o s e famili a r with U n cl e

.
”
Tom s C abin a l rea dy h ave a vivi d imp ressi o n o f
’
the ho rro rs o f home sl a ve tra de (as dis t ingui shed

‘
from A fric a n trade ) To those who would k n ow

.
i t b ette r bu t who h a ve no t re a d t h a t a dmi rabl e b o ok

, ,
we unh esita t ingly commend it .
There c a n b e no doub t th a t m any sl ave holde r s -
a nd Southe r n pl a nte rs we re go od t o t hei r sl a ves and

c a red t ende rly fo r th e age d an d inc a p acitated a n d ,
t h rew a p ro t ecting a rm ab ou t t h ei r you n g mul a tto

women ; bu t as we h a ve shown hum a n n a t u re i s
, ,
we ak a nd wh e re we find o n e such m a ste r m a ny the r e

,
we re who put s el f i nt e re s t s o f a r a b ove hum ani t y

-
,
a nd th e na tu ral rights o f t h e bl a ck m a n t h at hi s ,
t rea t ment on th e whole va ri ed a ll the w a y from ex

, ,
a c t ing requi remen t s to t h e mo s t ou t rageous deb a uch

e ry a nd unendu r a bl e cruel t y I f all maste rs could .
h a ve pos s ess e d the ch a r a cte r o f Gene ral Rob e r t E .
Lee S l a ve ry woul d s t ill h a ve b e en unj u s t and de

,
g r adi n g a n d co n t r a ry to th e n atu r al l a w s o f hu m a n
,
THE A ME R I CA N N E G RO P RO B LE M 1 5 I
r i ghts a n d hum a n p r ogres s ; b ut w e a re n everth el ess ,
s t r o n gly i n cli ne d to th e b eli e f th at m anum is si o n n u
d e r such condi t i o n s woul d h ave b e en u n fo r tun at e fo r

th e we a k e r r a ce .
Su ch co n di ti o n s a s h ave b e en depi cte d h e r e (a nd

“ ”
m uch m o r e p e r fectly i n Uncl e To m s C ab i n ) w e r e ’
no t de s ti n e d t o l a s t a lways I t wa s i m p o s sib l e th at
.
w e sh oul d l ong co n ti nue t o l ive un de r a C o nstituti o n

f ou n d ed on th e e n lighte n ed a n d i nsp i ri n g p r incipl e s
.
”
th at l i fe li b e rty a n d t h e pu rsui t o f h appi n es s a r e
, , ,
th e i n ali e n abl e n atu ra l r igh t s o f all an d a t th e s am e

,
tim e h ol d m illi o n s o f ou r fell o w m en i n ab s olut e -
b o nd a ge I f m e n h a d h el d th ei r p e a ce i n th e f a ce
.
o f such c u elti es fi gu ra tively s p e a k i n g th e ve r y

r , ,
st on es w oul d h ave c r i e d out fo r j u st i ce .
B e g i nn i n g ab out th e ye a r 1 8 1 8 th e qu e sti on o f
p r o p e r ty r i ghts i n hum a n b ei ngs cam e aga in p romi
n n tly to th e fr o n t
e Still m o re a cut e w th e agita
. as
ti o n ove r th e dem a n ds o f the South that sl av e r y b e

exte n ded i n t o n ew t e r ri to ry .
I n th e N ati o n al Co n gres s o f 1 8 1 9 th e fam o u s

ca s e a f te r wa r ds k n ow n a s th e M i ss ou r i Comp r o
,
”
m i s e o ccupi e d a co n sp i cu ou s pl a ce and w a s th o r
,
ou ghly deb ate d o n ev e r y s id e o f th e qu esti on Th o s e .
w ho opp o s e d th e a dmi ssi on o f M i ss ou ri s a sl av e a
state a n d co n te n d e d fo r th e constituti o n al p owe r o f

C on gre s s to i mp o s e co n diti ons o n a dmi s s i o n s t o
stateho o d b a s e d th ei r a rgum ent o n th e p r ovi si o n o f
,
t h e Consti tuti o n wh ich emp owe r s Co n g r e s s to a d mi t

n e w s tates i nto th e Uni o n They const r e d thi s s ec
. u
ti o n to i mply a di scr eti o n a ry p owe r o f C ong r e ss i n

th e imp osi ti o n o f conditi ons Th e op po siti on pl a ce d
.
th ei r m ai n r eli a nce i n th do tri n e o f the equ ality o f

e c
th e st ate s i n th e Fe de ral system a n d decl a r e d th a t

,
Congres s had n o consti t ti o na l p owe r to de st r oy th a t

u
e q u ali ty b y i mp o si n g o n e ro u s co nd iti on s Th e r e .
1 5 2 TH E ULTI MATE SOLUTI ON OF
we re a numb e r o f co n fli cting ci r cumstances ; a mon g

them was th e adm issi on du ri n g th e s a m e ye a r o f , ,
th e s tat e o f Alab am a without a n y p rohib ition o r re

,
stri cti o n whatso eve r up on sl ave ry Th e a dm is sio n .
o f Al ab am a a s a si ste r state m ade t he n umb e r o f

slave a n d f r e e state s equ al Th e a dmi ssi on o f M i s .
souri a s a sl a ve state would th e re fo re agai n di stu r b , ,
the equilib rium .
Du r ing the deb at e o n the appli c a ti on o f M issou ri

—
fo r a dmi ssio n wi t hout r es t ri ct i on whi ch m e ant
sl a ve st a te — t h e bill was am ended on moti o n o f
-
J a me s W Talmage o f N ew Yo r k i n thi s l a n gu age :

.
, ,
Th a t th e fu rthe r introduc t i on o f sl ave ry o r in v o lu n

ta ry s e rvi tude b e p rohibited an d th a t all children o f ,
slave s bo rn wi thi n th e state a fte r t h e admi ssi o n

”
the r eo f i n t he Union sh a ll b e fre e Th e bill t hus .
am e n de d p ass ed th e Hous e Feb 1 7 1 8 1 9 by a vote .

, ,
o f eighty s even to s eventy six On M a rch 2 d th e

- -
.
,
Sen at e p as sed the bill wi t hout t h e amendm e nt Two .
days la t e r C ong r es s a dj ou rn ed a n d the b ill we n t ‘
ove r to the next s essi o n .
I n D ecemb e r 1 8 1 9 a no th e r b ill f o r th e a dmi ssi on

, ,
o f Mi sso u ri was intro du c ed whe reup o n J am es W , .
Taylo e o f N ew Yo rk o ffe r e d an a m e n dm e nt in the

, ,
Hous e whi ch p rovi ded th a t a s a conditi o n o f admis

sion the st a te shoul d b e requi red to adopt a c o n st itu ~
tio n fo reve r p rohibiting sl ave ry wi t hi n its limits .
Thi s o f cou rs e g a ve ri s e to a new and vi go rous

, ,
deb ate o n th e p owe r o f C ongres s to imp os e condi

tions upo n th e a dm is si on o f a state i nto th e U n i o n .
M eantim e the p e r pl exing situ ati on w a s fu rthe r com

pli cated by th e appli catio n o f M aine fo r a dmi ssi o n ,
wi t h a constitu ti on whi ch exp r essly p rohibi ted sl av

e ry in a ny fo rm Th e Hous e p romptly p a ss e d a bill
.
a dmi t ting M a ine but wh en i t cam e up fo r discussi o n

,
i n the Senate in J a nu a r y 1 8 2 0 the f r i e n ds o f sl av

, , ,
e r y i n M i s s o u r i — w h o w e r e i n a m aj o r i ty i n th at
—
b r a n ch c oupl e d th e M ai n e b ill with th e h f i ss o u ri
b ill to a dmi t sl ave r y i n th e l atte r a n d ste a df a s t ly re
f us e d to di s co nn ect th e two m ea su r es I n thi s situ a .
ti o n th e su b sta n c e o f th e co m p r om i s e was p r op o s e d
b y Se n ato r Th om a s o f Ill i n oi s i n a n am end m e n t
, ,
whi ch p r ovi de d th a t M i ss ou ri shoul d b e a d m itte d

w i t h a co n stitu t i o n all owi n g sl ave ry b ut th at i n a l l ,
th e r est o f th e Loui si a n a te rr ito r y n o r th o f l ati tu d e

'
N sl ave r y o r i n volu n ta ry s e r vitu d e sh o ul d
°
3 6 3 0 .
,
b e fo r eve r p roh i b ite d I n thi s f o r m the b ill p a s s e d

.
th e S e na t e Fe b 1 8 1 8 2 0 a n d w a s coupl e d w ith th e
.
, ,
b ill to a dmit M ai n e a n d s ent to th e H ou s e fo r co n

cu r r e n ce Th e H o u s e p r omp tl y r e fus ed to a gr e e t o
.
thi s com b i n a ti on a n d th e m a tte r was th e n r e f e rr e d

t o a co n fe r e n ce comm itte e o f th e tw o H ou s es w hi ch ,
r ecomm en d e d th a t th e M a i n e b ill b e p a ss e d s ep a
rat e ly a n d t h at th e M i s s ou r i b ill b e p as s e d wit h t h e
Th om a s am e n dm e n t To t h i s r ep o r t th e H o us e
.
a gre e d a nd th e s ep a r ati on o f th e b ills as d i sti n ct sub

j e c t s w a s r e n ewed Th . e South e rn e r s s e e m to h av e
ga i n ed th e i r m a in co n te n ti o n by s ecu r i n g th e r ec og
n i t i o n o f Co n g r es s th at th a t b o dy h a d n o r i g h t o r
p ow e r t o i m p o s e such co n diti o n s a s i t s aw fi t up o n
,
a n y state a s a p r e r e q ui si te to i ts a dm i s si o n i n t o th e
U n i o n P r e si de n t M o nr o e affi xe d hi s s ig n atu r e o f
.
app r oval to t h e M a i n e b il l o n M a r c h 3 d a n d to t h e ,
M i s sou r i b ill o n M a r ch 6 1 8 2 0 , .
Thi s i t w oul d s e em s houl d h av e e nd e d th e c on

t ro v e rsy y b ut n ot s o ; f o r th i s w a s r e ally b ut th e b e
,
g in n in g o f th e lo n g fight f o r th e n atu r al r i ghts o f th e

bl a c k m a n i n co m m on with al l oth e r m e n Th e
, .
s e e ds o f f r e e dom impl ante d i n th e D ecl a r ati o n o f

I n dep e n de n ce a n d t h e l e aven i n c or p o r ate d i n th e
,
“
Co n sti tuti o n i n th e w o r ds li fe li b e r ty a nd th e pu r
—
, , ,
s uit o f h app i n es s ”
—, a mong o t h e r p a ss a g es were
15 4 TH E ULTI MATE SOL U TION O F
b eginning t o ge rminate ; th e wis e coul d al r e a dy d e

te c t t he gr a y d a wn o f better d a ys to c ome for the
N egro r a ce ; whil e p e e ring t h ro u gh t h e sha des a n d
sh adows o f two sco re ye a rs th e l ove rs o f hum an
lib er ty a nd j us t ice could disce rn though dimly th e
,
“
h a ndwri t ing on t h e wall which told t h em t h at the
nex t gener at i on woul d s e e th e cruel yoke fo r eve r
,
li f t ed from the shoulders o f t he N egro sl ave .
Henry C l a y— who wa s Sp e a ke r o f th e Hous e at

th e t ime — t hough a n ou t spoken a b oli t i onist exe r t ed
,
h i s s t rongest i n fl u ence t o b ring a b out t he comp romi s e

on t he M issouri questi on .
In t h e nex t Hou s e this m at t e r c am e up again with

a new compl ic at i on Mi ssou ri p res en t ed h e r Co n sti
.
w
tu t i o n to C ongres s fo r i t s app rov a l Thi s in s t rume n t

.
con ta ined a p a ragr a ph m a king i t t he duty o f th e

Mi s s ou ri l egisl at u re t o p reven t t h e immi gra t ion o f
free N egro e s into th e s tat e Thi s s e em s to u s so
.
fl a gran t ly contr a ry to th e Fede r a l Cons t i t u t i on t hat

it i s h a rd t o unde rs t and how a s ta te conventi on coul d
—
h a ve b een s o indi s c ree t a s t o h a ve off e re d i t unl ess
i t w a s in t ende d t o i rrit a te t h e an t i sl ave ry el ement
-
.
This a t t emp t at t he p r ohibi t i on o f immigrati on o f

citi zens o f othe r st a tes p r ovoke d a new ou t b re ak o f
h ea t ed deb at e co n ce r n ing t h e d u ty o f th e Fe d e ral
Gove rnm e nt t o p rotect t h e ci t i z ens o f th e s eve r al
,
s tat es in the exe rcis e o f t hei r consti tu t i onal ri ghts o f

citi zenship i n eve ry othe r st at e ; a nd i t was only a fte r
he a ted a nd p ro t r a cted n egoti a t i ons t h a t a bill w a s
, ,
fi na lly i n t rodu c ed p roviding th a t Mi s s ouri should b e

conside re d a dmi t te d a s a s tat e only a f t e r i ts legisl a
t u re h a d decl a red t h a t no l a w would eve r b e p a ss ed ,
nor any cons t r u cti on pl a ced up on t he obnoxi ous p a r a

gr a ph j us t i fying any l aw which migh t ab ri dge with
, ,
in M i ssou r i the rights gu a rante ed t o all citi z ens by

,
the Fede r al C o n sti t utio n Th e bi ll i n volvi ng thi s

.
s e co n d comp romi s e was app r ov e d M a rch 2 1 8 2 1 , ,
a n d i n a cco rda n ce with i ts te rm s M i s s ou r i b ecam e a

comm onwe alth .
B y thi s tim e th e conte st b etwe en N o r th a nd South

wi th th e i s su e o f hum a n sl ave ry a s i t s p rincip a l b a si s ,
w a s full o n Anti sl ave ry s o ci eti e s w e r e fo r m e d all

.
-
ove r th e N o rth Th e r a pi dly exp a n di n g N o rth e r n

.
p r e s s ente r ed m o re a n d m o r e vi go rously i nto th e

a gita t i on whil e th e anti sl a ve ry s o ci e t i e s ci rcul ate d
,
-
th ei r li t e r atu re b ro a dca st whi ch comp ri s e d all m an,
n e r o f t ra cts b o oks p a mphlets an d bu si n es s l a b els

, , , ,
denounci n g sl ave r y .
Whil e m a n y o f th e u t te r a nce s a nd publi cati ons i n

th e N o r th w e r e vi ol e n t a nd ill consi d e r ed tho s e o f ,
th e South we r e p e rh ap s even m o re s o B o th s ide s .
h a d th e i r cons e rv ative s wh o depl o r e d th e s e in c e n

di a r y exp r es si o n s b ut th e r a di c a ls gr e atly o u tn u m
,
b e red th em Fu el w a s con t i nu a lly a dde d to th e

.
swe ep ing fl a m es th at we r e ra p i dly p r ep a ring th e s e c

ti ons fo r th e fi na l struggl e .
Th e gr e a t m aj ori ty o f South e rn sl a ve s kn ew littl e

o r n othing o f thi s di s cus s io n an d app a rently c a re d ,
l es s a s w a s s o s t riki ngly illu st r at ed by th ei r l oy a lty

,
a nd devoti on t o th ei r m aste rs a nd thei r m a ste r s ’
f a mili e s du ring th e fo u r ye a rs o f w a r whi ch h el d

, ,
i n th e b al a n c e th e i s su e o f th ei r lib e r ty o r th ei r c o n
t i n u e d co ndi ti o n o f sl a ve ry .
An i n c i d en t whi ch m ate ri a lly a ff ecte d t h e si tu ati o n

-
a l t h oug h co n demn ed a lik e o f cou rs e b y thi n ki n g , ,
—
m en b o th N o rth and South w a s th e insu rr ecti o n
f e d b y N a t Tu rne r a Negro sl ave i n South ampto n , ,
C oun t y Vi rgin ia
,
From th e p r evi ou s condu ct o f
.
t hi s N egro i t i s m o r e th a n l ikely th a t h e wa s a m e n
ta l de fe c t o r p a r t i a l imb ecil e H e h a d all h is l i fe
,
.
cl a im ed to h av e h a d p e ri o di c a l v i s i o ns and to h av e
r eceive d m ess age s o r in sp i r ati o n s from th e D e ity .
1 5 6 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTI ON O F
His ca re e r howeve r was

, ,
—
sho rt b egi nn i n g o n t he
night o f August 2 1 1 8 3 1 (Sunday ) a n d e n di n g
, ,
some t ime t he following (M onday ) mo rning He .
commenced with fou r o r five comp ani ons by killi ng

, ,
five m emb e rs o f hi s m a ste r s f a mily i n t hei r b eds ’

.
He then went from house to hous e killing all sp a r ,
ing not even th e sm a ll est in f a n t s a nd coll ecting re ,
c ru i t s a s h e went ; hi s wo r k w a s compl eted by bl ot

t ing o u t th e l ives o f a n enti re neighbo rho od school .
Fo r t hi s de ed s eventeen N egro es we re executed .
Tu rne r himsel f who wen t in t o hi ding wa s a fte r

, ,
w a rds c a ught t ri ed a nd h anged

, ,
.
Thi s s ad o ccu rren c e t oge t h e r with res e n tm ent by

,
th e sl a ve h olding el emen t t h roughout th e Sou t h

-
,
c a us ed a t igh t ening o f th e m a s te rs gr a sp a n d p ro ’
,
du ce d renewed s eve ri t y in di s c iplina ry regul a t i ons

o f sl aves By hi s own de eds— o r de eds o f V i olence
.
—
o n t h e p a r t o f oth e r sl a ves t ogethe r wi t h th e ex
ce s ses o f No rt he rn extremists th e poo r bl ack m a n ,
was s ubj ected to u nusu a l ha rdship s Th e fi r st ev i .
dence o f in s ub o rdin at io n on th e p a rt o f a sl ave was

now c a us e su fli c i e n t t o t h row him i nto th e h a nds o f
t he t ra de r at a ny s a crifice Eve ry p a ssing ye a r and
.
,
eve ry succe eding politi cal c a mp ai gn exhib ited its in ,
cre a s e d s e c t i onal fe eling a nd b itte rn ess b etwe e n

No r t h and Sou t h In a ddi t i on to a ll t his the poli
.
t i c i an s— o r m a ny o f them a s t h a t cl a s s h a s always
,
b e en wont to do — m a de p oli t i c a l c a p i t al out o f the

s t rained rel a ti ons and thu s conti n ually fan n ed th e
,
fl ames o f bi t te rness t o gre a t e r and r enewed v i o , ,
l ence .
Wh ile the re we re m any go od an d si n ce r e i n di

v i du als on bo t h si des du ring t hes e t u rbul ent times ,
we h a ve long b e en p e rsu a ded that th e No r th and ,
the Wa shington Gove rnm ent we r e o n t he si de o f

grea t e r j usti ce Vi ewed imp a rti all y n o m a n c an
.
j ustl y ce n su r e th o s e wh o opp o s e d sl ave r y a n d p r op

e rt y r i ghts i n hum a n b ei n gs in t hi s l a n d o f b o a ste d
,
j u sti ce and f r e edo m O n th e oth e r h a n d th e h ot

.
,
h e a de d South e rn e r s b i a s e d by s el f in te r e st a s th ey
, ,
s aw i t a n d i n flu e n ce d b y esta b li sh e d custo m w e r e
,
i n th e m a i n— a b s o l utely s i nce r e in th e p o s i ti on th ey
,
a s sum e d .
We h ave o f te n wo nd e r e d i f i t woul d n o t h ave

b e e n p o ssi b l e fo r th e co ol e r h e a ds o n e ith e r s i de to
h ave go tte n togeth e r in th e e a r ly fi f ti e s a n d ap
, ,
p oi n te d a j o i n t com m i s si o n o f c a r e fully s el ect e d m e n

—o f th e cali b e r o f Le e a n d Lin col n — a nd e ffecte d
a comp r omi s e o n th e b asi s o f f re edom to th e
N egro es w ith som e m e a su r e o f comp e n s ati on to th e
m a ste r s —
Th e n a ga i n wh e n vi ewe d i n a n oth e r
.
,
,
—
light i t l oo k s a s i f th e t r i b u n al o f civi l w a r m ay
~
h ave b e e n b e st ; f o r b ad i t b e en thus eva d e d it

, ,
woul d p r o b a b ly h ave b e e n p r ecip it ate d l a te r wh e n ,
its co n s e q u e n ce s woul d h av e b e en still m o r e d i s a s

trou s .
A s w e d r ew n e a r to th e h al f ce n tu r y m a rk th e i m -
p endi n g co n fl i ct b ecam e m o re an d m o r e app a r ent .
Th e b re ach b etwe en th e two s e cti o n s w id e n e d with

ev e r y n ew ph a s e whi c h th e s itu ati o n a ssum ed a n d ,
inc r e a si n g b itte r n e ss co n ti n u ally c a ll e d fo rth g r e ate r

vi tup e r a ti o n Th e o rd e r o f th e d a y fr om p r es s
.
, ,
pulp i t p amphl et a n d p oliti ci a n w a s c r i mi n ati o n a n d

, , ,
re cri mi n at i o n .
Th e s em i ce n te nn i al w a s cel eb r a te d b y th e pu b li
cati o n o f a s e r i es o f a rti cl es i n th e N ati o n a l E r a (a
,
newsp ap e r pu b li sh ed at Wa shi n gto n ) entit l e d,

“
U n cl e Tom s C ab i n b y H a r ri e t B e e ch e r Stow e
’
, .
Th es e a rti cl es we r e r ep r o duce d i n b o o k fo rm i n
I 85 2 . Thi s wo r l d r e n o wn e d b oo k gai ne d th e wi de st
-
ci rcul ati o n a n d th e r e ca n b e n o doub t th at i t h a ste n

,
e d a n d p r ecip i ta te d— i f i t di d n o t a ctu a ll y caus e

the fin a l re s o r t to a rm ed vi ol en c e Th e autho r o f .
th a t gre a t b ook no t only p rofi t e d by m any a copy

re a d bu t a l s o by m a ny b u rned at t he h ands o f p r o
, ,
s l a ve Sou t he rn e r s . I n f a c t t o t his d ay a copy o f

, ,
t h at ple a fo r freedom i s o cc a si on a lly consig n ed to

the fl a mes by indign a nt sons o f Southe r n soldi e rs .
M a ny atta cks h a ve b een m a de upon t h e auth o r ; sh e

h a s o f t en b een s eve rely a rr a igne d and co n dem n ed
fo r a dv a ncing t h e di a b oli c a l t he o ry o r ch a r ge (i n , ,
a m a g a zine a r”t i cl e en t i t l ed Th e True S t o ry o f L a dy

“
Byron s Li fe ) o f in c e s tuous in t er c ou rs e b etwe en

’
Lo rd Byron a nd h i s s i s t e r Som e b eli eve h e r b r il

.
li a n t b ro t he r Henry Wa rd B eeche r w a s t h e re al
, ,
”
a u tho r o f Un cl e Tom s Ca b in
“ ’
Howeve r and
.
,
while we h a ve no t hing t o do wi t h t h e ch a r a cte r o f

th e a u t ho r i t do es s e em t h a t i f h e r chi e f aim i n li fe
,
and li t e r a ry effo r t s h a d b een t h e m o r a l upli ft o f th e

p eopl e S he co u ld h a ve found a mo re sui ta bl e p abu
lum fo r pop u l a r consump t ion th a n such depths o f
degr a d at ion as ince s t .
Wh at eve r b a d t he re m a y o r m ay no t h ave b e e n
, ,
in he r men ta l m a ke u p s h e i s t he repu t ed a utho r o f

-
“
Un cl e Tom s Ca b in whi ch i n ou r j udgment i s a
’
, , ,
gre a t a nd highly c omm end a bl e contributi on to uni

ve r s a l a nd p erp et u a l hum a n fre edom He r c ha rac .
t e rs a nd de s c ription s we re u nqu e s ti on a bly ex ag g e r

at ed bu t t hi s i s a llow a bl e a nd i n fa ct a dmi tted to
, , ,
b e a n e s s en t i a l fe at u re o f go od s t o ry writing V ivi d .
wo rd pi c t u re s in t hi s cl a s s o f li t e r at u re s e rv e t o ove r
c ome t h e inhe ren t d u llne s s o r de a dness o f writte n
l a ngu a ge ; at b e s t wri tt en l a ngu a ge can n ot b e e n

dowed wi t h t h e a nim a te c h a r a c t e r o f spoken wo rds .
From t hi s t im e on whil e wi s e men still hop ed fo r

,
pe a c e t he imp ending s tru ggl e fo r su p re m aey wa s

,
ob v i o u s ly a m att e r only o f ex a ct date ; th e Si g n s o f

the ti m es were unmi stak a bl e .
Without ente r i n g i nto u nn eces s a ry d eta i ls su fli c e ,
i t to s ay th a t i n 1 8 5 4 an d th e ye a r s i mm e di ately fol
l owi ng an ang ry contest a ros e ove r the qu esti o n o f
,
sl ave r y i n K a ns a s a n d ci vil w a r a ctu ally b rok e out i n

th a t te rr ito ry Th e p e opl e o f th a t enti re cou n t r y
.
we r e g r e a tly exci te d an d thi s m atte r we n t f a r to

,
hu r ry o n th e cri si s The a nti sl av e p e opl e w e r e re

.
-
s olve d to p reven t i ts extensi o n i n to an y o f th e th e n

te r rito ri es To thi s end th ey fo r m e d th e R epubli c an
.
p a r ty wh ich w a s de fe a t ed i n t h e Pre si denti al el ec

,
ti o n o f 1 8 5 6 a n d t h e D em o c rati c p r o sl ave c an di
, ,
-
date Buch an an w a s el ecte d , .
I n th e ye a r 1 8 5 7 th e exci ted state o f t h e e n ti re

count r y w a s gre atly a ugm e n ted b y t h e dec i si o n in th e
hi sto r i c D r e d Scott ca s e whi ch b e a rs s o di rectly
,
up o n the N egro qu es ti o n th at w e g i ve a sy n op s i s o f
It .
M a ny ye a r s p r io r to thi s d e ci si o n a N e g r o sl ave
n am e d D r ed Scott h a d b e en ta k e n by h i s m a ste r a n ,
a r my su r ge o n fr om th e sl a v e s t at e o f M i ss ou r i t o a
,
m ili t a ry p ost i n th e f r e e s t ate o f Ill inoi s U n de r th e .
l a w h i s m a ste r s a ct i n ta ki n g h im to th a t st ate m a d e
’
hi m a f r e em an B ut Scott di d n ot a ss e r t hi s r i g h t s
.
a t th e ti m e a n d w as l ate r ta k e n b ack to M i s s ou r i ,
a n d th e re s ol d wi th hi s wi fe an d two chil d r e n H i s .
n ew m a ste r h a vi ng stru c k him Scott b r ought a sui t ,
fo r a s s ault U n de r M i ssou r i l a w a sl ave h a d n o

.
,
r i gh t t o su e but i t wa s conte n ded fo r Scott th a t h e

,
h a d b een s et fre e by b ei n g take n t o Illi n oi s a n d coul d

n ot b e a gai n ensl a ve d .
Thi s qu estio n w a s a t l a st ca r r i e d to th e Sup r em e

C ou r t o f th e Unite d State s and i n 1 8 5 7 i t wa s de ,
ci ded a gai n st Sco tt o n th e g r ou n d th a t n o N eg r o o f

sl ave a ncest ry wh eth e r h e b e a sl ave o r n ot h a d a
, ,
ci ti z e n s r i ght i n th e cou r ts o f th e U n i te d Sta te s

’
.
Th e j u d g e s a t th e s a m e ti m e state d th a t s l av es we re
p r op e r ty ; th at i t was the duty o f C o n gress to p r otect

p rope rt y a n d the r e fo re t h at C o n gress h a d n o r i g h t
, , ,
to fo rbi d sl ave r y i n the te r rito r i es Thi s was i n e f .
feet a de cis i o n th at the Mi ssou ri Comp r omis e h ad

neve r b een vali d i n l aw Thi s dec i si on s o i n fl ame d
.
bo th No rt h a n d South a s to m ake di su n i o n (o r at
temp ted di su ni o n ) m o r e ce rtai n i f p ossible tha n , ,
b e fore .
I t will b e o b s e rve d th at th e bi og r aphe r a n d h i s

to ri a n espousing th e side o f th e Sou t h alw a ys puts
fo rwa rd i n a co n sp i cuous m an n e r the mo ote d qu e s
, ,
tio n o f St at es rights And in m a ny i nstances w e

.
ag r e e wi th hi s a s s e r t i ons an d p o s t ul at i ons a l ong thi s

lin e Bu t th e poin t we desi r e t o make i s th at such
.
,
a r g um ents a re so freque nt ly a dv a n c ed as a me a n s o f
j us t i fying th e Sou th an d o f enticing us a w a y from
,
th e re a l crux o f t h e whol e si tu at i on th e ques t io n -
o f hum a n ch a tt elism
—
.
I n sub s t a n ce and b e fo r e bo t h s ide s b ecame s o

,
w r ought up as t o dem and a conte s t o f a rms on ge n

—
e ral p r i n ciples th e Fede r a l Gove rnm en t s a id to th e
di scontented Sou t h we a r e i r re t ri ev a bly opp os ed
,
-
to the exte n s ion into n ew te rr i t o r yy o f th e co r rupting

a nd unj u s t system o f p ro p e rty ri ghts in hum a n
b eings k e ep you r sl ave s in th e state s whe re they
,
n ow a re but m a ke n o a tt empt to ex t e n d the p r a ct i ce ;

,
a nd whil e we c ann ot endo rs e you we will rega rd t h e

, ,
matte r as wi t hout the Gove r n m e nt s j u risdicti on a nd ’
att empt no in t e rfe rence .
The South s r espons e to thi s w a s uni fo rmly de

’
fiant a nd t h re a te n ing ; a nd a m o u nted c onc re t ely t o

thi s : Mind you r own busi n es s ke ep you r unsought ,
a dvis e an d sugges t i o n s to you r s el f ; we a r e sove reign

St at e s a nd p ropo s e to s e n d ou r sl a ve p rop e rt y whe re
we pl e a s e As a m e an s o f e n fo rci n g this p ositi o n
.
,
w e w arn th o se i n c on t rol of t h e Fe d e r a l G o ve rn
m e n t th at w e p r opo s e to b r o o k n o m e ddli n g o r i n ,
t f
e r e re n c e ; a nd i f you da r e attemp t i t w e will ex e r
ci s e wh at w e co n s tru e to b e ou r co n stitu ti o n al r ights ,
an d r eti re f r o m th e U n i o n .
O f cou r s e thi s ultim atum wa s n eve r f o r m e r ly d e

live r e d to th e Fe de r al auth o riti e s b y emb a s sy o r
othe r o ffici als f r om South e rn state s ; i t m e r ely ex
p r e s s es th e g e n e ral attitude o f th e whol e South e rn
p eopl e .
I n the e a r ly d ays o f th e Republi c th e op ini o n w a s

ve r y ge n e r ally h el d th at e ach o f th e state s w a s s o v
e re i g n, a n d th at th e Ce n tral Gove r n m e n t w a s ex
elusi vely th ei r age n t e ntruste d wi th the p e r fo r m a n ce
,
o f ce rtai n limi ted a nd ca r e fully de fin e d duti e s whi ch

-
th ey (th e st a te s ) h a d e n t r u ste d to i t I n fa c t thi s .
w a s th e inte n ti on o f th e s eve r al sta tes wh e n th ey s e n t

th ei r r ep re s e n tatives to th e N ati o n al C o n stituti o n al
Co n ve nt i o n Th e f e a r th at th e C en t r al Gove rn
.
m e n t woul d b e empowe red wi th to o much autho r i ty ,
o r th at it woul d u s e th e ve r y st r e n gth whi ch t h e

states collectively g r a n te d to co n sti tut e a stro n g Ce n
t r al Gove r nm e n t a nd g r a dually u su rp thos e g r e a te r
,
p owe r s whi ch th ey (th e states ) s o d ea r ly c h e r i sh e d

a n d b eli eve d t h ey h a d r e s e r ve d to th e m s elves for a ll
tim e .
I n t h i s app r eh e n si o n th ei r exp r es s e d f e a r s h ave

since p roven to h ave b e e n p r oph eti c f o r th e h i sto r y
,
o f thi s Gove rn m e n t h a s b e e n a s te a dy m a r ch o f e n
c ro a c h m e n t a nd usu r p a ti o n o f b oth Sta te s r ights a nd
i n d ivi du al ri ghts ; u ntil to day we a r e b ut littl e i f

-
a n y b ette r o ff a s r e g a r ds ou r f re edo m th a n a r e th o se
,
Eu r op e a n States whos e depl o r a b l e ex a m pl e ou r

,
wi s e fath e r s t r i e d s o h a rd to avoi d Thi s h a s ve r ily

.
b eco m e a l a n d o f m i n o rity r ul e a n d o n e i n w h i ch
,
th e ol d sto ry o f th e opp r e s si o n o f th e we a k b y
,
th e s t rong i s b ei ng r ep e a t e d
,
. Th e C en t r a l G o v
e rn m e n t is controll e d by t h e few who con t inu ally

—
p rey upon t he m a ny a nd s o i t i s wi t h a ll mino r de
artm e n t s o f gove rnmen t Th e whol e s i tu at ion s o
p .
f a r a s t he N at ion a l Gove rnmen t i s c on c e rn ed may

b e t e r s ely s u mmed up in t he wo rds — , t a riff fed
t rusts .
Fo r t una t ely fo r t h e c onten t i on o f t h e Sou t h fo r

S tat es righ t s M a s s a ch u s e tt s a nd o t he r N o r t he rn
,
s ta tes h a d long s in c e m a de t h e s a m e c on t en t i on a nd ,
c a me t o the ve rge o f seces s i on b e fo re t hos e c ommo n
ta ri ff a nd o t h e r in t e res t s a ro s e whi ch t urned t h at

,
whol e s e cti on s t ro n gly t ow a rd s N at i on a li s m .
No u nbi a s ed hi s t o ri a n c a n j u s t ly c l a im th a t the
South w a s wrong in he r con t en t i on fo r gove rnmen ta l
fre edom o f a c t i on The t ro u bl e was p re c ipi ta ted by
.
th e immo r a l ch a r a cte r o f ce r ta in o f he r ac t s no ta —
b ly t h at o f s l a ve ry I f s h e h a d followed
. a lw a ys the
p r e cept o f the P r oph e t M i c a h— D o j u s t ly love
“
,
m e rcy a nd w a lk humbly wi t h t h y God

, the re
-
migh t neve r h a ve b een a di v i s ion a nd o u r common

,
country might h a ve b e en s a ved t h e c a l a mi t y o f c ivil

wa r .
W h a t mig h t h av e b ee n is o f t en s a i d t o be the mo st
i dle a nd empty c ombin at i on o f wo rd s Bu t t hi s c o n
.
elusion is only t h e res u l t o f t he mo s t s up e rfi c i a l
thought ; for t he re fl e ct i o n — , w h a t m ig h t h av e b e e n ,
h a s o f t en l ed t o nobler a nd wi s e r c ond u c t
-
.
Bu t the re we re no p a u s e s in t he ex c i t ed c o u rs e o f
even t s at t hi s t im e r econ c ili at i on o f diffe ren c es w as
,
no longe r t o b e numb ered a mong t he po ssibl e s olu

t ions o f t he bu rning s l a v e q u es t i on I t w as a gre at
.
,
c on s u ming p a r a s i t e u p on t he mo r a l a nd p oliti c al a f
f a i r s o f t he b ody poli t i c.
I t w a s now 1 8 5 9 a nd t he p eopl e we re s u ddenly

throw n into a c onvu l s ive s tat e by t he f a mous John
B r own rai d ; a n eve n t which sti rred a f r esh th e p as
T HE A M E RI CAN NE G RO PRO B LE M 1 63
si o n s o f th e n ati on f r o m ce ntr e t o ci r cum f e r e n ce .
As t h e r e h ave b e en m any v e r s i ons o f thi s h app e n ing

a n d frequen t ex a gge r at i o n s we give th e si mpl e facts :
Th e re live d a pl a i n fa r m e r i n th e n o rth e rn p a rt
—
o f N ew Yo rk th e Adi ron da ck r egi o n n a me d —
J ohn B rown wh o s e whol e s oul w a s devo te d to th e
,
c a us e o f th e e n sl a ve d N egro I n 1 8 5 6 B r ow n fo l .
l owe d fou r o f h i s grown s ons t o Ka ns a s t a k ing w it h ,
him a fi fth s on Th e re h e b ecam e a l e a de r o f th e

.
Fr e e St a te m en H e cam e to Vi rgini a with hi s s on s

.
a n d som e o t h e rs i n 1 8 5 9 t o s et i n m oti o n h i s l o n g
pl a nn ed s ch em e o f N egro up r i s i ng o r i nsu r re c ti o n ,
whi ch h e b eli eve d would put a n e n d to sl ave ry Hi s .
pl an s e em s t o h a ve b een t o a rm a nd i ncite a num b e r

o f N egro sl aves a n d thu s frigh t e n th e South i nto
,
repudi a ting th e enti re p r a c t i ce Littl e di d h e kn o w .
“ ”
how sm a ll a pl a ce t h at w o rd fe a r h a d with South
e rn e rs .
O ne O ctob e r n ight wi t h a b an d o f twelv e o r thi r ,
t e en whi t e m en an d five N egro e s — ei ght e e n i n all

B row n s ei z e d th e Unite d St a tes a rs e n al at H a rp e r s
Fe r ry o n th e s outh b a n k o f th e Po tom a c Rive r
—
, ,
whi ch w as th en in V i rgini a n ow We st V i rgini a .
B e fo re h e h a d don e mu ch dam age h oweve r th e , ,
Gove r n m e n t h a d C olon el Rob e rt E Le e o n th e .
sce n e wi th t ro op s to supp res s him B row n b atte r e d .
h i s way i n t o th e engi n e h ous e o f th e a rs en al wh e r e ,
h e and hi s companio ns we r e b a r r i ca ded H e wa s .
ove r p owe red c a p tu re d and l a te r tri e d an d co n vi cte d

, ,
o f t re a s on a nd mu rde r a nd sub s equ e n tly h ange d a t

—
C h a rl es t own Vi rg i n i a now W e st Vi r gi n i a
,
*
.
*
Th e i
v ar o u s s t a te m en t s as to th e e x ac t nu m b er o f m en wi th
J h o n B ro w t H p F y y— m
n a ar e rst y ig ht
er r v ar so e ac c o u n s sa e een,
oth e rs sa y tw ty en whil i g h t
-
i m t p
o n e, sob bl e e een s os ro a e, we
did t x d t w ty—
,
may s a f l y y th
e sa mb e nu er no e cee en one .
M rs . S P
u s an dl t L
en h l hi t y f th U it d St
e on
’
ee s s c oo s or o e n e ate s
W e do not thi nk B rown w a s a l t oge t h e r re pons i s
bl e fo r wh a t h e di d Hi s p revi o li fe show con . us s
l i ly t h a t h e w a s a m ent a l de fe t no t even o f
c us ve c ,
a ve r a ge m entali t y t ho gh a st rong a nd he a l t hy , u
physic a l sp ecim en Th e f a t t h at he w a s un a bl e to
. c
supp o rt h i family i s eviden e o f hi s p a r t i a l im

s c
b e cility .
Utt e r f a ilu re was th e result o f eve rythi n g h e at

temp t ed Pe rson a lly we j u s t i fy h i s execu t i on o u th e
.
ground t h a t h e w as a men a c e to h u m a n s o c i e t y bu t ,
no t on t he gro u nd th a t h e knew b ette r and w as will ,
f u lly a nd knowingly immor al .
Howeve r only the c on s equ en c e s o f hi s ac t o f i n

,
ci t ing Negro i nsu rrec t i on is ge rm a ne t o o u r s u bj ect .
To a ve ry l a rge ex t en t t h e No r t h m a de o f B row n a
h ero a nd a m a rt yr Th e a n t i sl a ve el emen t— ve ry .
-
imp rop e rly symp at hi zed wi t h th e a ud a c iou s

scheme In f a ct t he re i s ve ry s t rong gro u nd fo r s u s
.
p i c i o n th at B rown him s el f w as in c i t ed to t h e de e d by
we a l t hy c i t i zens o f th e No rth .
O f c ou r s e thi s occu rren c e s e rved t o grea t ly exci t e

a nd imb i tte r t h e Sou t h whi ch w a s a l re a dy un a ble to ,
v i ew t he s i t u at i on disp a s s ion at ely Rightly o r .
wrongly s h e h eld t h e No r t h re s pon s ibl e fo r t h e John

B rown r a i d a nd w a s t hen q u i t e re a dy to b egin a rm
,
ed hos t ili t i e s .
All t hi s tim e t he gre at b o dy o f N egroes rem a in ed

ob edi e n t a nd f a i t h f u l t o t hei r So u t he rn m a s t e rs I f .
t hey we re c on s ci o u s o f t h e i nj u s t i c e o f t hei r condi

t i on o f involunta ry s e rvi tu de t h ey ce rtai nl y kep t ,
sa y sw w ty
B ro n h ad t whi t m b t thi i p b bl y l y
en -
one e en , u s s ro a on
one whi h th t b k
o f t h e m an y t i It i m h
e rr o rs c a oo co n a ns s uc
b bl th t th di i i f bl k d whi t w ll
.
m o re
p ro a e a e v s on o ac s an es, as e as
th t t l
e mb
o awhi h w g i i th
nu er t xt i c t e ve n e co n e s c o rrec
Th d t il f m y hi t i f d t d ff li g h tl y
.
,
e e a s to an s or c ev e n s ar e o un o i er s
in th mi es e
p i t — p i ll y
no r g d mbo n s d d t
es ec a as re ar s nu e rs an a es .
1
t h ei r o wn cou n s e l . I t i s o u r d e l i b e r a te j u dg m e nt
th at a ve r y gr e a t m aj o r ity o f the m w e r e well c on
te n te d wi th th e i r h a r d l ot a n d th a t i f th e y c o u ld
,
h ave kn ow n a n d app r eci ate d th e di ffi culti e s o f m a k

i n g th ei r ow n w ay i n th e wo rl d a ga i n st th e sup e r i or
,
i ntelli ge n ce a n d b i tte r r a ce p r ej u d i ce o f th e wh i t e
—
m a n v e r y m a n y o f t h e m h a d t h e y b e e n a sk e d
,
w oul d h ave el ecte d to r em a i n i n s l ave ry Th i s f a ct

.
,
h o w eve r i s n o j usti fi c ati on o f th e s y ste m

, .
C HA P TER XI
A b ra a m L
h i n c o ln — Th e C i v i l W a r — Th e E n d o f
—
Sla v e ry R e c o ns tr u c ti o n
B RAHAM LIN C OLN one o f the g r e a t ,
e s t ch a r a c t e rs whi ch ou r country h as ye t
p rodu c ed now a pp e a r s con s pi cuou s ly

,
up on t h e s ta ge o f n at i on a l p oli t ic a l events ,
which by t hi s t im e h a d b ecome c los elyy cen t red

a round th e Negro a nd hi s conditi on o f en fo rced
s e rvi t u de . Thi s un c o u t h W es t e rn e r w a s a b ro a d
minded m a n ; a de ep a c cu r at e a nd p ro found thinke r
,
.
H i s p owe r o f o rigin a l clo s e a nd a cc u r at e tho u gh t

, ,
c omb ined a s it w a s wi t h s o u nd j udgmen t h a s r a rely

, ,
b een excelle d In a ddi t i on t o t he s e vi rt u es h e was

.
at once unbi a s ed a l t rui s t i c h one s t j u s t p e a ce ful

, , , , ,
ki ndhe a r t ed mode s t c a lm and c oll ec t ed I t i s ra re

, , .
—
indeed t h at we find a m a n ei t he r i n p u blic o r p ri
v at e li fe— s o fre e from p rej udi c es s o imp a r t i al in ,
hi s j udgmen t s a nd s o c a p a bl e o f gr a s ping and con

,
s i d e ri n g a ll si de s o f a que s t i o n It s e ems ext rao rdi .
na ry t h a t j u s t ar t h e momen t o f gre at es t ne ed in t he
hi s t o ry o f th e c ou nt ry t hi s m o s t c a p a bl e m a n t o
,
me e t a ll c ondi t ions sho u ld h a ve a ri s en a nd b een s e

le ct e d as the C hi e f M a gis t r at e and en t r u s t ed wi t h ,
t he gr a ve s t public du t i e s a nd responsibili t i es t h a t
eve r fell u pon t h e shoulde rs o f mo r ta l m a n N o .
wonde r wi t h a ll t h e gre a t and nobl e q u ali t i e s whi c h

,
he emb odi ed a nd the c ru shing respon s ibili t i es whi ch

,
h e a ssu med he should b e known t o hi sto ry a s a m a n

,
o f s a dness .
I f t he C i t i z enship o f b oth si des o f the controve rsy

1 66
THE A ME R I CA N NEG R O P RO B L E M 1 67
coul d h ave b e e n su ffi ci ently wi s e an d m a g n a n i m o u s

a s to h ave entru s te d all th ei r di ffe r ence s to hi m
al o n e wh a t a gl o ri ous p e a ce ful an d p rofit a bl e s olu
, ,
ti o n we woul d h av e h a d $ Thi n k o f th e h o rr ibl e ,
bl o o d stai n e d b attl efi elds th e hu n dr eds o f thous a n ds

-
,
o f wi dows a n d f a th e r l es s children l e ft p e nn il es s to
b em o a n th e i r i rretri e v abl e l o ss $ Thin k o f th e stu
d am ount o f a c cumul at e d tre a su r e ruthl essly
p e n o u s
s q u a nde re d and th e sub s equ e n t p oliti cal out r age s

,
a n d i ndigni ti e s whi ch th e South h a d to suffe r a fte r ,
th e de ath o f thi s b ig h e a r t ed m a n a s a p o rti o n o f

-
,
th e p e na lty fo r th e wh ol e s a l e ensl avem ent o f hum a n

.
b ei n gs ; much o f whi ch mi ght h a ve b e en s ave d by th e

cou rs e suggeste d $ Th e r e coul d have b e e n n o val i d
obj ecti o n t o such m edi a ti o n a nd re sults m i ght h ave ,
—
b e e n eve n m o re b enefici al i f h e a nd t h at oth e r Go d
—
l ike m a n Rob e rt E Le e h a d b een j ointly s el e cte d
.
,
wi t hout condi ti on s o r r estri cti on s to s ettl e all d i ffe r

e n ce s .
As Pil a te s a i d wh en h e w a s requi red to p a s s j u dg

m ent up on J e sus w e c an alm o s t s a y o f e a ch o f th e s e
,
“ ”
gre a t ch a r act e rs : I find n o f a ul t i n thi s m a n Gen .
e r a l Le e s gen e ro sity an d kindli n es s we r e a ce rtai n

’
di s adva nt a ge to him fro m a m ili ta ry standp oi nt i n ,
h i s hi gh comm and o f m en ; th e ve ry n atu r e o f th e

o ccup ati on c all e d fo r s eve re a n d swi ft de eds o f pu n
i s h m e n t and h a rshnes s a gai nst whi ch h i s g r e a t s oul
,
reb ell e d Bu t even i f thi s b e c ompute d to hi m a s a

.
mil it a ry imp e r fec t i o n it would h ave fitted him b ut

th e b ette r fo r su ch a s e r v i ce a s we h a ve m e n tione d .
Lincoln love d h i s country th e Uni o n an d hi s , ,
fellow m e n ; hi s fo rem os t d esi re w a s to s e rv e t h es e

-
inte r e sts H e thou ght p rop e rty ri ghts i n hum a n

.
b eing s w r ong and fr a nkly a nd publi c ly s a i d s o ; but

,
h e symp athi z e d with t h e South a nd love d it eve n a s ,
he di d th e N o r th H e n eve r r ega rd e d th e N egr o

.
equ a l to the whi t e m a n no r wa s h e incline d to w r est

,
him from t he gr a s p o f t he Sou t h by fo rce ; but h e di d

desi re t o s e e in a ugur at ed som e pl a n by whi ch th e
r a c e migh t gr a du a lly a nd ul t im at ely gai n i t s f r ee
dom ; a nd h e w a s uncomp romi s ingly opp os ed t o th e
ex t ensi on o f sl a ve ry i n t o n ew t e rri t o ry He di d s ay
.
t h at th e coun t ry could not p e rm a n en tly endu re p a r t

sl a ve a nd p a r t fre e ; but he would n eve r h ave con
s en t e d t o t he a rbi t ramen t o f civil w a r a s a solu t i on
o f t he p r obl em .
He re i s an exp r es sion o f hi s estimation o f th e

Negro given during one o f hi s f a mous deb a tes with
Judge Stephen A D ougl as an d b e fo re a n audie n ce
.
,
o f a vowed a b olitioni sts :

“
My decl a r a ti on upon thi s subj e ct o f N eg r o sl av
e ry m ay b e mi s rep res ented but c a nnot b e m i su n de r
,
s tood . I h a ve s a i d t ha t I do n ot u n de r stand the

Decl a r a ti on t o m ean that a ll m en we re cre a te d equ al
i n all resp ec t s They a re not ou r equ a l in colo r but I
.
,
suppos e t h at i t do es m e an to decl a re t h at all me n a r e

eq u a l in t hei r right to li fe lib e r ty an d th e pu r sui t
‘
,
o f h a ppiness .
’
C e rt a inly th e N egro i s no t an equal
in colo r— p e rh a p s n o t in m a ny o t h e r resp ects ; still
in t he ri ght to p u t in t o h i s mou t h t he b re a d th a t hi s
own h a nds h a ve e a rned h e i s th e equ al o f eve r y
,
o ther m a n white o r bl ack I n p ointi n g out that

, .
mo re h a s b een given you you ca n no t b e j usti fi ed i n

,
ta king a w a y th e lit tl e t hat h as b e e n give n him All .
I as k fo r th e N egro i s t h a t i f you do no t like hi m ,
l e t him a lone I f Go d gave hi m but littl e that littl e

.
,
le t him enj oy .
“
Wh a t I woul d m ost desi re woul ”
d b e th e s ep a r a
tion o f t h e whi t e a nd bl a ck ra ces .
B e c a us e o f Lin c oln s re a l wor t h and gre at n ess

’
,
no l e s s th a n h i s in t im ate a ssoci ati on wi t h t h e national

i ssues o f his day a nd the ve r y l a rge sha re which was
,
hi s i n s olving f o r all ti m e th e vi tal qu esti o n to Am e r

i c an s o f p ro p e r ty ri ghts i n hum a n b eings w e p r o ,
p o s e to quo te fr e ely i n t hi s ch a pt e r f r o m h is utte r

an ec s co n ce rni ng th e N eg r o an d wh a t ought to b e
do n e i n hi s b eh a l f a n d i n th e i nte re st o f th e U n i o n
,
and th e p r om oti o n o f hum a n h a ppi n es s i n th e ag g re

gate Th e q u o t a ti o n a b ove i s take n from o n e o f hi s
.
fam ou s deb a tes wi th D ougl a s and i s p eculi a r ly fit

ti n g i n thi s co nn ecti o n Lincol n w a s at th at tim e
.
, ,
o n e o f th e n ati o n al s enato ri al c a ndi d at e s — o f th e

n ewl y o r ga n i z e d R epu b li c a n p a r t y— in th e state o f
Illi n oi s Th i s w a s a n a nti sl ave r y p a r ty fo rm e d t o
.
-
s e r ve th e i nte r ests o f tho s e wh o w e r e opp o s ed to th e

exte n si on o f sl ave ry i n to n ew te rr ito ry Th ey al s o .
h eld th a t th e fram e r s o f th e C onsti t u t i o n di d n ot

b eli ev e th e i nsti tuti o n o f sl ave ry coul d l ong endu r e
unde r its p rovi si o n (whi ch w e h ave el s ewh e r e show n
to b e hi sto r i cally t r u e ) Thi s n ew p a r ty which Li n
.
—
col n l e d al s o f avo r e d s om e pl a n s ati s f a cto ry to a ll
i nte r ests co n ce r n ed s o f a r a s p o ssi b l e — b y w hi c h th e
,
N egro es could gr a du ally com e i n to th ei r r ights a s

f re em e n Th ey di d not h ow eve r p r op o s e teac h o r
.
, , ,
favo r vi ol e n ce o r i nj u sti ce o f a ny k i n d Li n c oln

, , .
hi m s el f b eli eved i n s om e fo r m o f g ra du a l ch a n ge
from sl ave r y to fre e dom su ch a s fr e edom to thos e
,
b o rn a fte r a ce r t ai n date a n d a f te r th ey h a d atta i n

,
—
e d to a ce r ta i n a ge s ay ei g h te e n ye a rs Th e s e ci r .
c u m s t an c e s m a de th e utte r ance s o f th e g r e at st a te s
m an o n thi s su b j e ct p a r ti cul a rly si gnifi ca n t ; hi s audi

e n c e s we re e a ge r to h e a r hi m condem n sl ave r y a nd
h i s p o siti on dem a n ded th a t h e gi ve full exp r ess i o n

to hi s co n vi cti o n s Fo r th es e r e as o n s a n d b ecau s e
.
,
hi s atti tu d e h a s b e e n s o o fte n a nd s o g ro s sly m i s

r ep re s e n te d in th e South e rn s ecti o n o f thi s cou n t ry ,
we quote f u r th e r a n d at s o m e l e n gth fr o m t h e s e
sp e e ch e s .
1 70 TH E U LT I MAT E S OL U T I ON o r
I will s ay here s a i d t he n obl e s t a t esm a n

,
-
(i n ,
hi s reply t o Do u gl a s in t h e fi r s t o f t h ei r j oin t de
,
“
b at es at O tt ow a Illinoi s on Aug u s t 2 1 1 8 5 8 ) t ha t
, , ,
I h a ve no pu rp o s e ei t he r di re c t ly o r i ndi re c t ly t o
, ,
in t e rfere wi t h t he in s t i t u t ion o f s l a ve ry in t h e St at es
wh e re i t now exi s t s I b eli eve I h a ve no l a wf u l righ t
.
t o do s o a nd I h a ve no in clin at i o n t o do s o I h a ve
,
.
no p u rpo s e t o in t rod u c e poli t i c a l a nd s oci a l equ a lity

b e t we en t he whi t e a nd t he bl a c k r a c e s Th e re i s a .
phy s i c a l di ff e ren c e b e t we en t he t wo whi ch in my , ,
j udgmen t will p rob a bly fo reve r fo rb i d t hei r living

,
t oge the r u p o n t he fo o t ing o f p e rfec t e qu a li t y ; a nd

in a s m u ch as i t b ecome s a ne c e s s i t y t h at t h e re m u s t b e
a diff eren c e I a s well as J u dge D o u gl a s a m in
, , ,
f a vo r o f t he r a c e t o whi ch I b el ong h a ving t he su

p e ri o r po s i t i on I h a ve neve r s a id a ny t hing t o t h e
.
c on t r a ry
,
b u t I hold t h at no t wi t h s ta nding a ll t hi s
, ,
the re i s no re a son in t he wo rld why t he N egro i s no t

en t i t l ed t o a ll t he n at u r a l righ t s en u m e ra t ed i n t h e
D e cl a r at i on o f Indep endence t he ri gh t t o li fe lib e r t y ,
a nd the pu rs u i t o f h a ppine s s I hol d t h at he i s a s.
m u ch en t i t l ed t o t hes e a s t h e whi t e m a n I a gre e .
wi t h Judge D o u gl a s he is no t my eq u a l in m a ny re
s p e ct s — c e r ta inly no t in c olo r p e rh a p s not in mo r a l
,
o r in t ell e ct u a l endowm en t Bu t in t he right t o e at

.
th e b re a d wi t hou t t h e l e a ve o f a nyb ody el s e which

, ,
h i s own h a nd e a rn s he i s my eq u a l and t h e equ a l o f

,
Judge Do u gl a s a nd t h e equ a l o f eve ry living m a n

, .
In t hi s l a ngu a ge Lin c oln re c ogni z e s t h e f a c t t h at

the Negro i s con s p icu ou s ly in fe rio r t o t he whi t e m a n ,
a nd afli rm s t h at h e do e s no t b eli eve t he N egro c an

eve r enj oy equ a l so c i a l a nd poli t i c a l righ t s wi t h t he
s u p eri o r r a c e In t his b o t h s c i ence a nd exp e ri ence
.
h a ve s in c e s hown him t o b e ri gh t H e a ls o exp re s s ly .
rep u di at e s a ny in t en t i on o r de s i re t o in t e rfe re wi t h
t he So u t h a l tho u gh h e b el ieved t h at s om e ch ange
,
THE A M E RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M I 7 1
mu s t and would s o o n e r o r l ate r t a k e pl a ce H e b e

, , .
li e v e d th at thi s imm o r al i ns t i t uti on w as a n d w ould ,
continu e to b e a b o n e o f co n te n ti on and a di stu rb i n g

,
f a cto r a s l ong a s it exi ste d an d i n all thi s m ost

,
South e rn e rs a re n ow abl e to s e e th at h e w a s ab s o
lu t e ly ri ght . I n th e s am e sp e ech h e del ive r e d him
s el f i n th e s e wo rds : I l e ave i t t o you to s ay wh eth e r
i n th e h isto ry o f ou r gove r n m e n t th i s qu e sti o n o f
sl a v e ry h as n o t a lw ays f a il e d to b e a b on d o f u n i o n ,
and o n th e co nt r a ry b e en an a ppl e o f di s co r d a n d
, ,
a n el em e n t o f divi si on t o th e h ou s e I a sk you t o .
consi de r wh eth e r s o l ong as th e m o ral co n stituti o n

.
o f m e n s minds sh a ll co nt inu e to b e t h e s am e a fte r

’
,
thi s gen e ra ti o n a nd a s s embl a ge sh all si nk i nto the

gr a ve an d a n oth e r ra ce sh all a ri s e wi th th e s am e
,
m o r a l a nd m ent a l devel op m ent w e h av e — wh eth e r ,
i f t h a t instituti o n i s standi ng i n th e s am e i rr i tati ng

p o s i t i on i n whi ch i t now i s it will n o t co n ti nu e a n
,
”
el em en t o f divi si o n $
Aga in a n d al s o i n th e s am e sp e e ch h e s ays : Wh at
i s p opul a r s ove rei g n ty $ I s i t the ri ght o f th e p e opl e
to h ave S l ave ry o r not h ave it a s t h ey s e e fit i n th e
, ,
t e r ri to ri e s $ I will s t a te — a n d I h a ve a n abl e m a n to
—
w atch m e (r e fe r ri n g to D ougl a s ) m y u n de r sta n d
i ng i s th a t p opul a r s ov e r ei gn t y now appl i e d to th e
,
qu e sti o n o f sl ave r y do e s allow th e p e opl e o f a te rr i

,
t o ry to h a v e sl ave r y i f th ey w a n t to b ut do es n ot ,
a ll o w th em n o t to h a ve i t i f th ey do no t w ant it I .
do n o t m e a n t h a t i f thi s v a st concou rs e o f p e op l e
we re i n a te r ri to ry o f th e United St a te s a n y o n e o f ,
th em woul d b e obl ige d t o h a v e a sl ave i f h e di d no t

w a nt one ; b u t I do s a y th a t a s I u n d e r st a n d th e
,
D re d Sco tt deci si on i f a ny o n e m an w a nts sl aves a ll

, ,
t he re s t h a v e n”o way o f k e epi n g th a t o n e m a n fr om

h ol ding th em .
I t was Li n co ln s si n ce r e d esi r e a nd e a rn e st a i m t o
’
172 TH E ULTI MATE SOLUTION O F
s ettl e the sl ave question p e a ce a bly a nd i n the inte r ,
es t s o f uni t y a nd go od will a mo n g a ll th e p eopl e o f

the diffe rent s ec t i ons H e gre atly desi red t ha t sl a v
.
e ry should not b e exte n ded i n to n ew te rr ito ry a n d , ,
$
although he was mo rally opp os e d to t he i n s titu
ti on — h e deplo re d a nd di sd a ined a ny sugge s t ion o f
i n t e r fe rence wi t h t he ins t i tuti on i n th e Sou t he rn
st a tes Bu t o n the othe r h an d h e was fi rmly con
.
, ,
v i n c e d th a t i t was t h e purpo s e o f t h e D emocratic
p a r ty both N o rth and South t o exten d sl ave ry a nd

, ,
m a ke i t n a ti o n al This h e wa s eve r r e a dy to r esis t

.
,
and f u lly determined t h a t i t S houl d neve r come to

p ass i f i t we re pos s ibl e fo r him t o p r eve n t i t
, .
“
N ow my fri e n ds s a i d Lincoln i n thi s s ame ad
, ,
d r e s s I wi sh you to a t t end fo r a li tt l e while to one

,
“
o r two o t he r things i n th at Sp ringfi eld sp e ech My .
m ai n obj ect w a s to S how s o fa r as my humbl e a b ili ty

,
w a s cap abl e o f showing to the p eopl e o f thi s country ,
wh at I b eli eve was th e truth— tha t the r e w a s a te n d

ency i f n ot a c on s pi racy among thos e who h ave em
,
g i n e e re d t hi s sl ave r y quest i o n fo r th e l ast fou r o r

five ye a rs to m ake sl ave r y p e rp e t u al an d u n ive r s al
,
”
in thi s n a ti o n .
Lincoln o ften r e fe r s to the f a ct th at th e great

n ames s o i ntim a tely a ssoci a t ed with the D ecl a rati on
o f Indep e n dence a n d t h e N ati o n al C o n stituti on r ep ,
r es ent m en who thought subst a n t i a lly a s he di d up o n

this migh ty questi on o f sl ave ry Bu t o f a ll th e g r e at
.
m e n o f n a t io nal f a m e who h a d p r eceded him He nry

C lay was hi s deci ded favo ri te Hi s g r e at a dmi r a.
ti o n o f C l ay w a s continu ally cropping out i n hi s pu b

li c add r ess es This high reg a rd f o r C l ay i s well il
.
lustrated in thi s p a ss a ge whi ch als o th r ows mo r e

,
light upo n hi s a tti tude tow a r ds sl ave ry u n de r the

Const i tuti on .
“
He nry Cl a y my b e au id e al of a stat esm a n th e
, ,
TH E A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 1 73
—
m a n fo r wh o m I f ought all my hum b l e l i f e H e n ry
C l ay once s ai d o f a cl a s s o f m e n who woul d r ep r es s
a ll te n de n ci es to li b e r ty an d ultim a t e em a n c i p at i o n ,
t h a t th ey must i f th ey woul d do thi s go b ack to th e

, ,
e r a o f ou r i ndep e n de n ce a n d mu z z l e t h e ca n no n
w hi ch thu nd e r s i ts a nn u al j oyou s r etu rn ; th ey mu st
b lo w ou t th e m o r al l ights a r ou n d ; th ey m ust p e n e us
t r ate th e hum a n soul a nd e ra di ca t e th e r e th e l ove o f

l i b e r ty ; a nd the n n
,
d n o t till th en coul d they p e r

, a ,
p t
e ua t e sl av e ry i n thi s cou nt y $ To my thi n k i n g r ,
Judge D ougl a s s b y h is exampl e an d va st i n flu e n ce

i
doi n g th at ve ry thi n g thi s co mmuni ty wh e n h e s ays in
th a t th e N eg ro h a s n oth i n g n th e D ecl a r ati o n o f i
I n dep e n de n ce H e nr y Cl ay pl a i n ly unde rsto o d th e

.
co n t r a r y Ju dge D ougl a s i s go i n g b a c k to th e e r a
.
o f ou r R evoluti o n a n d to th e extent o f hi s a b ility

,
m u z zli n g t h e ca nn o n w hi ch thu n de rs i ts a n nu al j oy
o u s r etu rn Wh e n h e i nvite s any p e opl e willi n g to
.
h av e sl ave r y to e sta b li sh i t h e i s blowi n g out t h e

, ,
m o r al l i ghts a r ou nd us Wh en h e s a ys h e ca r e s n o t .
wh eth e r sl ave r y s vot e d dow n o r vote d p th at it

i — u
i s a s a c r e d r ight o f s el f gove rnm ent— h i s i n m y e
j udgm e n t p e n e t r ati n g th e hum a n s oul a n d di c a e ra
ti n g th e li ght o f r e a s o n a n d th e l ove o f l i b e r ty i n
”
thi s Am e r i ca n p e o pl e .
I n th es e vi ews o f th i s u n i qu e Am e r i ca n stat es m a n
we c n but con cu r H e w a s h on e s t co n s e r vative
a .
,
a n d r i ght I f h e h a d b e e n told at thi s ti m e th a t

.
co n di ti ons woul d s sh ap e th em s elve s th a t h e woul d

o
em a n ci p ate all th e Southe r n sl ave s b y a s i n gl e b ri e f

e d i ct h e woul d h av e b eli eve d hi s i nf o rm ant b esi de
,
hi m s el f Li ncol n g r e atly depl o r e d th e n ece ssi ty f o r

.
h i s Em a n cip ati o n P r ocl am a ti o n a n d us ed eve r y h o n ,
o ab le m e a n s to avoi d i t
r I t a t l e n gth i n 1 8 6 2 b e
.
, ,
c a m e a b s olute l y u n avo i da b l e a s a w a r me a su r e a n d ,
h is f a mo us E m a n cip ati on P ro c l a m a ti on w a s i ssu e d

to ta ke eff ec t on the fi rs t d a y o f J a nu a ry 1 8 6 3 , .
When Lin oln a m e in t o t h e Pre i den t i al o ffice on

c c s
th e 4 th o f M a rch 8 6 h e found ce r ta in po r t i ons , 1 1 ,
o f t h e country in a s tat e o f a t u a l reb elli on Fo r a c .
t im e h e re fus ed t o re ogni z e the a pp a lli ng fact He c .
s —
tri ed t o p e r u a de t h e Sou t h t o li t en t o r e a so n but s
wi t h no a v a il .
M os t o f t h e South e rn p eople b eli eved t ha t a n y

s ta te h a d t he ri gh t t o reti re from t h e Uni o n a t will .
M a ny went f a r a s to rega rd t h e el e ti on o f M r
so c .
Lincoln a s fli i t c a us e fo r th e exe rci se o f th a t

su c en
ri gh t Sou t h C a roli n a h a d t aken t h e l ea d i n thi s

.
m ovemen t Th at t a t e c a ll ed toge t h e r a C tit

. s o ns u
tio na l C onven t i on a nd o n t h e 2 o th day o f D ecem

,
b e r 1 8 6 0 a n o rdin a n e w p a ed et t ing fo r th
, , c as ss , s
t h at So t h Ca roli n a w no longe r a st a te i n t h e
u as
Uni on but h a d res m ed h e r i ndep endence C

, u . o nv e n
ti ons we re c a ll ed a nd imil a r O rdin a n e o f S s c s ec e s
si on we re a dop t ed J a n a ry 8 6 1 b y M i ssi s sippiin u , 1 , ,
Fl i d
OI Al a b a m a Geo rgi a a nd Louis ia n a Tex a s
a, ,
.
took t he s a m e a cti on Feb ru a ry o f t h at ye a r ; Vi r in
gini a he it at ed a nd t h e res t w a i t ed fo r h e r decision

s ,
.
A a m a tte r o f f a ct Vi rgini a voted ove rwhelmingly

s
a g a i nst s eces si o n .
Th e s tat es whi ch h a d eceded du ring D ecem

si x s
b e r a nd J a n a ry sen t del eg at es t o a conventi on h el d

u
at M on t gom e ry Al a b a m a on Feb rua ry 4 th a nd

, , ,
th e r e o rg a ni zed thems elves i nto a n ew Republi c ,
whi h t hey c a ll ed t he C on fe de r a t e S tat es o f Ame r

c
“
”
ica . Th is new Republi c ei z e d pon e rt a i n fo rts s u c ,
a rs enal a nd o t h e r p rop e rty o f t he Uni t ed States

s,
Gove rnme n t Fo r t S m t e r w a s one o f t h e few

. u
So t h e rn s t rongh old rem ai ning in p os es i on o f the

.
u s s s
United St a tes Th e No r t h o ld no t a t fi rst b eli eve

. c u
th a t a ll t hi s w to b e t a ken e ri o ly M aj o r A
as s us . n
d so n who h d reti red f r om Fo r t M lt i

er , a be ou r e i,
caus e i t cou l d n ot b e d e f e n de d fr om th e l a n d s i d e ,
w as i n c o mm a n d o f Fo r t Su m te r H e n oti fi e d P r e s
—
.
i de n t B uch a n a n a D e m o c r a t a n d South e rn symp a

th i z e r— t h at th at f o r t c o ul d n ot b e h el d with out re
e n fo r cem e n ts o f m e n a n d a mm u n iti on At fir st th e .
P r es i de n t w ould no t a ct f e a r i ng th at such re eh
,
-
f o r cem ents w ou l d p r eci p i tate a colli si o n ; b ut w h e n

M aj o r A n de r s on i nf o r m ed him th a t b atte r i e s w e r e
buil di ng w hi ch th r e ate n e d th e f o rt s r e ducti o n th e ’
,
re e n fo r ce m e n ts we re f o r w a r de d i n a n un a r m e d v e s
-
s el whi ch wa s fir e d up o n wh e n sh e e n te r e d Ch a rl e s
,
to n H a rb o r a n d fo r ce d to r etu rn
, .
—
Wh e n Li n c o l n ca m e i n to o ffi c e o n th e 4 th o f
M a r ch 8 6 1 , 1 — h e to o k s eve r al we e k s to deci d e wh a t
to do a b out Fo r t Sumte r Fi n ally h e d ete rm i n e d t o
.
s e n d a sm all fl e et t o Ch a rl es to n with s ol di e r s a n d
p rovi si o n s At th e s a m e tim e b e n oti fi e d th e Gove r
.
n o r o f Sout h C a r oli n a th at th e fl e et woul d l a nd no

—
s oldi e r s o r a mm u n iti on u n l e s s attac k w a s m a d e but
woul d supply th e for t with p rovi si on s o n ly Th e .
C o n fe de r ate s a ccep te d thi s a s a ch al l e n ge a nd o p e n

e d th ei r b att e ri es o n th e fo r t o n th e 1 2 th o f Ap r i l .
A fte r a h e avy b om b a r dm e n t it wa s su rr e nd e r e d o n
t h e followi n g day Li n col n h a d exh auste d hi s re
.
s ou r ces fo r a p e a ce f ul s oluti o n h e h a d do n e all i n hi s

,
p owe r t o ave r t th e conte st N on e depl o re d civil w a r

.
m o r e th a n b e b ut h e w a s co nfr o n ted wi t h th e s te rn
,
r e ali ty o f a n a ctu al state o f w a r exi sti n g b e t we e n th e

s ecti o n s p r ecip itate d b y th e n oto r i ously hot h e a d e d
,
-
citi z e n s o f South Ca r oli n a U n de r th e s ol em n o ath

.
a s Chi e f Exe cuti ve o f th e U n i te d States h e h a d n o
alt e r n ative n o thi n g w as l e f t t o him but t o a ccep t th e

,
a rb i t r am ent o f w a r wit h all i ts h o rr o r s .
I n thi s situ ati o n h e b ravely a dd res s e d hims el f to

th e p r o s ecuti o n o f t h e w a r a nd t h e s avi n g o f th e
,
Uni on .
Th e i de a o rigi nally h el d in a l oo s e f a shi on by all

t he s tat es a s ser t e d strongly at one t im e by ce rt a i n
,
No r t hern s tat e s a nd t o t hi s d a y fi rm ly b eli eve d by

,
a v a st m aj o ri ty o f Southe rn p eopl e ; t h at in th e adop

t i on and r at ifi c at i on o f th e N at i on a l C onstitu t ion
t hey re ta ined a nd re s e rved t o them s elves t he righ t
a nd p rivil ege t o rep u di at e t h at ins t rumen t a nd reti r e
from t h e Union a t will s e ems t o u s a s it di d to
,
—
—
Li n c oln t o h a ve no re a l found a ti on in f a c t A .
per s on o r a p eopl e m a y h a ve a m ost ab solute b eli e f

, ,
in a t hing wi t ho u t t he s li ghtes t fo u nd at i on fo r s u ch a
b eli e f— t hi s s e em s t o h a ve b e en t h e c a s e a s reg a rds
t h e righ t o f s tat e s t o wi t hd r a w from t he Uni on To .
ou r w a y o f t hi nking t h e re i s no t a cl a u s e o r a wo rd
in t h e en t i re do cu m ent t h a t c an b e logi c a lly s o con
s t ru e d a s t o contempl a t e i t s own a b ro g at ion o r con ,
fe r u pon o r res e rve t o t he s eve r a l s tat es re sp e c

, , ,
t iv e ly t h e ri gh t t o di s a s so ci at e them s elves from t h a t

,
comp a c t Th e ci rcumst a nce t h a t t h e st at es fi rmly

.
b eli eve d t h at s u ch w as thei r p re rog at ive in no wi s e

a l t e rs th e ve rity .
Slav ery w a s t h e re a l g aug e o f b a t tle but the p re s

,
e r v a ti o n o f t h e C o n s ti tu ti o n a nd t h e s a v i ng o f th e
U ni o n h a d now s upe rs eded fo rm e r i s sue s a nd b e ,
c om e u p p e rm os t in th e mind o f Lincoln . But fo r h i s

ex t r a o rdin a ry vi r tue s t hi s n at i on wo u l d h a ve b e en
hop el e s s ly t o rn a su nde r fo r du ring t ho s e trying
,
ye a r s o f w a r th e N o rth w a s mo re t h a n on c e re a dy
to a b a ndon t h e con t es t a nd allow the South t o go i n
p e ace .
As th e ye a rs wo re on howe v e r t he physi c a l ex
, ,
h au st i o n o f t h e o t h e rwi s e unyi elding Sou t h b e c a me

mo re a nd m o re a pp a rent a nd t h e p a s si n g o f t h e
,
ini q ui t o u s i n s t i t u t ion o f s l a ve ry w a s s e en t o b e m e re
ly a m att e r o f t im e . Th e des p i s ed bl a c k m a n w a s
to c om e in t o hi s n a t u r a l a nd cons t ituti on a l rights o f
TH E A ME RI CAN N E G RO P RO B LE M 1 77
f r e edom a n d to e n te r t h e i n gl o r i ou s co ntest wi th th e
,
wh i te m a n f o r th e s u rv iv al o f th e fittes t .
Th e deta ils o f th e w a r h av e n o b e a r ing up o n th e

s oluti o n o f th e N eg r o qu estio n Th e v al o r o f th e
.
South e rn s ol di e r n e eds n o comm endati o n h e r e hi s ,
spl e n di d qu aliti e s i n w a r a nd in p e a ce a re m a tte r s o f

unive r s a l a dmi r ati o n Th e o nly w ay th e mi s gui de d
.
South w a s ev e r conqu e r e d w a s by G r a nt s system o f ’
a tt r i t i o n whi ch fin a lly exh a u st e d a nd compl etely

,
p r o st r at e d th e n o b l e a n d once stalwa r t C o n fe de r
, ,
a cy Sh e no l o n ge r h a d m e n a n d m o ney wi th wh ich
.
to p rolo n g the st r uggl e Th e famili a r an d p ath eti c

.
sto ry o f Le e s su rr e n de r at App om at t ox o n Ap r il
’
9 , 1 8 6, 5 i s fr e sh i n th e m em o ri es o f all Hi. s r em
n a n t o f a n a r my whi ch h a d sh ow n i n m a n y b attl es
,
th e m o st i ndom ita b l e sp i r it w as now re duce d to ab

,
s olute i mp otency Hi s m en w e r e in r a gs a n d s t arv

.
i ng Le e s a ctu al cap itulati o n mi ght p o s si b ly h ave

’
b e e n de fe r re d fo r a tim e p o ssi b ly fo r a we ek — b ut
.
—
wh en h e s aw th a t th e l a st gl imm e ring ray o f ho p e
h a d fo r eve r fa ded f r om th e b o s om o f t h e l owe ri n g
sh a des o f a dve rsi ty hi s gr e a t s oul woul d no t s a n c
,
ti on th e r uthl e s s s a c ri fice o f t h e f a ith f ul few .
Th a t th e bl a ck m an i s wo nde r fully su b j e ct t o h i s
imm edi a te envi r ons a n d childl ike i n th a t hi s m e n tal
att itud e c an b e r e a dily m oul de d by hi s sup e ri o rs i s ,
nowh e re b e tt e r illust r a ted th a n i n th os e tu rbul e n t

tim es o f Ci vil Wa r and R econ stru cti on W hil e th e .
m a ste r wa s b e a rin g a rms an d doing b attl e to p e r

p e tu a t e th e insti tuti o n o f hum a n sl a ve ry th
, e s e r v a n t
w as a t hom e tende rly gu a r di ng a nd p rote cti n g th e
wom en a nd child r en h e l e ft b ehi n d a nd tilling th e
,
s oil to fe ed an a rmy to fi ght a g a inst hi s f re e dom .
Th e N e gro sl ave r e a lly di d n o t kn ow wh at th e g r e at

Civil Wa r m e a nt H e h a d a ce r t a i n consci ous n es s
.
th a t w a r wa s b ei ng wa g e d a g a i n st h i s m a ste r a nd ,
wa s i n th e h ab it o f reg a rding a ny inj u ry to t h e m a s

te r as a lo ss t o hims el f Hi s m en ta l att i t u de t ow a rds
.
t he m a s t e r and th e f a mily w a s ve ry like t h at o f t h e

sh ephe rd dog t ow a rds t h e fl o ck ; h e h a d b e en t r a ined
to gu a rd an d s e rve them a nd t hi s h e c on t in u ed t o do
,
p a rtly thro u gh fo rce o f h a bi t .
Th e m ental cap a ci t i es o f t h e N egro a re limi t ed

ve ry limi t ed bu t i t i s f a r f rom t ru t h t o reg ard him
,
a s devoi d o f vi rtu e Hi s commend a bl e a nd uni fo rm

.
f a i t h fulness du ri n g th e t rying p e ri o d o f C ivil Wa r i s

s u ffi c i en t in its el f to disp el t hi s no t i on fo r a ll t im e .
Prope rly t r a ined h e w a s then a nd i s now in m any

, , ,
rel a t i o n s o f li fe a hi ghly vi rtuous m a n Thi s whol e

, .
s a l e condemn at ion o f t h e ra c e i s unj us t i fi a ble a nd

mi sl e a ding Tre a t ed wi t h uni fo rm kindn e s s a nd
.
,
s t rict di scipline a nd j us t ice he i s c a p a bl e o f b e c o m

,
ing a l aw a bi ding a nd us e ful citi z en in t he m eni al

-
o ccup at i ons th a t do not req u i re s el f reli ance a nd i n -
t e lle ctu al a c um en I n t h es e hi ghe r qu a liti es how

.
,
eve r h e i s notori ously a nd almo s t uni fo rmly de

,
fici e n t . The gre a t es t hono r a nd di s t in c t i on whi ch

th e Negro h a s eve r won w a s hi s f a i t h fu lness a nd
loy a l t y t o hi s m a s t er s f a mily du ring th e C ivil Wa r
’
.
Th e re s e ems t o b e no reco rd o f hi s vi ol at ing this

s acred tru s t Thi s wa s du e to ea rly tr a ining a nd
.
envi ronment a n d should eve r re do wn to th e credi t

,
o f t h e r a ce .
S t riking a nd si gnific a n t w a s t h e s u dden c h a nge

tha t cam e ove r him a s a res u lt o f t he l a ment a bl e
folly o f Reconstructi on times The a b s u rd polici es .
a n d te achings o f the No rth tran s fo rmed him in t o a n

enemy o f the wh ite p opul at i on a nd a p e rp e t r at o r o f
b ru ta l crim e Th e N egro was ta ugh t t o h at e hi s
.
whi t e nei ghb o r and t o oppo s e him i n a ll m att e rs o f

politics In t he fi rs t pl a ce a ll men who know the
.
N e g r o cha racte r and h i s defici e n ci es will we sup ,

TH E A ME RI C A N N E G RO P RO BL E M 170
p o s e a g r ee th at it w a s u nw i s e to su dd e n l y co nf e r
,
up o n hi m th e r i ght o f f r a n chi s e H e h a d n o co n cep

.
ti o n o f h ow to us e i t a n d b ecam e th e m e r e to ol o f
,
th e co r rupt p ol i tici a n I f th e two r a ces we r e to l iv e

—
.
—
to geth e r whi ch wa s n e ces s a ry ami ty a n d a c o n
ti n u ati o n o f m utu al tol e r ati o n a n d r e sp ect wi th ,
w hite domi n a ti on w e r e th e onl y p o s si b l e co n diti o n s

, ,
but a mi ty a n d mutu al r esp ect w e r e fo r a ti m e at l e a st

l a rg ely de str oye d b y th e r ei g n o f th e ca r p etb a g g e r s ;
no r hav e i t s di re ful co n s equ ences yet wh olly di s ap
p e a r e d Se
. con d o n ly to th e co n fl i ct its el f wa s t h e
ch ap te r o f e r ro rs commi t te d at Wa shi ngto n b y th o s e

i n auth o r ity a fte r th e a ss a s sin a ti o n o f Li n coln P r e s .
i de n t J oh n s o n attempte d to execute Li n col n s p ol i ’
ci es b ut C o n gre s s to o k th e m a tte r out o f hi s h a n ds

,
a nd v e ry n atu rally b ut m o st un fo r tu n ately a n d u n

, ,
w i s ely attempt e d to cl oth th e N eg r o with p o w e r s

,
whi ch h e h a d n o t th e r emo te st i dea ho w to exe r ci s e ,
a nd th e n i n feste d th e co n qu e re d te rr i to r y w ith a ge n ts
who taught th e N eg r o to de spi s e a n d o pp o s e t h e su
p e r i o r r a ce wi th whi ch h e h a d t o l ive I t w a s im
.
p o s si b l e th a t th e co n s equ e n ces to b oth r a ces c o ul d

b e oth e r th a n evil U n de r thi s syste m th e N e gr o
.
r esp onde d r e a dily a n d b e cam e th e bi tt e r e n e m y a nd ,
a co n st a nt sou rce o f da n ge r to hi s whit e n ei gh b o r s ,
who m h e h a d s o r ece n tly d e fe n ded a nd p r otect e d

w i th such comm e nd a bl e fid eli ty C h i ldl i k e a s re
.
,
ga rd s hi s i ntell ectu a l devel op m e n t h e w a s a nd i s , ,
e a sy to i n flu e n ce f o r ei the r g o o d o r b a d Al l t h es e
.
facts a r e i n p e r fe ct a cc or d with ou r c h apte r s on

Ev i d e n c e s o f M e n ta l I nf e ri o ri ty a nd give n th e f a ct s
,
th e r e r e co r ded hi s co n duct u n de r th es e give n c ond i

, ,
ti o n s mi ght almo st h av e b ee n fo r eto l d .
Th e N eg r o w a s system atic ally tau gh t th a t th e

p etty a ge n ts o f th e Gove rn m e n t w h o h a d c om e
a mon g the m t o p ro t ec t t h e m from re en sl avem ent -
by Sou the r n whites we re not only th e age n ts o f

,
t h ei r delive rers bu t t h e cus t odi a ns o f thei r rights a s

,
en franchi s ed f r e edmen Th a t t hei r only hop e wa

.
t o s et thems elves i n poli t i c a l opp osi t i on to t hei r fo r

m e r m a s t e rs and a ss er t i n eve ry p os sibl e way thei r
, , ,
so c i a l and p oli t ical equ a li t y Such p erni ci ou s do c

.
t ri nes poured cont i nu a lly in t o th e e a rs o f th e fe ebl e

minded Negro p r a c t i cally amo u n t ed to dre n chi n g
t he soil wi t h hi s bloo d and removing f r om hi s r e a ch
,
the ve ry food whi ch h a d eve r b e e n s o abundant H e .
a ssumed an ai r o f s el f imp o r ta nce a nd s el f ass e r t ive

,
- -
ne s s whi ch enge n de red a n ew r a ce p rej udice and

, ,
c a u sed t h e South to deny him t h e righ t o f franchi s e ,
a nd t o a l a rge ex t ent the o r din a ry civi l ri gh t s in t he

,
cou r t s I n t hi s st a te o f fe eling t h e ve ry l a w o f s el f
.
p res e rv at i on cam e conspi c uo u s ly to th e front a n d ,
the p rej udice c a m e to b e s o s trong th a t th e c r y o f

the bl a c k m a n fo r civi l j us t i ce b e fo re Sou t he r n cou r ts
—
an d j uri es was a m e re f a rce t he ve rdict b eing p r e
de t e rmined i n m a ny c a s es b e fo re t h e evi dence wa s
he a rd E s p eci a lly was t hi s t r u e i n cas e s o f p e rsonal
.
vi ol ence I t w a s t ho ro u ghly unde rstood tha t no j u ry

.
woul d puni sh a re s p ec ta bl e whi t e m an for V i olence

t ow a rd a bl a ck one In f a c t t hey we re a lmo s t a fr a i d
.
t o puni sh even a ve ry b a d whi t e m a n b ecau se o f th e

mo r a l effec t u pon th e N egro es whe reve r such facts
we re her a lded .
I f Lin c oln h a d lived t o compl e t e t he t e r m i n t h e

W hi t e Hous e up on which h e h a d s o recently en t e red ,
a nd C ongress coul d h a ve b ee n fo rced o r p e rsu a ded

to a llow him t o de a l with t he qu esti on o f Reconst rue
—
t ion whi ch h e b eli eved it hi s cons t ituti onal p re ro g
—
at ive to do b y f a r th e g r e ate r p a rt o f a ll thes e
t ro u bl es wo u l d h a ve b een fo re s e e n a nd ave r t ed The .
South neve r lo s t a mo re u se ful fri end B i a s a n d .
p r ej udice s e em to h ave had no abode in th e mi n d o f

THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 1 8I
thi s mi ghty state sm a n .
Thi s col o ss al l os s w a s as gre at to th e bl ac k m a n

a s to t h e white th e gre at e r to t h e Sou t h th a n to th e
,
N o rth ; fo r it w a s no t o nly i n a cco rd with th e l ong

i n gs o f th e g r e a t s oul o f Li n col n but likewi s e h i s ex
,
p r es s e d desi re a n d pu r p o s e to c alm th e sto r m a n d

,
sm ooth th e p ath s o f ami t y an d i n du st r y f o r th e two

r a ce s s o wi dely s ep a r ate d b y n atu re but w h o we r e
, ,
to wo rk out th ei r ow n s a l vati on s i de b y si d e but

,
s ep a r ate t h r oughout t h e g r e a t Southl an d whi ch l ay

, ,
i n w a ste a n d rui n at th e fe et o f th e g r e a t Pre si de n t .
Wh e n J oh n s on cam e i n to th e o fli c e m a de v a ca n t
by th e de ath o f hi s sup e r i o r o fli c e r h e attempte d t o
,
execute th e p olici e s whi ch h e found s o wi s ely pl a n

n ed but th e di st r a cte d Cong r e s s u su rp e d th e auth o r
,
i t y and ente r e d up o n th a t u nr e a s o n e d p rogr a mm e

o f folly a n d r etali ati o n .
Th e e n ti r e r esp o n sib ility o f s olvi n g th e ugly p rob

l em th e n devolve d up o n th e domi n a n t Angl o Saxo n -
r a ce o f th e South .
CHA P TER XI I
Th e B eg i n ni ng o f th e E nd
T I S n ot the pu rp os e o f thi s wo r k to o ff e r such

a s olu t i o n o f th e N eg r o p r o b le m a s we would
like to s e e consumm a ted but to di sce rn Wh at
,
—
unde r the l a w o f caus at i o n i s mo st likely to
come o f it Ou r metho d o f fi n di n g out wha t all
.
p a s s e d a ges a n d influences h ave fo r eo rd a i n ed i n ,
t his p a rti cul a r instance i s th e ca r e ful co n side ra ti o n

,
o f all a vail abl e evi de n ce o r the appli catio n o f th e

,
p ri n cipl e o f i n duc t i o n a n d deducti o n As w e h av e .
s tate d i n subs t ance i n o n e o f th e e a r ly ch apte r s the r e
would b e n o l imi t to hum a n knowl edge i f i t w e re

p ossibl e to k n ow p e r fectly all antecede n t caus e s a nd
th e i nn um e r abl e r el ati ons o f th ei r combi na t i o n s a n d
e ff ects This howeve r i s by n o m e an s possibl e
.
, , ,
eve n i n thi s i s ol ate d case ; but we do en t e rt a i n a

strong b eli e f that we can a n d do k n ow enough
b a rring t h e inte rve n ti o n o f s om e ve ry g r e at a n d
total l y unknown a n d un k now a bl e futu re caus e o r i n
fl u en c e— to p r es age th e p a ss i ng o f th e N egro r ac e
ques t io n a s a p r ess ing N a ti on a l soci ologi c a l riddl e .
Som e h a ve s a i d that miscegen a ti on with a mo re o r

l ess compl e t e am a lg a m a t i o n i s th e o nl y p ossibl e s o
lu ti o n o f th e u n iqu e co n di t i on o f two s ep a r a t e r aces
—b oth in gre a t numb e rs— occupying th e s a m e te rri
to ry at th e s am e ti me O t h e rs h a ve held th a t th e
.
mu t u a l race h at r ed a nd co n fl ict o f i n t e r ests woul d

resul t i n the vi ol e n t ex t e rmin a tion o f the we ake r by
the stronge r Still othe rs the r e ar e who b eli eve th at
.
t h e whol es al e dep o r tati on a n d colo n i z ati o n m ust ,
1 82
T HE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 1 83
a nd wil l s oon e r or l ate r b e r es o r t e d to b y th e w hite s

, ,
t hr ough th e n ati on a l gove rnm e n t Whil e oth e r s y et

—
.
b eli eve th a t s eg r egati o n i n ou r mi dst j ust a s we

—
h ave d on e th e Am e r i n d i s th e te nd e n cy o f th e
ti m e s
All suc h p r op o s iti o n s — f o r o n e caus e o r a no th e r
.
s e e m to u s al i k e i l l f ou n de d ; and i n du e se a s o n e a c h
o f th es e th e or i e s will b e t ak e n up a n d co n si de r ed .
As a p r ep a ratio n fo r th e wo r k i n h a nd w e h ave
m a de a ca r e ful a n d system ati c s tu d y o f all ava il abl e
— —
i n fl u en c e s b oth p a st an d p r es e n t th at op e r ate t o
p r o duce th ei r e ffects up o n th e tw o r a ce s co n ce rn e d
i n thi s p r o b l e m As a re sult o f thi s stu d y we sh al l
.
atte m p t to o ffe r th e s oluti o n o f th e q uesti o n a n d th e ,
de sti n y o f th e A fr o Am e r i ca n r a ce I n o th e r wo r ds
-
.
,
w e put th e qu e stio n s i n volve d to n atu r al l a w and ,
s o ci ol ogi c a l co n diti o n s an d strive to i nte r p r et a r i ght

,
th ei r a n s w e r s Th e a ppl i cati o n o f the sci e n ce o f

.
phil o s o p hy to th e s t ud y a n d ri ght i n te r p r et ati o n o f

fa cts i s th e m etho d w e employ .
Wh e n th e w a r h a d b ecom e p as t h i sto r y a nd th e ,
R ec on st ru cti o n p e r i od w as ove r th e si tuati o n a s ,
su m e d a si m pl e r a n d m o r e na tu r al a sp ect Th e n it .
i s th at w e catch th e fi r st glimp s e o f th e n a t u r al b e
g i n ni ng o
f t h e e n d o f thi s N e g ro p r o ble m Up t o .
thi s tim e th e a r tifici al co n di ti o n o f sl ave ry a nd

m i ghty gove rn m e n tal i n flu e n ces a n d e di cts h a d in
t e rv en e d to sub ve r t th e cou r s e o f n atu r e N o w thi s .
ele m e n t o f u n ce r tai nty h a d p a ss e d away Th e wh ite .
m a n w a s t o exe r ci s e hi s c o ns ti tu ti onal rig h ts o f li f e ,
*
In t ki g w hi s un d m i df l f th f t l
e rta n e are ev er n u o e a a e rro r o f
t yi g t
r n m f t t po fl bi
co n o r p t th ac s i d o e rs o n a as or e eo r e s . an at
all t i m d t i g idl y x l d d d thi p i tf ll L ik

e s en e av o r o r e c u e an ev a e s a . e
w i w l b wi th d t m i ti q ll y
se e a or i g il t t t
a e er na on e ua as v an no o re
f i f m t ti g th wh l t th
ra n ro s a n ph f th
e bj o e ru on an v as e o e su ect
b a it d l ti m y b di p l i g i
ec u se s e c ara q
on t a e s eas n n o ne u ar e r o r an
o th er .
lib e r ty and th e p u rs u i t o f h ap p i n es s unmolested by

,
the gove rnmen t s o long a s h e di d not gro s sly inte r

,
fe re wi t h hi s fellow m a n i n hi s ri gh t s to do th e s a me
-
.
Likewi s e t h e N egro w a s f r e e t o pu r s u e simil a r ends .
Unde r t hes e ci r c umst a n c es r a pi d a nd mutu a lly b e n e

fic i al a dj u s t men t s o f rel a ti on s followed clos e up o n
one ano t he r a nd pl e a sing to rel a te th e ill will en
, , ,
-
gende re d by th e cr u el Recon s t ruct ion misde eds a nd

a bomi nable te a ching s h a s b een s t e adily imp rovi ng
a nd r a p i dly dis a pp e a ring eve r sin c e But wh at w as
.
t he re a lly signifi c a n t t ru t h a b ou t this n ew si t u at i on $

H a ppily eno u gh t he mu t u a l rel at i ons of t he races
we re t o imp rove a s reg a rds ill will a nd a c t s o f V i o
lence ; but th e n at u ral l a w o f a s t ruggl e fo r exis t ence
and t he c ons equen t su rvival o f t h e fi tt es t we re t o b e
t h e de t e rmining f a c t o rs from thi s time forw a rd a n d ,
its inevit a bl e conseq u ences b eg a n to m an i fest them

s elves at once .
Th e N egro h as n eve r bee n a bl e to comp e t e suc

ce s s f u lly wi t h t h e whi t e m an and fo r re a s ons al
, ,
re a dy given h e neve r ca n As shown l ate r in a ch ap

.
,
te r devoted l a rgely to s t atisti cs t he r ate o f N eg r o

,
mo rt ality doubl e d a t once as a con s equ ence o f hi s

,
i n a bili t y to con fo rm t o t h e l aws o f hygiene even i f ,
h e ha d k n ow n t h e m e a n i ng o f t hat wo rd and th e
simplest a ppli c a ti o n o f i t s l a w— which he di d not
fo r th e white m a n to ok fo r hims el f t he li o n s s h a r e ’
o f the frui t s o f th e s oil a nd requi r e d th e N egro to

consum e hi s physi c a l resou rces fo r a w a ge whi ch
would no t supply him with a p rop e r v ar i ety o f food ,
a nd pu rch a s e fo r him com fo r t abl e C lo t hing a nd h y

g i e n i c lo dgings . Th e s e a nd m a ny othe r h a rdships
h a ve con t rib u ted to m a i ntai n th e hi gh rate o f mo r
t a li ty i naugu rated with thi s p e ri o d o f comp etitio n .
W e h ave i t di rectly from one o f th e mo st exp e rt

statisti ci a n s in thi s count ry that a fte r a ca r e ful in v es
THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M I 85
r i gati on i t i s hi s deli b e r at e co n clusi o n th at th e ti m e

w ill co m e wh e n th e r em a i n de r o f thi s A f r o A m e r i -
c an r a ce w ill o ccup y a p o si ti o n amo ng us simil a r to
th at o f th e A m e r i ca n I n di a n a n d th e Eu r op e a n Gyp
—
si e s p r ote cte d a nd p r es e r ve d f r om ab s olute exte r
m i n ati o n ; a n d we a r e full y p r ep a r e d to co n cu r i n thi s
co n v i ct ion.
Th e N eg r o h a s n ot eve n h a d a f a i r ch a n ce to te st
hi s cap a ci ti es H e h as n o t b e e n abl e to dem a nd fo r
.
him s el f a f ai r sh a r e o f th e h igh e r m ech a ni c al a r ts

an d a g r i cultu r al occup ati o n s bu t h as b e e n sh o ve d
,
out li ttl e b li ttl e a n d fo r ce d to co nfin e hi m s el f

l a rgely t o the empl oym e n ts w hi ch th e w hit e m a n
, ,
—
do e s n o t w a n t u n s k ill e d m a n u al l a b o r a nd p o o r ly
remu n e r a tive p osi ti o n s o f d r udge r y ; a n d th e r e h e
wi ll b e k ep t i f hum a n n a tu r e r em a i n s wh a t i t now i s ,
a n d h a s b e e n i n all hi sto r i c tim es

, .
Th e r e w e r e a my r i a d o f m i n o r caus e s s et i n mo
ti on to m i l i tate aga i n st th e n u m e r i cal st r e n gth o f t h e
N eg r o by th a t s e r i es o f events whi ch pl ace d hi m i n
a ctiv e c om p etiti o n with o ne o f th e m ost r es ou r ce f ul
r a ces th e wo r l d h a s yet p r o duce d Th a t h e ca nn o t
.
l o ng su r vive i n a n ythi n g li k e th e r el ative p r op o r ti on s

t h at exi st e d a t th e clos e o f th e R e co n st ructi o n p e r i od
i s qui te a s ce r tai n a s the a s s e r ti o n th a t t w o a n d t w o
m ake fou r Thi s u n e q u al co n tes t i s li k e a gam e o f
.
ch e ss with a f ully d evelop e d gi a n t i n tell ect skil l e d i n

,
all th e sci e n ce a n d a r t o f th e g am e si tting o n th e on e

,
si de a nd a chi ld o n th e o th e r th at s ca r cely kn o w s a
, ,
p a wn f ro m a ki n g o r que e n Fo r th e st r uggl e fo r
.
sup rem a cy a n d fi n a n ci al gai n unde r a syste m of a t

,
l e a st th e o r eti cal e q u al ity b e fo r e th e l a w (i n p r a cti c e

,
N eg r o e s a r e n ot equ al b e fo r e th e l aw ) i s ve r i l y a
gam e b etwe e n all w h o e n te r th e co nte st .I f th e
N eg r o h a d th e s am e m e n t al e n do w m e n t as h i s ad
v e rs ary h e c o u ld n o t eve n h Op e t o w i n h i s s h a r e o f
Iau rels fo r th e white m a n w oul d still h a ve him h a nd

’
i c ap p e d by the vast p owe r whi ch grea t m ass es o f ac

cumul a ted we alth co n fe r up on th e p oss esso r the skill ,
which com es o nly with exp e r i ence and th e o s s e s s io n ,
o f gove r nmental co n t r ol even dow n to t e c o u n ty

,
di st r i ct m a g i st r ate .
I t i s imp rac t ical to enum e rate all th e m i n o r di th

cu lt i e s and de fects with whi ch the N egro h as b e e n
con fro nt ed and whi ch h e mus t con t inu e t o m ee t a s

,
l ong a s t h e co n test l asts ; but i n t he ch a p t e r s whi ch

follow m a ny o f thes e will b e b rought out a nd i n
, ,
controvertibl e evi dence a dduce d to s u stai n them .
P a r a doxic a l t hough it b e the men who in t hese ,
l a tte r ye a rs cam e i n incre a si ng numb e rs from t h e

No r th to the South t o es t abli sh fo r t hems elve s
,
hom es in wa rme r climes a re the mo s t a gg r essive ,
and intolera n t o f all wh en b rought in cl o s e con t ac t

,
an d comp eti t i on with the N egro Th ey do n o t show .
th e fo rb e a r a n ce a nd p ati ence wi th hi s s tupi di t y and

folly th a t th e South e rn b o rn m a n displ a ys W h e n
-
.
the s ettl e r f r om th e No rth b ecom es a cqu ai n te d with

the m any sho rt comi ngs o f t h e N egro h e acqui r es a
-
vi ol e nt p rej udi ce a n d animo si t y t owa rds th e r a ce i n

gene r a l t o a degre e a lmo st u nkn own among th e
,
native whit es Thi s i s a lso shown to b e mo re p r o

.
n o u n c e d with the igno rant cl ass e s o f l a b o ring p eo
ple th a n i s the c a s e with th e m o r e cu ltiv a ted s et t l e rs

, .
In a wo rd th e m a n b o r n a n d re a red a t th e No r th
canno t a f t e r mi ddl e l i fe l e a r n t h e N eg r o ch a r acte r
, , ,
a nd how b est t o de a l with it .
M any No rthe rn enthu si a sts fo rme r ly h eld— a s

—
som e still do th at a li t tl e b ook l e a rning woul d e n -
abl e th e N eg r o to comp ete success fully with t h e C a u

c a si an Th e re a r e even s om e Southe rn e ducati onal
enthusi a sts — with more lea rning than b rains— who
.
sh a r e thi s o pi ni o n ; b ut a much l a r ge r numb e r me r ely

p r ete nd i t b ecaus e i t app e a r s t o b e i n o n e w a y or

an oth e r to th e i r p e r s on al in te r e st
, .
We do n ot m e a n to s ay t hat i t i s ri ght o r b e st to
k e ep th e v a st N egro p opul ati o n in to tal i gn o r a n ce
o f th e m e re st ru di m ents o f e r u diti o n but w e do as ,
s e rt th a t such educati on a s i s comp ri s e d i n th e th r e e

R s i s all th e pu re b lo o ded N egro should b e g i ve n
-
—
fr o m th e pu b l i c fun d s o f a r a s b o ok l e a r n i ng i s
co n ce r n ed Th e r es t sh oul d b e a t r ai n i n g of th e
.
h a n ds a n d th a t to o i n th e s o call e d u n s k ill ed o ccup a

,
ti o n s ; fo r th e wh i te m a n wi ll n o t l ong all ow hi m to
h ol d th e m o r e remu n e r ative p o si ti o n s .
We a r e p e r fectly awa re th at thi s p o si ti o n m ay

an d will b e a s s a il e d wi th th e cit a ti on o f N eg r o e s o c
cu p i n
y g positi on s i n th e l e a r n e d p ro fes si ons — a rts ,
—
s ci ences and li te r atu re b ut wh e n th e s e a r e a ll sum
m e d u p a nd comp a re d with th e tot al num b e r o f
South e r n bl acks wh o a re l ab o re i s o r wi t h th e total
,
numb e r o f South e r n white s o ccupy i ng th es e hi gh e r

p o si t i ons i t will b e s e e n th at i n spite o f the v a s t m il
, ,
li ons sp e n t an nu a lly b y b oth N o rth a nd South f o r

th e e ducatio n o f th e N e g r o th e num b e r i s s o sm all
,
a s to b e enti r ely wi thout wei ght as a n a r gum e n t a n d ,
m e rely confi rm a to ry o f th e co n clusi on s to whi ch ou r

investi g at i ons h ave l ed us M o re ove r th at i n s i g n i fi
.
cant n umb e r o f N egro es in th e hi gh e r w a lks o f li fe

will b e still fu rthe r redu ce d i f w e eli mi n ate tho s e
,
h avi ng Angl o S a xon bloo d i n th ei r vei n s

-
.
N o so o n e r h a d th e gove r n m ent s a ge n ts o f R eco n

’
structi on re t u rn e d to th ei r n ative h e ath s th a n th e

So u th e r n N e gro es b eg an t o r e ali z e th at th ey h a d
b e en deceived by th e se fal s e fr i en ds and f o r a b r i e f
,
tim e k ep t by de cepti on a nd a rti fice ve rily i n a l a n d

, ,
o f m ake b eli ev e All n atu r e a s su re d th em th at de

.
,
spi te em a nci p a tion th e D ecl a r ati o n o f I ndep ende n ce

, ,
th e Co n sti tut i o n w it h its thi r te e n th fou rte e n t h a n d

, ,
fi fte enth amendments th e b old a ss e rti o n o f ce r tain

,
No r t he rn newsp ap e rs p e ri o di c a ls p a mphl et s and

, ,
spoke n wo rd s ; t o th e e ffec t t h at a ll m en a re b o r n
eq u a l etc a whi t e m a n i s s t ill a whi t e m a n and a
, .
,
bl a c k m a n a bl a ck m a n fo r a ll t h at Th ey we re quick
.
to p e rceive t h at rega rdl es s o f a ll a s ser t i ons a nd m an

m ade l a ws to t h e c on t ra ry t h e re is a n infinitely hi gh
,
e r po we r whi c h h as i r revo c a bly de c re e d t h a t the two

r a ces c an n ever b e equ a l in a ny t ru e m e aning o f th a t
t e rm S t e rn ne c essi ty ta ugh t t h e b ette r cl a ss o f
.
Negroe s t h at t h ei r only hop e o f s a lv at i on w as to b e

found in t h e cu rrying o f fri end s hi p wi t h t h e sup e ri o r
r a c e and a c c ep ta n c e— wi t h at l e a s t a n app a re n t
gr a ce a nd s a ti s f a ct i on— o f s uch meni a l occup ati on
a s t h e whi t e m a n el ecte d t o a s s i gn t h em .
It wa s ri gh t a nd p rop e r th at th e i ns t i tution o f
sl ave ry shoul d h a ve b e en a b a ndon ed but i t w a s u m
,
fo rtun a t e t h at it co u ld not h a ve come to t he South

t h r ough its own voliti on in s te ad o f b eing fo rced by
,
t h e No rthe rn h a l f o f ou r c ommon co u nt r y The .
vi cto ry o f t h e gove rnm ent wa s s o compl e t e i n the

gre at c on t e s t o f a rm s t h at t h e reb elli ous South wa s
p owe rl e s s to o ff e r fu rthe r resi s ta nce But o n the .
o t h e r h a nd the No r t h w a s equ a lly powe rl es s to co n

fe r upon the som ewh at mo re t h a n fo u r milli ons o f
N egro es t hen resi ding i n th e So u th a ny s o rt o f
equ ality wi t h t h ei r Angl o S a xon nei ghb o rs No r i s
-
t h ere now a ny powe r unde r he a ven— sho rt o f ab s o

.
—
l u te ex t e rmin a ti on o f t h e s up e ri o r r a ce that can
p revent t h e p ra c t i c a l elimin a ti on o f t h e N egro i n
s u fli c i e n t t im e by t he n a tu r a l l a w o f th e s u rv i v a l o f
th e fit te s t . W e do no t wi sh to convey t h e i de a that
even in a t hous a nd ye a rs t h e bl a ck m a n will h a ve
tot a lly di s a pp e a red from t h es e Southe rn s ta tes ; b u t
th a t in one tenth p a r t o f th a t t im e th e op en contes t
-
o f wits will h a ve s o reduced the b l a c k m a n a s re ,

TH E A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M I 89
ga r ds hi s r el ative n um e ri cal s t r ength t h a t th e r e wil l

,
n o l onge r exi s t a s e ri ou s South e rn N eg r o p ro b l em .
Th a t su ch in flu ence s a re a ctively a t wo r k to day

—
abun d an tly sh ow n b y th e evi de n ce wh e n vi ewe d
i mp a rti a lly— wh e reve r w e el ect to study th e qu e s
ti o n .
Du r ing t h e fo r ty fiv e ye a rs o f f re e dom m an y
-
N egro es h ave l e ft th e South and go ne to th e N o r t h

i n th e v a i n h op e o f di scove r i n g s om e o f th a t equ ali ty
o f whi ch th ey h ave h e a rd s o much only to fi nd th ei r
,
co nd i ti o n wo r st e d r a th e r th a n b ette r e d I t i s ge n e r
°
ally co n cede d th at th e eco nom i c a n d hygi e n i c co n
di ti on o f th e Am e r i ca n N e g r o i s much b ette r i n th e
° °
South th an els ewh e r e ; h e i s b ett e r su ited to th e cl i

m ate a nd b e tt e r u nd e r sto o d H oweve r we ca nn ot
.
,
a lways ag re e wi th D r B oo k e r T Wa shi n gto n i n

. .
wh a t h e h a s to s ay o n t h i s ph a s e o f th e su b j ect Fo r .
“
i n st an ce w e fin d i n hi s Futu re o f th e Am e r i ca n
,
”
N e g r o thi s statem e n t :
“
Wh ateve r oth e r si n s t h e South m ay b e cal l e d
up o n to b e a r wh en i t com e s to bu si nes s pu r e a nd
, ,
simpl e i t i s i n th e Sou th th a t th e N egro i s give n a

°
m a n s ch a n ce in th e comm e r ci al wo r l d
°
’
.
I f h e i n te n ds to s ay th a t th e N eg r o s ch a n ce i s b et
’
t e r South th an N o rth h e h a s sp o k e n wi s ely b u t i f ,
h e m e a ns b y thi s a ss e r ti o n th a t in th e South all th e

a venu e s o f comm e rce and t ra de a r e e qu ally op e n to
b oth r a ce s hi s co n clu si o n i s singul a r ly i n co rr ect Thi s .
l a tte r conditi o n n eve r h a s an d n eve r wi ll exi s t .
Agai n D r Wa shi n gto n s ays

. .
“
Whe r eve r th e N e gro h a s l o st ground i nd u st r i al
ly i n th e South i t i s n ot b ecau s e th e r e l s p r ej u di ce
° °
a g a i nst h im a s a s k ill e d l a b o”re r o n th e p a r t o f th e

n a tive So u the rn whi te m a n . Th e q u e st i on a r i s e s
h e re a s to the i nte rp ret ati o n o f th e s ens e in whi ch
“
h e us e s th e word p r ej u d i ce I f h e o n l y i n te nd e d
.
1 00 TH E ULTI MATE SOLUTI ON OF
to s ay th at i n the South a n d a s a ge n e r al p r op o s i
,
tion t he re exi sts no ab n o r m a l o r u n re as o n ed p reju

, ,
dice h i s s t atement i s f a i rly a ccur a te bu t i f h e m e a n s

, ,
to tell us that as a ski ll ed l a b o re r h e h as an equ al

ch a nce wi t h th e whi te m a n th e fa c t s a re ove rwhelm
,
i n g ly agains t him .Th e t ruth tha t th e r e i s a ve ry

s tro ng a n d c o n tr o lli ng r a c e r e u di c e i s we b eli eve
p j , , ,
implici t t hroughout thi s wo rk Any co n si de r abl e .
knowl edge o f t he op e rati on o f n at u ral l a w r eveals

thi s withou t recou rs e to p a r t ic u l a r inci dences .
W e a re the re fo re o f th e opi nion th at such state

m en t s from D r Wa shingt on a re b o rn o f a n a bi ding
.
a n d c ommend a bl e hop e ful ne s s a nd a controlling de
si re ra t he r th a n o f calm and c ar e ful r ea so n ing

, .
W e h a ve t he gre a tes t re s pec t fo r D r B o oke r T . .
W a shington a nd s in ce rely b el ieve h e has do n e a n d i s

doing a gre at work fo r h i s r a ce ; b u t we do n ot t hi nk
he i s a lway s co n si s t ent i n wh at h e h a s t o s ay He .
i s c a uti ous a nd mo der at e bu t by n o m e a n s a p r o

fo u nd philo soph e r .
I f th e re a de r will b e a r i n mind th e wo rds whi ch

we h a ve j u s t q u ote d from Wa shing t on s Futu re “ ’
”
o f t h e Am e rica n N egro a nd t hen con s ide r c a re fully
thi s fu r t he r exp re s si on ta ken from t he s a m e work ,
we think t hi s f a ct will b e m a ni fe s t A f t e r decl a ring

.
t h a t t he a b“s en c e o f indus t ri a l p rej udice at the South

f u rni s h es t he en t e ring wedge fo r t he s oluti on o f
”
t he r a c e p robl em he c on t in u e s t hu s : But t o o o ften
,
wh en t h e whi t e m ech a ni c o r f a c t o ry op e ra t ive from

t h e No r t h gets a hold t h e t r a de s u ni on s oon
,
”
-
follow s ,
a nd t h e N egro i s crowde d t o t h e w a ll Then h e .
fr a nkly a dmits th a t in no s e c t i on o f t h e South i s th e

N egro s o s t rong in t h e m a t t e r o f skill ed l a b o r as
“
”
he w a s twen t y ye a rs a go .
In t h e o ne in s ta n c e he h a s s a i d t h a t the re i s n o
r a ce p rej udice in comm e rci a l a nd indu stri a l pu rsuits
THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 1 9 1
i n th e South ; a nd i n th e oth e r th at th e N eg ro i s
d r i ve n out wh e n th e t ra de s uni o n s app e a r N ow i n -
.
th e South th es e tra des uni o n s a r e m a d e up l a r gely -

,
o f cou r s e o f South e rn m e n
,
*
.
I s n o t thi s a r a ce p r ej u di ce a nd a d i scrim i n ati on

agai n st th e N eg r o r a ce $ H e f u rth e r co n t r a dicts hi s
ow n st atem e n t th at th e r e i s no r a ce p r ej u di ce i n
South e rn i ndu st r i es a n d di re ctly co n fi rm s th e n at
,
u r al l aw fo r whi ch we a r e n ow co n te n di n g— o f
—
conti nu al w a r fa r e f o r th e su rvi val o f th e fittes t ,
r a ci ally a s i n all o th e r r esp ects wh e n h e r el ate s th e

, ,
fa ct th a t i n n o p a r t o f the South i s th e N eg r o as
st r o n g i n m atte r s o f s k ill e d l a b o r a s h e w a s twe n ty
ye a r s ago .
I t i s qui te t r u e th at r ace p r ej udi ce i s n o t t h e o nl y

fa cto r i n th e w a r fa re whi ch i s sl owly b ut su r e l y
fo r ci ng th e N e g r o out ; fo r a s w e h a v e s ee n i n t h e
ch apte rs o n Ev i d e n c e s o f M e n ta l I nf e ri o ri ty t h e
“ ”
,
N eg r o i s well kn ow n ali k e fr om ev e r yd ay co m m o n
s ens e o b s e r vati o n a n d fr o m a multitu de o f c a r e f ully
coll ecte d s ci e n tifi c t r uths to b e ve ry deci dedly i n ,
f e ri o r to th e Cauca si a n o r A n gl o Saxo n i n eve ry d e -
ta il o f hi s m e n tal devel opm e n t a nd th e r e f o r e l ess ,
cap a bl e th a n th e w h ite m a n o f fi ghting t h e b att l e s

o f li fe .
Th e r e p r o b a bl y i s n o e ss e n ti a l di ff e r e n ce i n k i nd
b etw ee n th e r e a s o n o f th e N eg r o a n d t h a t o f th e
whi te m a n b ut t h e r e i s a va st di ffe r e n ce i n deg r e e
,
i n f a vo r o f t h e l atte r I t i s thi s di ffe r e n ce i n d eg r e e

.
o f all th e s o C all e d h igh e r f a cul ti e s o f m i nd t h at i s

-
to elimi n ate t h e b l ac k man as a s e r i ous co m p etit o r

*
h t th t d
I t i s t ru e t i bg a i g i ll y i th N th
ra es- un o n s e an or na n e or
—j t
e
us as ly y g t m m t d —b t i t w m i
n e ar ev e r re a ove en o es u as an
f tly d t i d t
es es x t d th g h t th wid th d l g th f th
ne o e en ro u ou e an en o e
enti t y
re c o u n r it h w d ;,
d wh
as it b m
as n o ly o ne an en ec a e s e c u re
t b li h d S
es a s e th i t ld b mp d f
ou th
co u th n S th e co o se o no ne o er a ou
ern men .
102 THE ULTI MAT E S OLUTION O F
o f th e white m a n Thus we u nh esitati n gly m a k e the

.
—
p r ophe cy sp e aking in ge n e ral t e r ms a n d b asi n g ,
o u r wo rds on well o rde red (sci entific knowl edge

-
)
t h at t h e N egro i s t o b e crowded out by th e relen t les s
h a nd o f fate N o r can we j u stly s ay th a t th is i s i n
°
.
,
any tru e s ens e ch ar ge a bl e t o t h e whi t e m an fo r it

, ,
i s a n e t e rn a l decre e o f a p owe r highe r t h an M a n .
Th e bl a ck m an i s no t resp onsibl e fo r b eing th e mo st

in feri o r v a ri ety o f h i s s p eci e s no r di d t h e whi t e m a n
,
enti rely control t he n a t ur a l forces t h at m a de him (the

white man ) the m o s t supe rior Natur a l l a w has .
been doing the work for m illion s o f ye a rs .
W e a re not introducing a ny new philosophy To .
the z oologi st an d th e b ot a nis t t his p roce s s o f the

crowding o u t o f a v a ri e t y by o t he r y a ri eti es b ette r ,
fit t ed by th e condi t i on s whi ch n atu re i mp o s e s i s m at ,
t e r o f common occu r rence Hundred s o f thousa n ds

.
o f v a r i eti es o f b o th pl a n t s a nd a nim a ls h a ve i n th e
p a s t b e en el iminated i n this m a nn e r .
To c om e b a ck then to t h e detail s o f t his g ra du a l

el imin a ti on o f th e N egro le t us ci t e a few c o n sp i cu
,
o us f a cto rs — i sol a te d inci dences i n a s ens e bu t mo ,
m e n t o u s f a c t o rs neve rthele s s ; ill u str at ive o f the ge n

e ra l l a w o f const a nt and resi stl es s c h a nge .
W e supp os e i t i s gene r a lly known th a t the g r eat

B r o the rho o d o f Locomotive Engi nee rs which i s n a ,
t i o n al in s c op e is a n o rgani z a ti on comp os ed exclu

,
s iv ely o f whi te men W oul d thi s b e t ru e o f th e

.
South wh e r e ten milli on bl a c k p eopl e m a ke th ei r

,
hom es i f they we re a s cap a bl e a s t h e whi t e m an $

,
N o it i s due p rim a rily to the sup e ri o r intelligence

,
o f th e white m an As we unde r s ta nd t hi s si tu a tion

.
,
t h e po sitio n o f l o c omotive fi r em a n h as b e en i n the °
— —
p ast a nd to s om e extent at l e ast s t ill i s th e t ra in °
i n g s chool o f th e p r a cti c a l e n gin e e r Th e r e was a

.
t i m e i n ou r ow n recoll ecti o n whe n N eg r o fir e m e n

w e r e co m mo n i n t h e s e South e rn st at e s ; th ey h ave
g r a du ally di s app e a red u n til to d ay it i s r ath e r
, uh
usu al to s e e th em a nd a tr a de s un i on m ovem ent s

, i
o n fo o t to eli mi n at e th em ab s olut ely i f inde e d thi s
a ctw
, ,
di n g out p ro ces s i s n o t al r e a dy an a ccompli sh e d

e
ro
A li ttl e whil e ago i n a r a il ro a d c a r we h e a r d th e

, ,
co n ducto r sp e ak o f a committe e o f r ail ro a d co n du c

to rs an d tr a i n h a n ds wh o w e re th e n i n W a shingto n
,
n egoti atin g wi t h th e h ea ds o f ce r t a i n South e rn r a il

ro a d co rp o r a ti ons fo r b ette r h ou rs a n d b ette r p ay , ,
a mo n g o th e r thi n gs Pr e s en t ly we eng a ge d hi m i n
.
co n ve r s ati o n a n d f o r i n fo r m ati o n pli ed him wi th

,
qu esti o ns co n ce r n ing th e det a il s o f t h e dem ands a n d

th e s tatus o f th e ca s e Am ong oth e r thi ngs h e s a i d
.
,
th at th e commi tte e whi ch r ep re s ente d a ll th e p r i n ci

,
p al r o a ds o f th e Sou t h dem a nde d t h at th e p ay o f

,
fi rem en b e m a de u n i fo r m We i nqui re d i nto thi s

.
an d fou n d th at th e r a il r o a ds h a d b e e n p a yi n g o n e
p r i ce fo r whit e fi r em en an d a n oth e r fo r N eg r o fire
m en We a s k e d why the auth o r iti e s di d thi s H e
. .
s a i d th e r a i l ro a ds r e cog n i z e d th e comp a ra tive i n e f

“ ”
fic i e n cy o f th e N eg r o bu t th a t th ey w e re s o sm all
— a s h e exp r e s s e d it— th at th ey would o ften ta k e th e
,
i n fe r i o r N eg r o s e rvi ce i n p r e fe re n ce t o th e b ett e r ,
but m o r e exp ens ive whi te s e rvi ce We th en a s k e d

, .
h im i f h e we r e su r e th e ra il r o a d su p e r i n t e n de n ts
woul d g i ve up th e p r a cti ce o f empl oyi n g N eg r o es i f
th e p r i ce we r e m a de u n i fo r m To thi s h e r epli ed .
“ “
We will atten d to th at end o f it Wh at will you
.
” “
do a b out thi s $ we i n qui re d Wa it a n d s e e w a s
.
,
hi s r esp on s e with a m e r r y twi n kl e i n hi s eye H e

°
.
,
a fte r w a r ds stated th at n o f u rt h e r a cti on would p r o b

a b ly b e n eces s a ry to compl etely elimi na te th e N eg r o
f r om t h i s fi el d ; b ut th at i f th e comp a n y co n ti n u ed
to e m pl o y N e gr o e s a form a l p r ot est on t h e p a r t o f
,
1 94 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTIO N O F
the o rgani zation would su ffi c e when the qu esti o n o f

,
fin an ce h a d b een elimin at ed The r a il ro ads su b s e

.
qu en t ly gr an te d all t h e dem and s o f thi s t ra des uni o n -
c ommitte e .
Thi s could n ot b e construed a s a n ac t o f No r t h e r n

p eopl e through t r a des uni ons bu t an act o f Sou t he r n
-
,
p e opl e Simil a r p ro c es ses o f elimin a tion a re eve ry

.
whe r e op e r a tive In thi s c a s e th e o fli c e rs th emselves

.
r ecogni z ed th e in fe rio rity o f t h e Negro s e rv i ce by

p a yi ng him a sm alle r w a ge Th en t he t ra des u n io n
.
-
dem a nded th a t th e w a ge sc a l e b e m a de uni fo rm i n

o rde r th at they mi ght elimin at e him B a ck o f a ll .
this and i n a ddi t i on to th e fin a nci a l si de o f the q u es

ti on was a s t ro n g r a ce p rej udi ce a nd a n unwilling
n ess t o s e rve S i de by si de with t h e N egro .
Thi s crowding o u t o f t h e Negro i s no t confi n ed to

t he p ositi on s c a lli n g fo r s kill ed l ab o r b u t i n m a ny
,
p o r t i ons o f th e So u th it ex t ends to ne a rly eve r y o c cu

p a ri on and s u bdivisi on o f l a b o r .
I n t h e ci t y o f Ri chmond Vi rgini a we h a ve o b
, ,
s e r ved i n t h e l a s t twe nt y ye a rs t he most m a rvelous

ch a nge in thi s re s pect Twenty ye a r s a go t he re w e r e
.
no white b a rb e r s in t ha t city ten ye a rs a go th e re

,
we re few comp a red with N eg r o b a rb e rs To day .

-
few N egro b a rb e rs a re l e ft and these few h ave a

,
p reponde r a nce o f whi te blo od The s e s o c a lled col

.
-
o red b a rb e rs a re no t equi pp ed a s well a s the whi te

b a rb e rs a nd thei r whol e envi ronm en t gives u nm i s
t a k a bl e evi dence th at thei r d a y s a re n u mb e red ; th at
th ey c a nnot hold thei r own a g a inst t h e sup e rio r i n
t elli g e n c e o f th e white m a n in thi s fi eld W i t hin th e
.
l a st t welve months t h e col o red b a rb e r t o the p rinci

p a l gen t l emen s c l u b o f the ci t y h a s di s a pp e a red a n d
’
h i s p l a c e i s now fill ed by a whit e m a n .
We no longe r s ee colore d ca rp en t e rs an d b ri ck
l a yers in Richm o n d o r eve n i n t h e cou n t r y di stricts ;
,
TH E A M E R I CA N NEG R O P R OB L E M 10 3
i f th ey a r e empl oye d a t a ll th ei r numb e rs a r e ce r

t ai n ly sm a ll a s comp a r e d with t h e white l ab o r e rs i n
thi s fi el d o r co m p a re d wi th twenty ye a r s ago D e
live ry w ago n s a r e now l a rgely drive n by w
, .
hi te m e n ,
a n d th e s am e m ay b e s ai d a s r ega rds th e r u nn i n g o f
el evato rs i n publ i c buil di n gs Li k ewi s e th e st r e e t
.
cl e ani n g fo r ce i s exclu sively whi te

°
Th es e ch a n ges a r e s o r ap i d a nd co n spi cu ou s th at
we h av e o ft e n o f l ate wo n de re d wh a t i s to b ecom e
°
—
o f th e N egro e s now l ivi ng h ow t h ey a r e to e a rn
a n h o n e s t livelih o o d Th e o nly expl an a t i on i s th a t
.
o u r gre a t cou ntry i s dev elopi ng s o r ap i dly th a t p e r
h aps all a bl e b o di e d m en c a n find o ccup ati o n o f s o m e

-
s o rt in spi t e o f th ei r r a ci a l defi ci enci e s a n d u n e qu a l

o pp o rtuniti e s But thi s e conomi c co n di t i on ca nn ot
.
l a st always esp e ci a lly wi t h ou r e n o r m ous a n nu al i n

,
flux o f whi te f o rei gn i mmi g r a t i on .
Th e fi el d o f th e N egro s a ctivi t i es i s b e comi n g s o

’
ci r cum s crib ed a s t o co n s t i t ute a caus e o f vi tal co n

c e rn a n d i f th e n ext few de c ades a r e t o sh o w a co n
,
t i n u a t i o n o f t h e p res ent r at e o f di spl a cem e n t w e a r e

,
un abl e to s e e h ow h e can l ong conti n u e to e a rn th e

b r e a d es s enti al to th e nou r ishm e n t o f hi s b o dy .
CHAPT E R $ III
N e g ro Tra i ts a n d C h ara c t e ri s ti cs — Th e i r I nfl ue n c e
U p o n t h e R a ce $ u e s ti o n
I R H H J O HN STON t he no t ed adm i n i s
. .
,
t r at o r wri t e r and A fri c a n explo re r tell s u s

, ,
t h at t he indigenous t rib e s o f Afri c a n N eg

ro e s exh ibi t a n a c t u al t endency towa rds re
tr o g r e s s i o n r a th e r th a n a dv a n c e me n t In s om e re
.
”
sp e c t s s ays J ohnston I t hi nk t he t endency o f t he
, ,
“
N egro fo r s eve r a l cen t u ri es p a s t h a s b e en an a c t u al

re t rogra de on e As we come to r e a d t he unwri tt en
.
hi s t o ry o f Afri c a by res e a r c hes into l a ngu a ges m a n ,
ne r s cu s t oms t radi t i ons we s e em t o se e a b a ckw a rd

, , ,
r at he r t h an a fo rwa rd movement goi n g on fo r som e

—
t hous a nd ye a r s p as”t a retu rn t owa rd t h e s a v a ge
a nd even t he b ru te .
This wri t e r m a y p os s ibly h ave ove rdr a w n t he pic

t u re b u t wh at h e h as t o s ay i s c onfi rm a t ory o f wh a t
,
we h a ve s hown t he ra c e t o b e in fo rm e r ch ap t e r s ,
a nd at t h e s a me t im e en a bl es u s th e b ette r t o a c count
fo r r a ci al trai ts a nd c h arac te ri s ti cs so conspicuous
a mong ou r A fro A m e rci an Negro es th roughout the
-
Sou t h .
Th e re a re s eve r a l well d e fin e d C l ass es o f N eg r oes

-
in the Sou t he rn s t a t es a nd som e among t h e b est ,
cl a s s ,
di s pl a y a dmi r a bl e q u a li t i es o f t hri f t and fo re
s igh t ; b u t the grea t b ody o f N egroes i n th e Uni ted
Sta tes a r e lit t l e removed from Johnsto n s d e s c rip ’
t i on o f Afri c a n trib al ch a r a cte ri s t i cs i n t hei r positive

t endenci es t owa rds ret rogre s si o n Thi s t oo i s mo re.
, ,
m a rked now t h an i t w a s twen t y o r t hi rt y ye a rs a go

a nd i s e s p eci ally no t i ce a bl e i n ce rtain r u r a l l ocaliti es
1 9 6
TH E A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 1 97
i n th e South wh e r e volu n ta r y s e gr e g ati on s o f th e

,
r ace h ave ta k e n pl a ce alm o st to th e exclusi o n o f

w hite p o pul ati o n ; a n d i s u nq u e sti o n ably du e l a rg ely
to th e fa ct th a t th e ge n e r ati o n o f e m an ci p ate d sl ave s
wa s fa r sup e r i o r i n m a n y w ays to th e l ate r ge n e r a
ti o n s b o r n i n f r e e dom .
Fe w N egro e s a r e m e n tally cap a bl e o f gr a s pi ng

th e tru e m e a n i n g o f fr e edom an d fewe r still a r e
,
abl e to c on ceive th e r el ati o n s w hi ch th e r a ce m ust

eve r b e a r to th e domi n a n t A n gl o Am e r i ca n a nd th e
-
fa ct th a t i n du st r y m o r ali ty a n d f r ugality a r e i n s ep
,
a rabl e co n diti on s o f sub st an ti al ci ti z e n ship a n d pub

li c r esp ect. A va gu e noti o n th at lib e rty m e a n s l i
ce n s e to i dl e aw ay hi s ti m e ; to eva de l ab o r a n d e f
fo rt ; to avoi d supplyi ng the u r ge n t n e eds o f the
white m a n fo r l a b o r ; a n d to i n dulge hims el f i n th e
l owest depths o f m o r al dep r avity ; i s th e ave r a ge
N eg r o s co n cep ti o n o f th e p r ivileges co nf e rr e d by
’
f r e edom a nd citi z e n ship .
U n p opul a r thou gh it m ay b e we a r e f ully p e r ,
su ad e d th a t mu ch b oo k l e a r n ing h a s p r ove n to b e a
-
cu r s e r ath e r th a n a b l es si n g to th e N egro ; a n d th a t
i t i s to day a n a ctive a n d p ot ent i n flu e n ce i n th e s olu
-
ti o n o f th e N egro p robl em I f its p r es ent i n flu e n ce

.
up on th at r a ce i s to conti n u e i t will ce r ta i nly co n sti

tute a co n tri b uting c aus e i n hi s r el a tive r educti o n i n
n um e rical st r e n gth fo r to o mu ch b o o k l e a rn i n g ab
,
-
s o lu t e ly di s q u ali fie s him a s a l a b o r e r a nd fo r th e
,
g r e a t m as s o f N egro es h a r d l ab o r i s th e o n ly h op e
o f s alvati o n M o st N e gro e s wi th a co mm o n scho ol
.
e duca ti o n l o o k upo n physi cal wo r k a s a di s g r a ce f ul

fo rm o f pu n i shm e n t a n d wh e n f o rced to it a s a l a st
,
r e s o r t— to d r iv e sta r vati o n temp o r a rily fr o m th e

do o r— n othi n g can i n duce th em t o conti n u e w h e n
th ey h ave a few doll a r s in h a n d N e ith e r th ei r o wn
.
n o r th ei r employe r s i n te r ests will suffi ce to i nd uc e

’
1 98 TH E U LTI M AT E S O LU TI ON O F
th em to conti n ue th ei r l a b o rs until the pi t t a nce t hey

po s s es s h a s b e en c onsum ed .
Whil e a ll thi s i s i n p e rfect h a rmony with hi s l a ck

o f in t elligence i t i s n eve r t h el es s p o s i t ively a l a rming
when c onsi de red from t he s ta ndp oin t o f t he wel fa r e
o f t h at r a ce A s we h ave a l re a dy p oin t e d ou t and
.
—
sh a ll l at e r S how even mo re c on cl u sively from s ta t i s
—
t i c a l a nd othe r p o s itive s o u rce s o f i n fo rm at i on th e
ul t im a te doom o f t h e ra ce as a s e r i ous Am e ri ca n o r
Southe r n p robl em i s in a ny event s e aled a nd s et t l e d ;
but t he p res en t att i t ude o f t h e gre at m a s s o f Sou t h
e rn N egro es in p o s i t ively re fusing a nd ev a di ng wo rk
in eve ry po s s ibl e m a nne r i s no t only s e ri ously c rip
,
pling South e rn comm e rci al a dv a ncemen t which — ,
howeve r i s only tempo r a ry fo r t hey a re b eing r a p

, ,
—
i dly suppl a n t ed by white l abo r bu t i t is a ls o th re a t
e h ing a nd inde ed a ctu a lly p rodu c i ng a mong t hem a
,
co n di t i on o f s ta rv a ti on Not a s ta rv at i on i n t he
.
s ens e o f di rec t a nd s udden de a th from t h e to ta l ab

s ence o f fo od— a lthough ou r a lm s ho u s e s and o t h e r
-
c h a rit a bl e ins t ituti on s a re well b u rdened wi th t hi s

—
cl ass bu t on e o f t h e con t ribu t i ng el emen t s in a n
ino rdin at e mo r t ali t y r at e ; by vi rtu e o f t he f a ct t h at
this g r e a t b ody o f wo r t hl e s s N egro es h a ve an i n su f
fic i en t supply o f a p o o r qu a lity o f fo od a nd do no t ,
get a whol esom e v a ri e t y Thi s f a ct op ens t h e way

.
fo r th e co n t r a c t i on a nd rapi d p rogres s o f di s e a s es
—
o f all kinds ; which a s will p resen t ly b e shown
a r e depl eting the ranks o f th e r a ce .
Tho s e wh o like ou rs elves h a ve ca re fully stu di ed

, ,
th e N egro race from p rehi s t o ri c t im es o r even thos e

,
who h a ve studi ed o nly th e Am e ri can si de o f th e

qu es t i on a re a l re a dy well a w a re o f t hes e t ru t hs ; but
,
u n fo r t un a tely fo r t he bl a ck r a ce in t h e United St a te s
the gre at b o dy o f t ho s e b i g h e a rt ed and gene rous
-
A m e r i ca n s who desi re t o b e f r i end him with thei r

,
TH E A M E R I C A N N E G R O P R OB L EM 1 99
phil anth r opi c a i d a r e l ittl e i nf o r m ed a s to th e gr e at

,
b asi c truths th a t u n de r li e th e wel fa r e a n d su r viv a l

o f th e N egro U n fo rtun ately na tu r al and a rti fi ci al
.
co n di t i o n s h ave comb in e d to sup ply th e phil a n t h r op

i st with unt r ustwo rthy in fo rm a t i o n r ega rdi n g thi s
whol e subj ect M any o f th e s o call e d autho riti es
.
-
o n th is subj ect get th e i r p r i n cip a l i n fo rm ati o n b y

t r aveli n g ab ou t i n spl endi dly e quipp e d r a il r o a d
tr a i n s and b anqu eti ng with N eg r o e s a nd whi te s who
,
—
a re f a r rem ove d fr om th e l owly th e r e al m as s o f
ou r N egro p opul ati o n I t i s with out th e r a n ge o f
.
ave r a ge hum a n n atu re — whi t e o r bl a ck— to b e a b l e ,
unde r t hi s a rti fici al e n vi ronm e nt to ga in an a ccu r at e ,
and i mp a r t i al m ental co n cep t o f th e s e g r e at n atu r al

a n d a r tifici a l s o ci olo gi c a l p r obl ems Th ey p e rf o r ce .
, ,
s e e thi n gs a s th ey woul d li ke th em t o b e r a th e r th a n ,
j us t a s th ey a re a c tu ally f o u n d to b e wh en co n si d e r e d
i n th e col d co n c r ete r e ality o f c a u s ati o n a n d c o n s e
q u e n c e .
Th e m i s si o n a r y th e educati on al e nt husi a st th e
, ,
p oli ti ci a n the o b s e r v e r f rom f o rei g n countri e s whil e

, ,
on t h e whol e h o n e st a re n ev e r th el es s all b i a s e d
, , ,
e a ch l o oki n g at things th r ough gl a s s e s fi tte d f o r hi s

sp eci al pu rp o s e a n d ground f o r th e wo r k o f m a g n i
,
f y i n g tho s e fe atu r e s o f th e co n diti o n s whi ch i t i s

pl e as ing to him to s e e in di sto r te d p rop o rti o n s .
O f cou rs e it i s n atu r al al s o fo r e a ch o f u s to thin k

,
th at hi s op p o r tuniti es fo r ob s e r ving a s well a s hi s ,
c a p a ci ti es fo r i nte r p r eting th e a ctu al conditi ons a r e ,
sup e ri o r to tho s e o f oth e rs But i t must o n th e

.
,
oth e r h a nd b e con fess ed b y all th a t th e w ri te r o n

,
thi s s u bj ect wh o h a s ch a n ce d not t o com e unde r a n y

o f th es e b i a sing influ ence s i s i n s o mu ch a b ette r i n
, ,
t e rp re t e r o f fa cts th a n tho s e su b j ecte d to o n e o r an

oth e r o f th e sp eci al V i ew p oints re fe r r e d t o .
T h e r e a r e as we h av e s a i d s eve r al d i sti n ct c l a s s e s
, ,
2 00 THE ULTI MATE S OLUTION O F
o f Negro es ; a sm a ll cl as s deci dedly frugal a n d

mo r a l ; a much l a rge r cl ass o f small fa r m ers a n d l ab
o re rs who a re f a i rly p rosp erous ; but more th an hal f
,
o f a ll Negro es i n so u t he rn United St at es a re th ri f t
l es s aiml e s s l a zy p eopl e ; t ryi ng to eva de occup a
, ,
t i on and cons equently o ften s e eki n g a livelihood

th r ough pil fe r i n g .
In n e a rly eve ry s ecti o n o f th e South i t i s a well

—
known f a c t a nd tempor a rily a t l e as t a s eri ou s
, ,
—
economic p roblem t h a t N egro l a bo r i s h a rd t o ge t
and unreli abl e eve n a t high p ri ce s M o s t N egro es .
h a d rath e r i dl e a w a y t hei r t ime t h a n wo rk fo r a dol

l a r a day on th e fa r m The re i s p rob ably not an
.
o t he r cou n t r y i n the wo rld wh e re l a b o r i s plen t i ful

a nd i n dem and yet c a nno t b e h a d fo r go o d wages
, .
No othe r cou ntr y could long con t i n u e t o c a r ry su c h a

l a rge cl a ss i n comp ara tive i dl en es s ; a nd t h e South
will not do i t a lw a ys Thi s l atte r cl as s o f N egro e s
.
will b e and a re now b ei ng suppl a n t e d by a cl a ss o f

, ,
thri f t y a nd indu s t riou s N o r t he rn and Eu rop e a n set

t le rs , willi ng and anxi ous to s ecure regul a r and
p rofi t abl e employment I t do es n o t requi re a phil
.
o s o p h e r t o fo re t ell t h e in evitable cons equ e n ce o f thi s
soci ologi c a l conditi o n .
I f we we re call ed up on t o s u gge s t t he b e st me ans

o f a i ding and p rotect ing t h e N egro in h e alth and
happine s s ou r reply would b e —give him from thre e ,
to t en a cres o f l a nd a nd j u s t enough s chooling t o e n

a bl e him t o re a d wri t e a nd coun t A f t e r a ve ry
, .
c a re ful a nd exh a ustive s tudy o f t his N egro questi o n

we fe el ab solu t ely ce rt a i n th at no t hi ng coul d p rove
a gre a te r blessing t o t h e bl a ck m an in Am e r i ca Th e .
p o s s e s s i o n o f a s m a ll p i e c e o f la n d do es mo re t o
m a ke o f him a go o d a nd u s e ful ci t i z en t h a n a ll e ls e
combined H e will n eve r volunt a rily s ell i t but will
.
,
apply hims el f to us e ful l abo r i n o rde r to hol d it .

THE A M E RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 2 0 1
H e app r eci ate s th e f a ct t h a t i f h e do e s n ot p ay hi s

d e b ts i t will b e ta k e n f r om hi m Su ch a p oss es si o n
.
g i ve s him a li ttl e c r edi t an d m ake s hi m f e el t he re

sp onsib ility o f citi z e n sh ip a r el ati o n o f th e i n divi d
,
—
u al to th e b o dy p ol iti c o f whi ch th e g r e a t m aj o ri ty o f
N eg r o es s e em to tally u n mi n dful .
We ca nn o t e m ph a si z e thi s fa ct to o stro n gly To .
th e we althy c i t i z e n s o f th e N o r th wh o re g iI larly ,
co n t r i b ute m on ey fo r th e b en efi t o f th e South e rn
N egro we would sugge st a ca r e ful co n si de r a t i o n
,
a n d s tudy o f th e f r ugal ity an d r esp ect whi ch th e

p o ss e s si on o f a ve r y sm all t r a ct o f l an d b ri n gs t o th e
N eg r o Thi s i s well w o r t h whil e i f th es e we althy
°
ci ti z ens p r o p o s e t o conti n u e to app r op r i ate t h ei r

sub st an ce fo r hi s b e n efit .
Th e r e i s n o t a si n gl e b e s etti n g si n o f thi s i n te n s e l y
-
i mm o r al r a ce th a t i s no t a m eli o r ate d b y thi s c au s e .
O n th e oth e r h a n d i f h e i s g i ven a go o d gra m m a r

°
sch o ol e duc a ti o n a n d s ent out i n t h e wo r l d h e i s al

°
, ,
m o st ce r tai n to s eek i dl en es s an d eva s i o n o f us e ful

a nd co n ti nuou s l ab o r H e a pp a r e n tly b eli eve s th at
.
gaudy cl othi n g a n ai r o f b o i ste r ous n es s ci g a r sm o k

—
, ,
i n g a n d p a r a di ng a rou n d publ ic pl a ces wh e r e h e

,
—
ca n b e s e e n o f all m e n h ave a tende n cy to el evate
him i n the eyes o f th e sup e r i o r r ace Thi s cl a ss o f .
N egro whi ch i s p ro duce d b y educating him a w ay

°
f rom hi s sph e r e o f u s e ful n es s i s a typ e th at co n

,
tribute s l a rgely to th e st a r tli n g c r i mi n a l r eco r d s o f

th at r a ce b o th N o r th a n d South
, .
H oweve r w e do n ot b eli eve thi s a dvi ce wil l b e

,
h e e ded to a n y g r ea t exte n t e ith e r by th e N e g r o hi m

,
s el f o r b y tho s e whi te e ducat o r s who s e e m to b e i h

t o x i c at e d with b o ok l e a r ni n g
-
Th e te a ching cl a s s
.
s e em to h ave tot a lly fo r gotte n th e n atu r al l aws o f

supply a nd d em a n d whi ch h ave de c r e e d th a t eve n
,
—
u n de r th e n e w l a bo r savi n g s y stems w hi ch s ci e n ce
-
2 0 2 TH E U LTI MAT E S O LUT IO N O F
a nd inven t i o n h a ve recently combi ned to so a b un a
d a t ly supply
u — vas t m a j o ri t y o f t h e h m a n race
a u
mus t occupy t h ems elves wi th m a nu a l l a b o r .
Wh at we y he re sa pp li
°
is ab l l t t
cah w h i te a so o e e
r a ce , — whi ch is r e c e i v i ng to o m u c h b o o /c le ar ni ng
and to o li ttle m a n u a l tra i n i n g
— bu t
a ppli es wi t h te n
fold t
fo r c e o th e in fe ri o r
ra e whi h cneve r sh a re c c an
wi t h t h e whi t e m a n i n the l es l a b o ri o s a nd mo re
s u
desi rable occup ations .
W e a re p e r fect ly a w a re that the re a re m en a nd

women who t hink t hey h a ve b e en well a nd a ccu rat ely
i n fo rmed on t he s e s u bj e c t s who will s a y t hat t he
,
p a st a nd p re s en t work a nd re s ul t s o f s u ch i n st itu4
t i ons as H a mp t on a nd Tu skege e s e t at na u gh t wh a t
we h a ve to s ay on thi s s ubj ect And t o t his cl a s s we
.
would like to a ddress a few ob s e rv at ions .
I n t he a s s e r t ion t h at m a ny o f t he N egro es who

h a ve gr a du at e d from t hes e s c hool s h a ve b e en el e
v at e d t o a highe r and m o re us e ful as well a s a h a p
,
p i e r s tat e o f exi s t ence we re a dily con c u r But when

, .
t h e fu rthe r a nd whol es a le in fe rence i s drawn t ha t

s uch t raini ng s cho ol s whe n s u fli c i e n tly extended
SO a s to re a ch th e gre at m a ss o f Sou t h e rn N egro e s
will p rove to b e th e ultim at e s ol u t i on o f this v a s t

p roblem we mus t as p osi t ively di ss en t
, .
I t h a s b een a bund a n t ly p roven we think th at the , ,
Negro i s ve ry greatly infe ri o r m en ta lly to th e C au

c a s i a n and t h a t at l e ast nine tenths o f the acc o m
,
-
p li s h m e n t s a tt ribu t ed t o t ha t ra ce a re cle a rly du e to

a dmixt u re o f whi t e bl ood W e ventu re the a ss e r
.
t i on t h a t i f i t we re p ossibl e to dete rm ine th e ancestry

o f a ll H a mpton a nd Tuskege e gr a du at es i t would
b e found th at mo re th an h a l f o f t hem a re mul a t t o es ,
with le s s th a n fi fty p e r cent N egro blo o d I t i s a

—
. .
unive rs a lly a dmi tt e d t ru th b y t hos e f a mili a r wi t h

—
th e N e gr o cha r act e r th at fe w pu r e br ed N e gr o e s -
ca n b e foun d wh o p o s s es s th e ess enti al qu aliti e s o f

a succe ss ful li fe i n wh a t a re kn ow n a s th e hi ghe r
w alks even i f r a ce p r ej u dice coul d b e elimi n ate d
, .
Thi s would i n clud e n ot only a bility to a s si mil at e

kn owl e dge but such m e nt al fa culti e s a s o ri gi n al i ty
, ,
co n ce n tr a ti o n fix e dn e s s o f pu rp o s e p owe rs o f ge n
, ,
e r ali z at i o n h igh m o ral ch a ra cte r a nd b ro a d c o n c e

, p
t i on o f j usti ce a nd s u fli ci e nt di s crimin at i o n t o e n a b l e
,
him to m ake u s e ful appli cati o n o f t h es e fa culti es .
A n exh a ustive stu dy o f thi s subj e ct a dde d to ,
m a n y ye a r s o f clo s e cont a ct with th e South e rn

Neg r o j u sti fi es th e as s e rti o n th at wh e n fi fty such
,
h ave b e e n p o i n te d f o r ty n i n e ca n b e sh ow n to b e
,
-
c r o s s br e d o n th e w h i te m a n although i n m a n y c a s e s
-
,
th e col o r o f th e s k i n m ay b e a r littl e o r no evi d e n ce

o f th e f a ct .
The n i f i t b e a dmi tte d th at th e v a s t m a j o r i ty o f

,
s o call ed N eg r o g r a du ate s o f th es e s cho ol s a r e p a rt

-
wh i te a nd th a t a t l e a st a p a r t o f th ei r v au n te d ac
,
c o m p li s h m e n t s m ay j ustly b e compute d to thi s caus e ,
we woul d fo r th e tim e a t l e a st l et t h i s fe atu r e o f

, ,
th e co n te n ti o n r e st .
Let u s su p p o s e fo r th e s ake o f fu r th e r a r gu m e n t
th at th e p o i n t w e h ave j u s t m a de i s n ot tru e at all ,
but th at o n th e cont r a r y ev e r y m at r i cul a te o f H amp

t o n a n d Tu s k ege e i s r equi red to p r e s ent s ati s fa cto ry
evi dence th a t h e i s a pu re bl o ode d N eg r o I f thi s
-
.
h ad a ctu ally b e e n do n e i t woul d n ot eve n the n b e

r eli a bl e evi dence o f sup e ri o r r aci a l q u a liti es ; f o r i n ,
th e fi rst pl a ce it woul d b e th e sup e r i o r f ew wh o

,
woul d h a v e b e en s el ected ; an d i n th e s eco n d pl a ce

, ,
t h e r esults sh ow n h av e b e en s ecu r e d b y such a rt i

fic i al m e an s th a t i t i s u n fai r to i n t r oduce th e s a m e
as evi dence o f comp a r ative r a ce m e r it .
Such r e s u lts as thes e i n sti tuti o n s h ave b e e n a bl e

to show — a nd no o n e ca n do ub t t h at th o s e i n c h a r ge
h ave done t hei r utmost to m a ke a favo r a bl e s how

i ng— a re t h e resul t s o f a n a lmost u nl imited s u pply
o f b r a ins a nd money by t he mo st s u p eri o r s p e c i mens
o f t he Ca u c a si c r a ce I f we m a y u s e a b o ta ni c a l ex
.
p re s si on they a r e s t ri c t ly hot hous e p rod u ct s fo r c ed

-
,
t o t he u t mo s t c a p a ci ty o f th e m at eri a l a t h a nd by t h e
b r a in s a nd a c cu mul at ed we a lth o f kn owl edge a nd
money o f t h e whi te m an .
B u t i f we wo u ld go fur t he r s till a nd w a i v e a ll t hi s ,
a nd a cc ep t t he most s a ngu ine c on t en t i on s of t h e mo s t

a rden t a dvo c at e o f N egro educ at i on a nd equ a lity ,
t h e f a c t would s till rem ain th at i f eve ry mul t i mil -
li o n ai re in t h e Unite d S tat es we re willing t o sp e n d

hi s l a s t doll a r i n a n attempt t o r ai s e t h e st a nda rds o f
the Negro pop u l a tion o f t h e Sout h to t h e mo ra l a nd
m ent a l requi rem en t s o f H a mp t on a nd Tu s kege e I h
s ti tu t e s th e schem e c o u l d not b e c a rri e d out on a ny
,
s uch sc a le Like t h e wo n de r ful re s ult s a nd yield s

.
repo rted f rom exp e rim ent a l f a rms i t would p rove ,
t o b e co n tr a ry to t h e b ro ade r l aws o f gene r a l ap p li

c at i on .
W hil e we do not pl a ce a s much reli ance in s tat isti

c al evi den c e a ppli ed to b ro a d s oci ol ogi c a l q u e s t i ons
, ,
as som e a pp e a r to do we r e c ogni ze the f a c t t h at

, ,
wh en t aken in i t s p rop e r rel at i on to othe r me t hod s

o f s t udy i t ha s i ts wei ght
, .
From thi s s ta ndpoint a n d wi t h such l imi t ations

,
a s a r e h e re sugges t ed we off e r t he following ch a p

,
t e r a s suppo rt o f wh at h as b e en s a i d in t hi s a nd p re
—
vi o n s ch a pters a nd as n its limited w a y co n firm
,
i —
a t o ry o f what ou r s t u dy h a s l ed us t o b eli eve will
p rove to b e th e ultim a te sol u ti on o f a p robl em s o

V i ta l to ou r gre a t n a ti on a nd e s p e c i a lly to t h a t v a st
sou t h e a ste rn s ecti on c o nim o nly know n a s th e Sou t h
,
e r n states .
CHAPT E R X I V
Th e Te s ti m o ny o f Sta ti s ti c s t o N u m e ri c al R e tr o g re s
s i o n A mo n
g O u r N e g r o P o
p u la ti o n
F THE RE i s a n y o n e li n e o f s ci e n ti fic evi de n ce
m o r e exact a n d co n clusive i n i ts testimo n y and ,
m o r e i mp o r ta n t i n i t s p res ent ati o n o f fa cts t h a n

oth e r s th a t o f stati sti cs wh e n ca re fully coll e ct
, ,
e d o ve r a n exte n siv e p e r i o d o f tim e a n d fro m v a ri

,
ous s ou rc e s must b e conceded thi s p o siti on

, .
I t i s n o n e t h e l es s c e r tai n th at to all s av e tho s e

- -
,
gi f t e d wi th wh at m ay b e t e rm e d a stati sti cal m i nd ,
a mul t ipli ci t y o f tabl es and innum e rabl e figu re s a r e

extr em ely di s t a ste ful and l a b o ri ou s I n o r de r to
.
s a ve th e r e a de r thi s u s el e s s l a b o r th e s e te di ou s
,
t a b l e s wi t h a few excepti o ns will b e omitte d a n d

, , ,
i n th ei r st e a d o n ly r eli abl e summ a r i e s o f th ei r co n

te n ts a n d i n t e r p r etati o n s o f th ei r si g n i fi cance will
, ,
b e i nco r p o r ate d .
Th e r e i s p e rh a p s no s i n gl e s ou r ce o f ve r i fi abl e
evi de n ce o ffe ri n g st r onge r supp o r t to ou r a ss e r ti o n
tha t th e N eg r o $ u e sti on s to s olve i ts el f b y n a t
i —
c —
u ral a us e s th a n th a t o f sta ti sti cs It do e s n ot f ol
.
l ow h oweve r th at stati s t i c a l evi de n ce al on e i s b y a n y

m e a n s co n clus iv e ; f o r th e r e a r e m any ch a n ces o f e r
r o r b o th i n coll ecting a n d i n compili n g n o t to m e n ,
ti o n th e p oss ibi lity o f sta r ting wi th fal s e p r emi s es i n

i nte r p r eting th ei r co n c r et e r esu l ts .
Pr e s ent m eth o ds o f coll ecti n g stati sti cs a r e b y n o

—
m e a n s p e r fect o r compl ete m an y di stri cts b ei n g u h
rep re s ented i n imp o rt a nt p a rti cul a r s —eve n i f th e
wo rk o f co ll ecti n g we r e p e r fe ct whi c h o f c o u r s e i s
,
n ot p o s s i b l e .
But i n spite o f all thi s deducti o n s f r om mode rn

,
stati s t ics by recogni z ed exp e r t s a re wonde rfully ac

c u r at e and trustwo rthy Th e y suffice fo r the yc o n
.
duct o f busi n es s by the gre at i nsu rance comp a n ies ,
a n d a re r eli ed up on by gove r nm en t s in ca r i ng fo r
t h e publi c h e a lth .
No n e o f t h e stati sti cal evi dence found i n thi s

c h a pte r i s utili z ed m e rely b e c a us e i t c an b e m a de t o
supp o r t ou r a rgum ent a nd non e ex c luded fo r th e

,
co nt ra ry re a s on ; no r i s a si n gl e item incl u ded which

i s not vouched fo r by t h e mo s t reli a bl e a utho ri t y to
b e h ad .
RA TE O F I N C R E A SE O F N E G R OE S
On t wo t a bl es ta ke n from th e census rep o r t s fo r
,
C ontinen t al Uni ted States from 1 7 9 0 to 1 9 0 0 A D . .

,
incl u sive a nd publi s hed by M r Al fre d Hol t Sto n e

, .
,
“ ”
i n Studi e s in th e Ame ri c a n Ra c e P r oblem we fi n d ,
the following c omm ent by the a utho r :

“
Th e l a st col u mns o f T a bl es I a nd I I S how that
t h e r a te o f incre a s e o f N egro e s de cline d t h r oughout
the n ineteen t h cen t u ry t h a t b etw e en 1 8 8 0 a nd 1 90 0
,
it w a s l es s t han h a l f o f wh at i t w a s b e t we en 1 8 0 0
an d 1 8 2 0 a nd l e s s t h a n t wo thi rds o f wh a t it w a s b e
-
twe en 1 8 4 0 a nd 1 8 6 0 I t s hows th e re fo re that i f

.
, , ,
the fu tu re m a y b e j u dged by th e p a s t the re i s n o

°
w a rr a nt fo r t he Opini on o f M r Wa shington th a t .
,
the r a te o f i ncre a s e in t he fu tu re will b e s t ill gre a te r

”
t h an i t h a s b een .
The es t im at e o f M r P a ge th a t t he ye a r 2 0 0 0 A
.
,
.
”
D will i n a ll h u m a n p rob ab ility s e e f r om
“
.
0 0 0 to 8 0 ,
Negro es living in t h e United
S tat es a pp e a rs to b e re a ched by p roj ecti n g i n to t h e
,
1 8 6 0 and 1 8 8 0 I f th a t r ate we re t o p e rsi st th r ough

.
futu r e th e r ate o f in c r e as e whi ch p r evai l e d b etwe e n

°
THE A ME RI CA N NE G RO P RO B LE M 2 0 7
out t h e t w e n ti e th ce n tu ry th e r e would b e
,
N eg ro e s i n th e U n i te d State s i n 2 0 0 0 A D I f th e . .
r at e sh o w n b y T ab l e I fo r th e deca de 1 8 90 to 1 90 0
shoul d p e r si s t th e r e woul d b e
, N e g r o es
i n th e U n i te d State s i n 2 0 0 0 A D I f th e r ate
. .
s h o wn b y b oth tabl e s fo r th e twe n ty ye a r s 1 8 8 0 t o ,
1 90 0 , sh ould p e r si st th e r e woul d b e
,
N e g r o e s i n th e U n i te d State s i n 2 0 0 0 A D I f th e . .
r ate sh ow n b y T a bl e I I fo r 1 8 90 to 1 90 0 sh oul d
p e r s i st th e r e w oul d b e a b ou t
, N eg r oe s
i n th e U n i te d State s i n 2 0 0 0 A D A n d fin ally i f . .
, ,
th e r at e sh own i n Ta b l e I fo r 1 8 8 0 to 1 8 9 0 shou ld
p e r si st t h e r e woul d th e n b e a b out
,
N eg r o es .
“
I f it w e r e a d m i s si b l e to a s su m e t h at a n y r ate o f
i n crease would pe r s ist th r oug h out the twe n tiet h
ce n tu r y it woul d b e b est to a ccept th a t fo r th e
,
twe n ty ye a r s b etw e e n 1 8 8 0 a n d 1 9 0 0 b ecau s e i t i s ,
b a s ed o n th e l o n ge r p e r i o d a n d i nv olve s n o co rr e e
ti o n o f ce n su s fi gu r e s B ut th e hi s t o r y o f th e n i n e
.
t e en th ce n tu ry a n d what i s k nown a b out th e i n c r e a s e

o f p opul ati o n co n cu r t o testi fyi n g th at th e r at e o f
i n c r e a s e i s l i k ely to dwi n dl e a n d th a t ,
N egro es i n C o n tin ent a l U n ited St a te s i n 2 0 0 0 A D . .
i s mu ch to o l a r ge an esti m a te .
I f w e supp os e fo r th e s ak e o f a rgum e n t t h at t h e
thi r ty ei ght m illi o n r ate— whi ch m u st b e a dm itte d
-
—
by a ll to b e th e m a ximum p e rsi sts a n d p e r ta i n s i n
th e ye a r 2 0 0 0 A D i t woul d still b e s e en th a t at
. .
,
th e p r e s ent ra te o f i n c r e a s e o f th e white p o pul ati o n

th e re l ative n umb e r o f whi te s would i n l es s th a n a ,
centu r y b e va stly g r e a te r th a n at p r es ent B ut a s

,
.
M r Sto n e p oi n ts out all evi dence com b i n es to a s

.
,
su r e u s th a t th e r e i s t o b e a p ro g r es s ive decre a s e i n
th e decenni a l i n c r e a s e o f N e g r o p opul ati o n Fu r th e r .
mo r e we a re co n vi n ce d b y ev ide n ce co n t ai n e d in
, ,
2 0 8 THE ULTI MATE SOLUTION O F
othe r ch a pte r s o f ou r ow n wo r k t h a t t he r at e o f de ,
c r e as e i s t o b e even mo re r a pi d t h a n t h e evi dence

whi c h M r Stone h a d b e fo re him a t th e tim e o f hi s
.
wri t ing j ustifi ed him in indi c a t ing ; a l t hough i t i s

,
cl e a r th at M r Ston e ente rt a ined a s t rong c onvi ct i on

.
,
on gener a l ground s th at t h e r at e o f N egro i ncre as e

°
w as to dimi ni sh f a ste r t h a n a ny fi gu res at th e tim e o f

hi s writing c oul d b e a dd u ced t o p rove .
A f t e r formul a t ing a t a ble to S how t h a t t he N eg r o

p opul ati on woul d at the clo s e o f t h e p res ent cen
,
tu ry b e l ess t h an
, h e c ontinues a s fol
“
low s : On th e whol e I a m di s p o sed to b eli eve th at
,
this a ssumption i s as f a vo r a bl e t o the Negro race a s

”
the f a cts wa rra n t e t ce t e r a A l i t tl e fu rth e r o n
, .
M r Ston e writes a s foll ow s :

.
“
Th e r a pi d decline o f whi t e in c re a s e h as b e en
m enti o ned an d i t might b e thought t h a t i n thi s
,
checking o f N egro incre a s e we h a ve t o do not wi th ,
a r a ci a l p robl em bu t a gene r a l p robl em o f Am e ri can

pop u l a ti on This i s a sup e rfici a l vi ew I t i s t r u e
. .
t h a t t h e whi t e s i n the count ry as a whol e i n spite o f ,
th e sw a rms o f immigr a nts who c om e to swell th ei r

numb e rs a r e incre a s ing a t a s l ac k ening rate But
,
.
ne a rly nine tenths o f the N egro es live in t h e South

-
e rn s tates a r egi o n to whi c h a sm a ll a nd dwindli n g

,
p ro p o rt i on o f ou r fo reig n b o rn p opulation go es an d ,
yet i n the South the white popul a ti on i s g r owing with

°
a u gm ented r a pi di t y Th e evi den ce fo “

r thi s su r p ris
.
i ng f a ct h as b e en p res ente d i n t h e Suppl ementa ry °
An alysis o f t h e Twel fth C ensus publish ed i n 1 90 6

°
and n e ed not b e rep e a ted Su ffi ce i t to s ay th at i f.

,
each o f the two races in the South s houl d conti nu e

th r oughout th e p res ent cen tu r y to incre a s e at th e
r ate th a t cha r a cte ri ze d i t b etween 1 8 8 0 a nd 1 90 0 ,
th e re woul d b e in th e South i n 2 0 0 0 A D a b out

° °
. .
N eg r o e s a n d wh i te s a nd ,
th e N eg r o e s w ou ld co n sti tute p e r ce n t o f th e .
p opul ati o n o f th e Southe rn St a tes i n whi ch th ey now ,

'
co n sti tu te p e r ce n t D ou b tl e s s e a ch o f th e
.
ab ov e figu r es i s much to o l a r ge ; b u t i f th e ch ecki ng ,
o f g r owth wh ich will app e a r i n e a ch r a ce sh all e ffec t

th em i n such a w ay a s to keep th e r ati o o f th ei r i n
c r e a s e what i t h a s b e e n fo r twe n ty ye a rs and I —
thi nk thi s a l s o i s a n a s sumpti o n a s fa v o r a b l e to th e
—
N eg r o a s th e facts will w a r r ant th en th e r ati o o f
th e a b ove figu r es will b e co r rect a n d we m ay exp ect ,
th a t th e N e groes wh o i n 1 8 0 0 we re
, p e r cent .
o f th e p opul a ti o n o f th e South e r n states wh o i n ,
1 84 0 wh e n th ey w e re rel ati vely m o s t n um e rous

, ,
we r e p e r cent a nd wh o i n 1 90 0 h a d r ece ded to

.
,
p e r ce n t will co n tinu e to r ecede a nd in 2 0 0 0

.
, ,
A D a r e li k ely to b e n o t m o r e th a n
. . p e r cent .
”
o f th e Sou th e rn p opul ati on .
A S a fu rth e r p ro o f o f de c r e a si n g r ate o f i n c r e a s e
i n N eg r o p opul at i o n i n th e South e r n sta t es h e r e f e rs
t o “a t a b l e whi ch h e p r o duce s and p ro ce e ds :
Tabl e I V sh ows th at i n eve ry Sou t h e r n stat e th e
de cl in e i n th e p rop o rti on o f N e g r o childre n b e tw e e n
1 8 8 0 a n d 1 9 0 0 w as much gre a t e r th a n th e decli n e
i n th e p r op o r ti on o f whi te chil dren a nd th a t with ,
b o th r a ce s th e p rop o r ti on w a s sm all es t in th e b o r de r
s t a tes a nd r e a ch e d a v e ry m a rke d m i n i mum i n th e
,
Di stri ct o f Colum b i a Th e l a st fa c t suggests tha t

.
th e p rop o r t i on o f N e gro child ren m ay b e ve ry sm all

i n oth e r ci ti e s We h ave fi g u re s o n thi s o n ly f o r
.
1 8 9 0 a nd 1 9 0 0 Th ey S h ow th at i n th e enti re coun
.
t ry outsi de th e l a rge citi es th e p rop o rti on o f N eg r o

, ,
child r en to wom e n fell from 6 7 2 i n 1 8 9 0 to

6 5 1 i n 1 90 0 o r 2 1
, But th e p rop o rti o n in th e ci ti es
.
w a s 3 0 5 i n 1 8 9 0 an d 2 6 0 in 1 90 0 a d ecr e a s e o f 4 5 , .
Th es e fi gu res sh ow th at th e p rop o rti on o f Negro

chi ldr en i n cit i es i s abo ut two fif th s o f th e p r o p o r t i o n
-
in country districts a nd h as de c re a s ed in ci t i es wi th
,
mo re t han t wi ce t he r a pi di t y wi t h which it h as de
”
cre a s ed i n country di st r i cts .
Thus h e b rings o u t t he force ful f a c t th at rac i ally

th e N eg r o i s c o n s u mi ng th e ca n d le o f h i s e x i s t e n c e a t
b o th e nd s .
Th e s t u dy o f st ati sti cs cons t an t ly imp ress es t h e

student with t he fa c t t h a t whil e t h e de a t h r ate o f
both r a ces i s b eing gr a dually l owe red with th e ad ,
v a nce o f imp roved methods o f living whi ch mode rn

s ci ence a ff o rd s i ts b enefi t s a re incre a singly greate r
,
a mong th e whites th a n a mong th e bl a cks I n oth e r .
wo rds whil e th e N egro i s b enefited by im p roved

,
hygi enic conditi ons th at r a ce do es not receive i ts p r o

p o rt i o n a t e b enefi t a nd that
, the di f
f e re n ce i n rel a t ive
°
b enefi t from imp rove d c ondi t i ons o f li fe i s const a ntly

inc r e a s i ng in f a vo r o f th e whi te m a n Anoth e r f a c t .
reve a led by t h e s y s t em a ti c s tu dy o f t hes e figu res i s ,
th a t t h e growth o f ci t i es — in the South especi ally

whil e con s t an t ly dep ressing t he bi r t h ra te o f all uni -
,
fo rmly a ffects the N egro b i r t h r a te mo re tha n it -
do e s th at o f the white r a ce Th e s e c ondi ti ons a re at

.
a ll times a nd in a ll lo c a liti es conspi cuou sly ag a in s t

, ,
the Negro r a ce Th es e f a ct s a re well illus t r a ted by

.
t hi s p a ragr“a ph whi ch re fe rs t o a ta bl e on p a ge 5 1 5
,
o f S t one s Studi es in th e Ameri c a n R a c e Problem :

’
“
Prob a bly t hes e fi gu res wa rr an t th e i n fe re n ces
th a t the de a th ra t e o f e ach r a ce h a s gre a tly de
-
cre a sed i n the Uni t ed S ta tes in fi fty ye a rs a nd th a t ,
t h e de c r e a s e fo r th e N egro es h a s b e en much l ess

r a pi d b oth a bs olutely a nd rel atively to the i n i t i al
,
a mount th an th e decre a s e fo r the whites The

,
.
de ath rate i ndic a te d fo r N egro es i n 1 9 0 0 i s m o r e

th a n fiv e sixths (8 4 6 p e r cent ) o f wh a t i t wa s at
.
. .
t he e a rli e r p e ri o d Th a t fo r whites i s l ess th a n two

.
°
th i r ds pe r c en t o f wha t it was at th e sa m e
.
T HE A ME RI CA N NE G R O P RO BLE M 2 1 1
p e r i od At th e e a r li e st date th e d e at h r a te o f
.
-
N e gr o e s exce e de d th at o f whi tes by p e r ce n t .
o f th e l owe r r ate i n 1 8 90 i t exce eded th e de ath r ate

,
-
o f whi te s by p e r ce n t a n d i n 1 90 0 by
.
, per
ce n t B e f or e t h e w a r th e di ffe r e n ce b et w e e n th e
.
de ath r ate s o f N e gr o e s a n d whites wa s

-
i n 1 90 0
it was Cl e a r ly i n thi s fi el d th e b e n efits o f
p rog r es s a r e acc r uing m or e t o th e whi te th a n to th e
N eg r o r a ce a n d th e diffe r e n ce b etw e e n th e t wo r ace s
,
”
i s grow i ng .
Th e c on sta n t a n d i n c r e a si n g i n flux o f N eg ro e s to
th e ci ti es te n ds g r e atly t o augm e n t th e di sp a r it y b e
t w ee n th e n um e r i cal st r e n gth o f th e two r a ce s M r . .
H o ffm a n (n ow chi e f stati sti ci a n to th e P r u d e n ti al

I n su r anc e Comp a n y o f A m e r i ca ) tell s u s i n h i s
“
R a ce T r a its a nd Te n de n ci es o f th e A m e r i ca n
N e g r o pu b li sh e d f o r th e A m e r i ca n E c ono mi c So
c i e ty , by th e M a cmill a n C omp a n y th a t du r i n g th e
,
p e r i o d f r o m 1 8 6 0 to 1 8 90 th e w h it e p opul a t i o n o f
th e C iti e s i n c r e a s e d p e r ce n t as comp a r e d
.
,
with a n i n c r e a s e o f p e r ce n t f o r th e N eg r o
.
“
du ri ng th e s am e p e r i o d Thi s ph e n om e n al i n c r e a s e
.
i n th e col o r e d p opulatio n o f Sou th e rn citi es du ri n g

th e p a st thi r ty ye a r s i s p e r h ap s th e mo st co n vi n ci n g
evi de n ce o f th e ch ange d conditi o n s a t th e South a s ,
”
a ffecti n g th e fu t u r e o f th e colo r e d p opul ati on s ays ,
H o ffm a n .
O n p a ge 2 0 o f hi s stati sti cal wo r k — f r om w hi ch

,
—
we a r e qu oti n g M r Ho ffm an m ake s th e impo r ta n t
.
p oi n t th at i f voliti o n al s eg r eg a ti o n go e s o n i n f utu r e
a s i t h a s do n e i n th e p a st it will b ecom e a p o te n t f ac
to r i n chec k ing a dva n cem ent a m ong t h e N egro e s ,
a nd the re b y inc r e a s e th e r ate o f dec r e a s e o f th e c o m

“
p a r a t i v e N eg r o p opul
“
ati o n o f th e cou n t r y Thi .s
t e n de n cy h e s ays i f p e r s i ste d i n will p rob a b ly i n
, ,
th e en d p ro v e di s as tro us to th e a dv a nc e me n t o f th e
c o o r e d r a ce ,
l since th e re i s but th e slightest p r osp e ct
t h at t he r a c e W i ll b e l i f t ed to a hi ghe r pl ane o f civil
i z at i o n excep t by cons ta n t con t ac t wi t h t he whi t e
f
’
r ac e
The following ta ble i s copi ed from t h e Uni t ed

Stat es c ensus repo r t fo r 1 90 0 and gives t he c o m
,
p a r at i v e de a th rate
-
fo r bl acks and whites a ccording
t o a ge :
All ages
Thi s t a bl e i s rep rodu c e d i n th e l at e s t edi t i on o f

th e New In t e rn ati on a l Encyclop edi a in t he a rticl e
,
on vi ta l s tat i s t ics a nd comm en t ed on as follow s :

.
“
The de a t h r a te o f t h e col o red ra ce in th e United
S tat es up t o the age o f twenty fiv e i s app roxim a tely
-
a b o u t t wo a nd o ne h a l f times t h a t o f the whites a nd

-
,
t he diffe rence b e t ween th e t wo races i s app a rently

gre at es t b e t we en th e ages o f fi fte en a nd twenty fiv e -
.
From t h a t a ge the diff erence gre at ly declines th e ,
mo r ta li t y o f t h e col ored b eing a li t tl e l ess t h a n twi ce

t h at o f t he whi t e s b etwee n th e a ges o f twenty fiv e -
a nd fo r ty fiv e a nd a b ove t h e a ge o f six t y fiv e ex
-
,
-
c ee di n g t hat o f th e whites b y o nl y a b out o ne

Thi s ta b l e sp e a k s fo r i ts el f no c omm e nt up on i t ,
i s n e cess a ry .
Am o n g livi n g sta ti sti ci a n s i t m ay b e dou b te d i f

th e r e i s o n e m o r e imp a r ti al a n d abl e i n eve r y r e sp ect
th an Fr e de r i c k L H o ff m a n f r om wh o m w e h ave .
,
al r e ady quote d M r H offm a n i s a n ative b o rn Ge r

. .
m an ; a fa ct gr e atly i n hi s favo r a s a n i n te r p r et e r of
s tati sti cs b e a ri ng o n th e A m e r i ca n N egr o P r o b l e m .
N ative Am e r i ca n s o f a ge n e r ati o n n ow r ap i dly p a s s

,
i n g w h o l ive d fou r ye a r s i n th e ve r y m i dst o f th e

,
fi e r ce st r uggl e b etw e e n th e Secti o n s coul d s ca r ce ly

h av e su r vi ve d i t with out ac q ui ring a deci d e d l e a n i n g
to w a r ds o n e s id e o r th e o th e r a n d u su ally i n h e r ite d
a ve r y fi xe d op i n i o n eith e r for o r agai n st th e N e gro .
Thi s i s s om ewh at l es s t r u e o f a l ate r gene r ati o n ,
b o r n si n ce th e p a ssi n g o f th at c on test ; but o f a m a n

w h o s e e a r ly i n flu e n ces w e r e e n ti r ely f o r ei gn t o th e
wh ol e su b j ect a n d who di d n o t com e to thi s cou n t r y
,
u n til sl ave r y w a s a m a tte r o f p a st hi sto r y n o b i a s ,
w h a teve r c an j ustly b e a sc r i b ed .
Th e foll owi ng qu otati o n fr om M r H o ff m a n i s a .
fa i r i llust r ati o n o f h i s co n cepti o n o f th e te n de n cy o f

th e N egro r a ce to decre a s e in num e r i cal st r e n gth
“
Th e p r o gress o f th e col o re d p opul ati on i n th e
U n i t e d States an d mo re p a rt i cul a rly i n th e South e rn
,
states h a s fo r m o r e tha n fi f ty ye a rs p a st b e e n a m at
,
t e r o f th e m o st s e ri ou s co n ce rn to tho s e wh o h ave
ob s e rve d th e r esults o f th e p r es ence o f a l a rge a nd
g r owi ng N eg r o p o pul ati o n Th e n atu r al b o nd o f .
*
M r S to n e an d o t h w it er xp r e rs e re s s th e be li f th
hi e at t s ap p ar
t l w i g f d th t f y ld N g
.
en o er n o th e ea -
ra e o v er o i d
e ro e s s ue i n th e
fi t p l t th
rs ac e o e f t th t th y
ac a illi t e are t
e ra e and ll y g i u su a ve t h ei r
ag t
es hi g h ;
oo s ec o n dl y th t th y b l
,
a e e on g t f m g
o a or er en e rati o n
of l d
s av e s an en o j yd m hlw d
e a uc o er th
ea t th th
ra e an o se b o rn
i f
n d m
ree o .
2 14 TH E U LTI M ATE S OLU TI ON o r
symp a thy exi s ting betwe e n p eopl e o f th e s am e cou n

try n o m att e r how wi dely s ep a r at ed by l a n guage
,
a n d n ati onali t y canno t b e p r oved t o exist b e t wee n

,
th e white an d colo red races o f t he United States .
To day a fte r t hi rt y ye a r s o f fre edom fo r t he N egro

-
i n thi s cou n t r y and sixty ye a r s in t he West I n di es

, ,
the tw o r aces a r e f a r t he r ap a r t tha n eve r i n thei r

politic a l a'n d soci al r el ations To day mo re tha n.
-
,
eve r th e c o lo red race o f thi s coun tr y fo rm s a di s

,
ti n ct el ement a n d p res e nt s m o r e th a n at a n y tim e in

the p ast th e most compli cated and s e emi n gly hop e
l es s p robl em among thos e co n fronting th e Ame r i c an
p eopl e .
“
I r i s the r e fo r e a m atte r o f th e utmo st i m po r
, ,
ta n ce th at th e tru e co n di t io n o f thi s p opul a t i on

shoul d b e fully u n de rsto o d i n all its i n t ric a te details ,
to elimin ate eve ry possibl e doubt a s to t he s e rious

n ess and imp o rta nce o f th e p r obl em to the peopl e
o f the South er n states a s well a s the l a rge r c iti e s o f
the N o r th a n d W est In t he endles s discu ssi ons th at
.
h ave b e en ca rri ed on fo r ye a rs p as t a s t o t h e co n di
ti on and fu tu r e o f t h e colo r ed p eopl e th e f a ct th a t ,
the r e i s a n o rt h e rn si de to th e question h a s n eve r

b e en fully t a ken i n to a ccou n t Only by m e ans o f a
.
tho r ough a nalysi s o f a ll th e data tha t m a k e up the

hi sto ry o f th e colo re d ra ce i n thi s cou n t ry ca n t h e
t r u e n atu r e o f the s o calle d N egro p r oblem b e u m
-
‘ ’
de rs to o d and t he r esults o f past expe r ie n ce be

appli ed s a fely to th e s oluti o n o f the di fli cu lti es th a t
n o w con f r o n t thi s count r y i n deali n g with th e colo r
e d el eme n t .
“
Th e most th r e ate n i n g dange r nume r i cal sup r e m
,
a cy m ay b e conside re d a s h avi ng p a s sed away i f i h

, ,
de ed i t eve r exis t ed i n fac t Le a ving a side the re

.
s u lts o f the el eventh census which cl e a rly p r oved a

,
small e r i n c r e as e i n th e colo r e d p o pul ati o n tha n i n

TH E A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 2 1 5
th e n ative whi te th e m ate ri al i s abundant an d wi ll

,
b e f ully p r es e n t e d i n thi s m o n ograph to p r ove t h at

, ,
i n dep endent o f th e ce n su s r etu rns th e g ra du al de

c r e a s e i n th e de ce nn i al growth o f t h e colo r e d p o p u
l ati o n c a n b e fu ll y expl a i n e d .
“
Du r i n g th e p a st de ca de h ow ev e r a cco rdi n g to
, ,
th e ce n su s r etu rn s th e i n c r e a s e i n th e col o r e d p p l o u a
ti o n o f th e s outh e rn state s h a s b e e n o much l e s s s
th a n th a t o f th e whi te r ace a nd o m uch l es s th a n

, s
th e b eli eve r s i n P r o fe ss o r Gilli am s p r edi cti o n ha d

’
c au s e to exp ect th a t th e a ccu r a cy o f th e ce n su s h a s

,
b e e n di spute d b y m a n y eve n th ou g h th ey h a d n o
,
m e a n s w h ateve r a t th e i r comm a n d o f p r ovi n g th e

t r uth o f th ei r ch a r ge s Si n ce m a n y o f th e tabl e s a n d
.
c alcul ati o n s i n thi s p ap e r a r e n e ce ss a r i ly b a s ed o n

th e el eve n th census i t m ay no t b e out o f pl a ce f o r
m e to state th at a f te r th e m o st ca r e ful a n alys is o f
t h e r e sults i n th i s a n d m a n y othe r i n ve sti ga ti o n s I
a m c on vi n ce d th at th e El eve n th C e n sus w s a s ca r e a
f ully ta k e n a s a n y o n e o f th e te n p r e cedi n g e n um e r a
ti on s . Thi s co n vi cti o n i s b a s ed p r i n cip ally on a
stud y o f th e a ge di stri b uti o n o f th e p opul ati o n ,
whi ch i s p r ob ably th e m o st del icat e test appli ca b l e

to ce n su s wo rk .
P r o fess o r Gi l li am s p r e di cti o n re f e rr e d to b y
’
,
H o ff m a n i s i n p a r t a s f ollows
, :
E s tim at e d N e gr o P o pulati on
F r om th e s e f aul ty fi g u re s th e co n c l usi o n wa s
d r aw n (a nd th e opi ni on wi dely ci r cul at ed ) th a t i n
s eve n ty o r eighty ye a rs — a b out th e middl e o f thi s
c e n tu r y — N egro es wo u ld gr e at l y o ut n u mb e r th e
Whites i n eve ry South e rn state .
In r e fe r ring to th e ill founded es t im atio n o f P r o

-
f e s so r Gilli a m a n d i n pointing ou t t h a t not o n ly th e

high mo rt a li ty rate (whi ch Gilli a m app e ar s to h ave
fail ed to r eckon with ) but eve ry othe r c a us e o f i n
,
c r e a s e o r dec re as e m u st b e de a l t wi t h in thes e p r o
du cti o n s M r Hoffm a n s t ates i n substance that
, .
, ,
only a f t e r a comp r ehensive a n d comp a ra tive s tudy

o f the intri ca t e details o f th e s eve r a l contributing
elem e nt s c an th e n a t u re o f the p r obl em a s to the ,
futu re o f t he N eg r o a n d hi s rel a ti on t o th e white

r a ce i n t hi s cou n t r y b e unde r stoo d .
In the ye a r 1 90 0 th e c ensus rep o rt o f the United

St a tes g a ve us in round numb e r s only 8 8 4 0 0 0 0 , ,
Negro e s inste a d o f Gilli a m s es t im a ted ’
I f Gilli am s de fective method o f e s t im at ing p o p ula

’
t i on we re b rought down to 1 9 1 0 i t would give u s a

Negro p opul at i on o f som ething ove r 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 ; , ,
whe r e as t h e census will p r ob a bly give a littl e mo r e

th an
Thi s comp a ri son o f Gilli a m s hypoth etic a l figu r e s
’
wi t h t he a ctu a l cen s us rep o r t o f t h e Uni t ed States ,
whil e illustr at ing th e us el essn ess o f a t t empts to

fo retell the incre as e o f a r a ce ove r a long p e rio d o f
ye ar s by me t ho ds which do no t t a ke i n t o co u n t all
t h e conditi ons eff ecting such incre a s e a lso emph ati c ,
a lly decl a r es t h e rate o f incre a s e o f t he N egro p o p u

l a ti on to b e much l ess th an th at o f n ative whites fo r
—
the s ame te rri to ry exclusive o f th e imp o rt ant i tem
o f white immigrati o n s A t th e s am e t ime the r e i s
.
show n a decre asing r a t i o o f i n cre as e in N egro p op

u lat i o n
,
n otwithstanding t h e f a ct that c onditi ons o f
l i fe a re consta n tly i mp rov i ng and m o rtal s ta ti sti cs
a mong t h e whol e p eopl e co r resp ondingly l owering .
Th e followi n g i s from the Twel fth C ensu s o f th e

°
U n it e d S tat e s Vol u m e I P ar t I Ta bl e LI Pa g es
, , , ,
CXI I a n d CXI I I .
I n o r de r to avoi d th e i n t r oducti o n o f a cu mb e r
som e m a s s o f fi gu r es w e omi t th e ta b l e a n d give o n ly
th e summi n g up o f i ts c on te n ts i n th e ce n sus r ep o r t
fo r 1 9 0 0 .
“
Th e wh ol e n um b e r o f p e r s o n s o f N eg r o de sce n t
i n 1 8 9 0 was a s agai n st a t o tal i n 1 90 0 ,
fo r th e e n ti r e a r e a o f e n um e r a ti o n o f ,
Thi s i s a n i n cre a s e du r i n g th e deca de o f

or p e r ce n t Th e whi te s h av e i n c r e a s e d d u r i ng
.
th e s am e p e r i o d 1 or p e r ce n t .
“
Th es e fi g u r e s S h o w th at p e rs o n s o f N eg ro de
s cent h ave not i n cr e a s e d S i n ce 1 8 90 r el atively a s f a st
as th e whites wh en th e e n ti r e a r e a o f e n um e r ati on
,
i n 1 90 0 i s consi de r ed I f a n exami na ti o n i s m a de o f
.
t h e rel ative i n c r e a s e s o f thes e two el em ents i n th e

South Atl a n ti c a n d South C e n t r al d ivisi o n s i n whi c h ,
n e a r ly ni n e te n ths o f all th e p e r sons o f N eg r o de

-
s ce n t a r e f oun d th e s am e co n diti o n s a re ap p a r e n t
, .
I n the South Atl a n ti c divi si o n th e r e h a s b e e n a n i n

c r e a s e i n th e white p opul ati o n S i n ce 1 8 90 o f per
cent a s comp a r e d with a n i nc re as e i n th e N eg r o
.
p opul ati o n o f p e r ce n t whil e i n th e South Ce n

.
,
t ral divi si o n th e white s h ave i n c r e a s ed du r i ng th e

s am e p e ri o d p e r cent a n d th e N egro el e m e nt
.
p e r ce n t I f th e comp a ri s o n i n th es e two divi

.
si o n s i s extende d t o th e s eve r al el em e n ts o f th e white

p opul ati on i t i s s e e n th a t am o n g th e fo re ign whites
,
th e r e h a s n ot b e e n s o r api d a r ate o f i n c r eas e a s

am ong p e r s ons o f N eg ro de scent but th at am o n g ,
th e n a t ive whi te s b oth o f n ative a n d f o rei g n p a r e n t

,
a ge th e r el ative increa s e du ri n g th e deca de h a s b e e n

,
much g r e ate r Th e p e r centage o f i n c r e a s e i n e a ch

.
el em ent s i n ce 1 8 90 i n e ach o f thes e two divi si ons a r e

a s f oll o ws
—
S o uth Atl an t i c Di vi si o n N at i v e wh i t es o f na
tive p a r e n tage 2 0 5 ; na tive whi tes o f fo r eig n p a r

, .
e n t ag e 2 0 9 ; fo r ei gn whites 3 2 p e r sons o f N eg r o °
, .
, .
,
desce n t 1 4 3 .
—
, .
South C en t ral D ivi si on N ative whi tes o f n ative

.
p a rentage 2 9 2 ; native whi t es o f fo reign p a r entage

, .
,
39 5
.
°
;
” fo rei gn
whites 1 1 ; p e r sons o
, f N egro descent ,
19 9
Th e foll owing tabl e from t he ce n sus rep o rt spe aks

volum es fo r t h e solu t i on o f th e N egro p roblem o n
th e basi s o f declini n g rel ative n umb e r s
TA B LE I .
Pe rcentage o f
Total P o p u la
tio n o f
U n ited State s
1 5 7
-
I t will b e s e e n th at thi s t abl e cove rs a sp a n o f a

hund red a nd t en ye a rs a n d th at the p ropo r ti on o f
,
N egro es t o t he gene r a l popul ati on h a s declined fo r

eve ry deca de si nce 1 8 1 0 (t h e re we re ext ensive i m
p o r t at i o n s up to thi s time ) except 1 8 7 0 8 0 ; and i t i s -
n ow a dmitted t h at t he a pp a rent incre a s e fo r th e de

ca d e was du e t o f au l ty enu m e r ati on I f we acce p t .
THE A M E RI CAN N E G RO P RO B LE M 2 19
th es e figu r e s o f th e N ati o n al Gove rn m e n t (wi th th e

—
co r recti o n m e n ti o n e d ) a s r e a s o n ably a ccu r ate a n d
we h a ve n o r e a s o n to dou b t th a t th ey a r e — a simp l e
calcul ati o n will sh ow th at th e p e rce n ta ge o f N eg r o
p opul ati on h a s decr e a s ed p e r cent sin ce 1 8 1 0 .
( whi ch wa s two ye a rs a f t e r th e Co n stituti o n p e r mit

te d C ongre s s to r estri ct imp o r tati o n s ) a n d th at i f ,
we supp o s e th a t thi s ge n e r a l av e r a ge o f i n c r e a s e i s
to co n ti n u e f o r th e n i n ety ye a r p e rio d f r om 1 90 0
t o 1 9 90 th e N e g r o populati o n i n th e ye a r 1 9 90 —0 r
-
,
—
n ea r ly ei ghty ye a r s h e n ce will am ou n t to o n ly
pe r ce n t o f ou r total population
. .
I f t h i s m ay b e r ega rded a s a f a i r b asi s o f c alcu

l ati o n w e h av e still a no th e r su r ety f o r t h e s ou n d n e s s
o f ou r th e o r y o f a n atu r al s oluti on o f th e A m e r i ca n
r a ce qu esti o n Fo r wh e n th e tot a l N eg r o p o p ula
.
ti o n falls b el ow th r e e p e r cent o f th e whol e the r e

.
,
wi l l b e n o s e ri ous r a ce p r o b l em r em ai ni n g a n d i n ,
ou r c a lcul a ti o n s b a s e d on st ri c tly sci entifi c m eth ods

, ,
thi s will com e to p a s s b e fo r e th e cl o s e o f th e p res e n t

c entu r y
*
.
*
I t i s a g re at di i
s ap p o n tm en t n o t to b e a bl e to i l d
nc u e th e te
s u lt s o f th e c e n s u s r ep o rt f o r 1 9 1 0 We h av e c o rre s p o n d d wi th
e
h d
th e ea o f th ed e p art m e n t at W hi
as ngto n an d he th t
a s s u re s u s a
thes el l ti
c a cu a ons h av e no t ve t b
e en ma d e .
C HA P TER XV
STA T I ST I C S— C O N T I N U E D
V i tal Sta ti s ti c s a nd a Su mm i ng U p o
f Th i s a nd th e
P r e v i o us C h ap t e r
A V I NG s een h
t at t he Am e ri a n N egro c
a tat
i s in s a t a l re t rogre si on a s
e of c u s
a a i ve n m e r i c a l s t rength
reg rds h i s rel t u ,
it i s no t wi t hou t in t e re t— b e a ring di s as
r ec tly up on ou r topi — to inves t ig at e t he imme di at e

c
rel at ive c a us es o f de at h .
Among t he dis e a s es m os t resp onsibl e fo r th e high

mo r ta lity r at e o f t he Negr — a p a r t from th e ino r 0 ,
di t numb e r o f s t ill bi r t h a nd de a th from i f

na e -
s, s n an
t il e dis e a s es (b e fo re t he a ge f five ye a r ) when — o s
m enti oned i n th e o rde r o f gre at e t r a v a ges a re s ,
tub e rculo sis pneumoni a a nd venere a l di o rde rs

, s .
The de at h r a te o f children s e r es well t o illus

-
v
t r a te th e inh e ri t ed vi ta l fo rces o r l a k o f ch fo r es ,
c su c ,
in t h e Negro r a ce ; a nd a t t he s a m e t im e con t i t u t es s
a ve ry en i t ive b a romete r o f s a ni ta ry condi t i ons

s s .
In eve ry ec t i on o f t he co n t ry whe re reco rds h ave

s u
b e en kept s t ill b i rth a nd i n f a nt de a ths a mong

,
-
s
N egro es gre a tly ex e ed t ho e o f th e whi t e c In fa c t

s s .
t he re a re no t a ti s t i s o f in f a nt m o r ta li t y in t hi s o r
s c
a ny o t he r country t h a t show , h a n a l a rming su c
de at h r a te
-
th a t found a mong ou r N egro p p l
as 0 u a
t ion In N o rway fo r ex a mpl e only a b ou t 1 0 p e r

.
, ,
cent o f the children di e b e fo re t h ey r e ach one ye a r

.
ol d ; in R si a th e p rop o r t i on ri se t o one fo r t h
us s -
u ,
a nd in B av a ri a t o thre e tenth In M a ss a chus e tt s -

s .
ab out one six t h o f t h e chil dren b o rn di e u n de r one

-
ye a r o f a ge Ac o r ding to t h e fi gu res o f th e Twel fth

. c
Ce n sus the de ath ra te o f whi t e unde r one ye a r o f

-
s
—
age i n th e w hol e c o u n t r y a s f a r a s r eco r ds hav e
—
b e e n k ep t i s 1 5 8 p e r thou s a n d b o rn whil e th at o f
,
N e g r o es i s 3 7 2 p e r thous a n d whi ch l a tte r i s i n ex

° °
ce ss o f a n y oth e r r eco r ds f o u ii d a n d app roxim ately

,
two a n d o n e h al f tim es gre ate r th a n th at o f t h e

whi te p opul ati o n f o r th e s am e t e rr ito r y .
Ho ffm a n ve r y aptly states th at th e exces siv e in

f a n t m o r tal i t y r a t e am ong ou r N eg r o p opul ati o n i s °
to in c r e a s e r a th e r th an dec r e a s e a s comp a red with

o
th e whi te ra ce a n d th at th e fi gu r e s a b st r a cte d f r om
,
th e Twel fth C e n su s a re su ffi ci e n t i n th ems elve s to

s olve th e r a ce p r obl em i n suffi ci e n t tim e .
B e f o r e p r o ce edi n g wi th th e co n si de r ati o n o f s t a
ti s ti c s b e a r i n g o n th e p ri n cip al di s e a s e s th at a r e s o
r api dly depl eting th e r a nk s o f th e A fro Am e ri ca n -
we woul d state th at a fte r the p e ri o d o f i nfan cy i s

p a ss ed— althou gh th e st ati sti ci a n s ep a rate s th es e
—
di s e a s es it i s n eve r th el e s s tru e th at i n m a n y c as es
t h e g iy en caus e o f de ath i s r e ally sup e r i n duce d b y
°
p r e ex i st in g constituti o n al d e r angem e n ts . Fo r in
,
—
st a nce tub e r cul o si s o f th e lu n gs whi ch I S g i ve n as
°
th e m ost p o te n t si ngl e fa cto r i n exce ss i v e a d ult

.
—
Negro mo rtali ty r ate i s f r equ e n tly b rou gh t o n b y
o r a ss o ci at e d wi th syp hil i s s cro ful a o r oth e r depl e r
,
ing d i s o r d e r s co n s equ e n t u p on a li f e o f de b au ch e r y .
Thi s howeve r do e s n ot aff ect th e conclusi on s d r aw n

, ,
f rom th e fi gu res ; fo r th es e co n clu si ons woul d r em ai n

t h e sam e i f th e c a us e o f de ath w e r e give n a s a com
pli cation o f dise a ses . M o r e a ccurate di a g no ses
would r esult o n ly i n l owe r ing th e fr i ght f u l r eco r ds
o f tub e rculo si s a nd p rop o r tio n ately augm e n ti n g
th o s e o f de ath f rom oth e r cau s es .
At the time the N eg r o cam e i n to h is fr ee d om a n d ,
the o r etical civil ri ghts th a t r ace wa s l ittle i f at al l

, , ,
m o r e p r on e to th e gre a t scou rge o f tu b e r cul o si s th a n

was th e A n g l o A m e r i ca n S i nc e t h at ti m e h ow eve r
-
.
, ,
and among th e m a n y spl e n di d t riumphs o f sci e n ce ,
t h e re i s to b e reco rded a gre a t decr e as e i n the p e r

cen t age o f deaths from this cause amo n g the whi t e
p opul atio n o f th e enti r e cou nt ry Bu t despite t h e
.
c on s t a nt u rging o f thos e who se sp eci al du t y it i s t o
gu a rd th e publi c he a l t h and t h e spending o f mill ions

,
fo r th e b enefit o f t h e Negro th e t otally une qu al con

,
tes t wi t h t he whi t e m an fo r exi sten ce h as s e rved to

r ai s e t he fo r m e r s mor t ality r a te from t ub e rculosis
’
a nd oth e r pulmo na ry di s e a s es un t il to d a y t his si n gl e

,
-
caus e o f de at h i s on e o f t he s t ronges t f a c t o rs in t he
p roces s o f elimin at ion o f th e N egro a s a p r e s s i ng
N a ti o n al p r o b le m .
Th e N egro de ath ra t e from tub e rcul o sis when

-
,
comp a red with th e whi t e de a th rate f r om thi s c a us e

-
,
i s fou n d to b e mo re th a n th re e to on e .
Ag a i n M r Ho ffm an s a ys :
.
“
C onsi de ring now in p a rt i cul a r th e p r i n cip al di s
e a s es t o whi ch t he N egro i s li abl e an d whi ch will ,
m o re cl e a rly tha n any o the r s e ri es o f facts b ring o ut

h i s r a ce t r ai t s a n d tendenci es we sh all fi rst h ave to
,
consi de r consumpti on a s the mos t imp o rtant o f all .
A volum e could e a sily b e written on t hi s o n e dis e a s e

and i ts influ ence on t he destiny o f t he col o red ra ce .
Few wri t e rs on N egro mo rt a li ty h a ve f a il ed to di s

co u r s e up on t h e excessive mo rta li ty due t o this caus e ,
a nd but few h a ve f a il ed t o re c ogni z e the fact t hat

t hi s most dre a ded o f a ll dis e a s es i s cons ta ntly o n th e
i ncre a s e among the colo red popul a t i on o f thi s cou n
t ry
He then p roce e ds to give a numb e r o f comp a ra
t ive ta bl es showing t h e s ta r t ling l oss o f li fe a mong
t h e Negroes from tub e rcu losi s a nd o t he r respi ra to ry
di se a s es .
Pneumoni a like consumpti on i n f a ct all dis e a s es

, ,
e ff ecti n g t he r es p i r ator y a pp ara tu s are excessivel y

,
p r eval e n t am o n g th e col o r e d r a ce ; p r es e n ti n g a
r e co rd w h e reve r a ccu r ate sta ti sti cs h ave b e e n ta k e n
, ,
o f ve ry n e a r ly two to o n e a s comp a r e d w ith t h e ,
whit e r a ce Th e f o l l owi n g t a bl e i s c o mp i l e d b y
.
H offm a n fr o m t h e r ep o r ts o f D r B illi n gs :
, .
M O R TA L I TY F R O M P NE U M ON IA I N SI$ I T I E S— 1 8 90
C
(R a te p e r o f Popul a ti o n )
Whi te Co lor e d
B altim o r e M d , . i .
Wa shi n gto n D C , . .
N ew Yo rk N Y , . . . 1
B r o o k ly n N Y , . .
B o sto n M a ss, .
Phi l a delphi a Pa , .
Th i s t a bl e sp e a k s f o r its e l f a nd s h o w s th at tu
b e rcu lo s i s i s n o t t h e o nl y d i s e a s e t h at h a s co n t r i b ute d
to r a i s e th e A fr o Am e r i ca n de ath r ate a b ov e th at o f
- -
a n y o t h e r p e opl e o f w h o m a n y r eco rd h a s b e e n
made .
V E NE R E A L DI SE A SE S
Cl os ely a ll i e d t o b oth tu b e r cu l o s i s a nd p n eu mon i a

am o n g th e N eg r o p o pu l ati o n o f Am e r i ca a r e ve n e
r e a l d i s e a s e s a ll o f whi c h a r e m o r e o r l es s (s o ca ll
,
-
e d ) consti tuti o n al d i s e a s es with t h e excepti o n o f ,
p n eum o n i a w h i ch i s o f te n sup e r i nd uce d b y t h e p r e

,
exi ste n ce o f o n e o r m o r e o f t h e a b ov e n a m e d c on st i
t uti o n al a ilm e n ts .
I n r e ce n t ye a r s th e a l a r m fo r th e su r v i v a l o f th e
N eg r o r a ce i n A m e r i ca h as fr equ e n t l y b e e n s o u nd e d
b y m a ga z i n e w r i te r s h e a l th o ffi ce r s a nd o th e r s b e
, ,
cau s e o f th e p r op o r ti on s w h i c h ve n e r e a l co m p l ai nt s
h av e a ssum e d a nd t h e dr e a d fu l co n di ti o n s exi st i n g
,
as th e e n t a i l e d co n s equ e n ces o f t h e w h o l e s a l e v i ol a
ti o ns o f n a tu r a l l a w Pe rh a p s n i ne te n th s o f co n
.
-
genit a l blindnes s i s attribut a bl e to thi s cause a lo n e ,
a s i s a lso app roxim ately th e s a me p ropo rtio n o f

ri cke t s I f we m ay j udge from the testimony o f
.
m a ny m edi c al men s u pp o r t ed by s uch incomple t e

st a tisti c a l evidence a s c a n b e h a d i t m a y we ll b e
,
‘
do bted i f one fo u r t h o f o u r a dul t N egro es re

u - —
g a rdl e s s o f s ex — a re fre e from som e vene re al
t ro u bl e Indeed we might h a ve m a de thi s s tat em ent
.
cove r t h e p op u l at i on a t a ll a ge s ; fo r few N egro

children a re b o rn withou t s c ro fulous t endenci es ,
ri cket s blindness o r oth e r t r a nsmitted evi de n ce o f

, ,
a nces t r a l in fecti on o f thi s na tu re .
M ost o f the s tat isti cs b e a ring on t hi s subj ect a r e

coll ec t ed from t he m edic a l re c ords o f ex a min at ion
o f rec ru its fo r s ervi ce i n the a rmy especi ally duri n g
,
th e Ci vil Wa r A t a bl e h a s b een ex t ra cted from

.
m edi c a l s t a ti sti c s o f P r ovo st M a rsh a l Gene r a l Vol , .
I Wa s hington 1 8 7 5 whi ch shows that th e rej ec

, , ,
t ions o f colo red a ppli can t s fo r scro ful a we r e

p e r c ent a nd fo r syphili s
.
,
p e r cent i n exces s.
o f white rej ec t ion s fo r the s am e c a u s es .
B u t we a r e not enti rely without st a ti sti cal evi

den c e o f the prev a len c e o f these di s e a ses in the South
ern s t a te s in mo r e recent ye a rs a nd in civil li fe
, .
From t h e a nnual repo rt o f the St a te B o a r d o f

H e al th o f Al a b a m a we take th e foll owi n g t a ble
D E A T H S F R O M SCR OF U L A A N D V E N E R E A L DI SE A SE S
A M O N G TH E W H I TE A N D C OLO R E D
POP U L A T I O N O F A L A B A M A
Sc r o ful a Vene real Di s e as es
White Colo re d White C olo r ed
10 23 3 37
10 17 3 2 1
8 12 3 2 4
8 27 7 33
8 15 6 40
THE A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO BLE M 2 2 5
Th es e fi gu r es a r e supp o s ed to rep res ent th e rel a

tive fre qu e n cy a n d fa tali ty o f th es e di s e as es am o n g
the two r a ces but do not a pply to su ffi ci e n t n umb e rs
,
to b e rega rde d as enti r ely a c cu r a te Evi dently such.
stati sti c s we r e collected fo r only a ce rtai n p o rti o n o f

th e p opul ati on o f Al a b am a a lth ough nothi n g in di
,
cating thi s i s given .
I n th e ci t y o f Ch a r l e sto n South C a r olin a du ri n g

, ,
the ye a r s 1 8 8 9 9 4 i n clusive th e n umb e r o f de aths

-
,
fr om syphili s a mo n g th e whi tes an d c olo r ed was a s

1 0 to 6 6 r esp ectively thus sh owin g a m o st r em a rk
,
a bl e p r ep onde r an ce o f thi s di s e a s e a m on g N e gro e s .
Thi s tabl e sh ows th e m o rtali ty rat e p e r hund r ed

th ou s a n d o f p opul a t i on from scro ful a a nd ven e r e al
—
di s e a s e s i n B a ltim o r e a n d Wa shingto n 1 8 8 5 9 0 -
.
Sc r o ful a V e n e r e al D i s e a s e s
B alti Wa sh B a lti W a sh
m o r e in g to n m o r e in g to n
Pe r cent o f exces s
.
o f N eg r o m o r
ta l ity
M r Ho ffm an p ro duce s th e t a bl e i n h i s wo rk on
.
“
R ace Tr a its a nd Tendenci e s and s a y s : I n b oth
,
c i ti e s almo s t to th e s a m e degre e t he N egro m o rt a l

, ,
i ty from th e c a us es u n de r co n si de r at i on exce eds th a t
o f th e whi te p opul ati o n 3 4 4 to 6 2 7 p e r cent .
Th e s am e a uth o r th en giv es u s thi s signi fic a nt

p a ssage :
“
I t i s b ecaus e th e di s e a s e i s cl o s ely rel ate d to
o t h e r di s e a s e s p r i ncip a lly co n s umpti on a nd an ex
, ,
c e s siv e i n fa n t m o r t al i t y t.h a t t h e r a p i d i n cr e a s e o f
scro ful a and ven e re al di s e a ses a mong th e freed

p e opl e h eco m e s a m at t e r o f th e gre at e s t s o c i a l a nd
econom i c i mp o rt a nce .
“
Fo r th e ro ot o f t h e evil li es in t h e f a c t o f a n i m
mens e a mo u n t o f immo r a li t y which i s a r a ce t r a it
, ,
a nd o f which s cro ful a s yphilis a n d even co n su mp

, ,
ti on a re t h e inevi t abl e c on s equen c es So long a s .
mo re t h a n one fo u r t h
-
p e r cent in 1 8 9 4 ) o f
.
t he bi rth s fo r th e colo red p op u l at i on o f Wa shing

—
ton a re ill egi t im at e a c i t y in whi c h we sho u ld ex
,
p eet to m ee t wi t h t h e l e a s t a mo u n t o f immo r a li ty
a nd vi c e in whi ch at t h e s a m e tim e only
, p e r cen t .
o f t h e b i r t hs a mong t he white s a re ill egitim a te — it ,
i s pl a in why we sho u l d m eet wi t h a mo r ta li t y f rom

s c ro ful a a nd syphili s so l a rgely in excess o f t h a t o f
t h e whi t es And i t i s al so plain now t h at we h a ve
.
re a ch ed th e u nde rlying c a u s e s o f th e exce s sive mo r

ta l ity from consump t i on a nd t h e e n o rmous w a ste o f
c hild li fe .I t i s not in th e c ondi t i on o f li fe but i n the
,
r a c e trai t s a nd t enden c i es th a t we find the c a uses o f

the exce s sive mo r ta lity So long a s thes e t endenci e s
.
a re p e rsi sted in so l ong as immo r a li t y a nd vi ce a re

,
a h a bi t o f li fe o f th e v a s t ma jo ri t y o f t he c ol o red
p op u l a ti on t h e e ff e c t will b e to incre a s e t h e m o r ta lity
,
by h e re dit a ry t r a n s mi s sion o f we a k con s t itu t i ons ,
a nd to l owe r s till fu rthe r th e rate o f n at u r a l inc r e as e

un t il t h e bi rth s f a ll b el ow t h e de at hs a nd gradu a l
,
”
extinc t i on results .
M r Ho ffm a n h a s a rrived at thi s con cl u si on from

.
a t ot a lly di ff erent s ta nd p oint from t h a t whi ch fi r s t

a s su red us t h a t dimini s hing rel at ive streng th o f th e
N egro p o o u lat i o n a nd fin a lly an a ctu a l f a lli n g o ff
,
in its to ta l n u mb e r s would result i n the s o lu ti o n o f

,
t h i s p r o b le m ; b u t h e h as only s t a ted wh a t b e com es

u nmi st a k a bly a pp ar ent to any s e r i ous stude n t o f th i s
mo oted questio n .
T H E A ME R I CA N NEG R O P R OB L E M 2 2 7
Howeve r thi s l ast qu ot a ti o n i s n ot e n ti r e l y fr e e

,
f r om e rr o r o n e o f whi ch i s emb odi e d i n thi s s en

,
“
te n ce : I t i s n o t i n th e conditi o n o f li f e bu t i n
‘
,
’
‘
th e r a ce t r ai ts an d te n denci e s that w e fi n d th e ’
”
cau s e o f exces s ive m o r t ali ty H e shoul d h ave s ai d
.
th a t a comb i n ati o n o f conditi ons o f li fe a n d r a ce

t r a its a nd te n denci e s a r e j oi ntly r esp ons ibl e fo r thi s
d eca de n ce o f th e r a ce Th e n a gain w e o f cou r s e do
.
n ot e n do r s e th e statem ent to th e extent o f compl ete

r a ce extincti o n bu t o n thi s p oi n t M r H o ffm a n h a s
, .
mo di fi e d t hi s co n vi c t i o n as wi ll b e s e en by a r ece n t
co rr esp o n de n ce with h im wh i ch i s i n troduced i n a
l at e r ch ap te r .
Th e r e i s m a te ri al a t h a nd to en abl e u s to co n ti n u e
o n i n defi n itely r el ating th e hi g h r el ative d e ath r at e -
o f th e A f r o Am e r i can a s comp a r e d with th e C au

-
ca si a n o r A n gl o Saxo n but su ffi ci e n t h a s b e e n give n

-
,
to dem o nst r ate th at th e N eg r o ce rt ai nly i n th e ,
Weste rn H em i sph e r e i s deci de dly defici e n t i n th e

,
p owe r o f res i st ance to cli m a ti c influ e n ce s a n d to

va r i ous di s e a s e s I n oth e r wo r ds th e constituti o n o f
.
th e white m an i s stronge r an d m o r e cap a b l e o f co m

b ati ng v a ri ous cli m ati c condi ti o n s a n d di s e a s e s th a n
i s th at o f th e N egro I n Gove r n m e n t r ep o r ts th e
—
.
t w to o ne de ath r ate
o o r n e a r ly th at p r op o r ti o n
-
h olds goo d But a s we h av e sta te d thi s sh o uld n o t

.
b e r ega r de d a s du e s ol ely to r a ce t r a its a n d te n de n

ci e s but to a combi n a ti o n o f th e s e qu al iti e s w ith h i s
,
a dve rs e o r r el atively u n favo r abl e con diti o n s o f li f e .
“
I f M r H o ffm a n m e a n t t o i n clu de i n hi s R ac e
.
”
Traits a n d Te n de n ci e s th e f a ct th at n atu r e h as n ot
e n do w e d th e N eg r o wi th th e s am e m e n tal cap a citi e s
p o s sess e d b y th e C auca si a n th e n w e m ust w it hdr a w
,
ou r c r iti ci sm a n d ag r e e w ith hi m o n thi s p o i n t .
We h ave n o t b e e n a bl e to fin d a si ngl e wr i te r ,
—
w it h s o u nd j udg m e n t w ell i nfor m e d o n t h e su b j e ct ,
wh o do e s no t confi rm th e s a li e n t f a c t s a n d fig u res
con tai ned in t hi s a nd t he p re c eding ch a pte r They .
a ll a dmi t t h at th e N egro i s in fe ri o r mentally and

physi c a lly , a nd t h at he i s unabl e t o c omp ete success
fully wi t h t he whi t e m an *
.
A SU MM I N G UP
In summing up t he conten t s o f t his and the imme

di a t ely p receding ch a p t e r whi ch h ave t o do wi t h ,
s t a t i s t i c a l evi den c es o f retrogre s si on o f t he Negro ,
from t h e s ta ndp oin t o f h e a l t h we would c a ll a tt en ,

‘
t i on to th e s a li en t fe a t u res cont a ined .
Th e imp or t an t f a ct i s reco rded i n t he ou t se t th at

in f a n t mo r t ali t y i s fo u nd t o b e t wo a nd o n e h a l f -
t ime s gre at e r a mong N egro es t han a mong whi t es .
Th e n it h a s b e en shown t h at th rougho u t t h e nine —
t e e n t h centu ry th e r at e o f incre a s e of N egro es h a s

s t e a dily decli ned ; th a t b e tween 1 8 8 0 a nd 1 90 0 i t
w as l es s t h a n h a l f o f wh a t i t w a s b etwe e n 1 8 0 0 a nd
1 82 0 and l ess t han t wo thi rds o f t he r at e p e rtai ni n g
,
-
b etwe en 1 8 4 0 a nd 1 8 6 0 Thus showing conclusively .
t h at t h e re i s no t the sli gh t es t w a r r a n t fo r the ex

p re s s ed opi ni on o f D r B ooke r T Wa shing t on that . .
th e r at e o f incre a s e in t h e fut u re will b e grea t e r than

i t h as b e en in t h e p a st Bu t contra riwi se i f a ll sig n s
.
,
and s t a t i s t i c s comb i ned have a ny s ignific a n c e wh a t s o

eve r t he Negro r at e o f in creas e i s t o decline ste a dily
,
until finally t h e b i rth rate will f a ll b elow t h e death

-
r a te ; a nd in tim e t h e remn a n t o f t he r a ce will ce a s e

t o at t rac t att en t i on b ecaus e o f its dec re a sin g a ctu al
,
numb e r s I t i s tru e th at whe n immig r ati o n s o f white

.
popul a ti o n a r e elimina t ed it c an b e show n by th e

*
N o te t at w e s ay —
h t wi h
so u n d j dg m u en t wll i f
e n or me d w it r
e rs , h
f o r t ere i s p rac t c a i ll y
eve r y mg i a i na bl e Vie w re c o r d d by
e
so m e .
THE A M E RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 2 2 9
fig u r e s th a t th e r ate o f i n c r e a s e f r o m n ativ e w hi t e
b i r th s i s sl a c k e n i ng a nd t h at th e r e i s substa n ti al
gr ou n d fo r th e wi de sp r e a d b el i e f th at N eg r o e s m ul
~
-
tip ly fa ste r th a n whites ; o r m o r e co rr ectly p e r h ap s

, , ,
th a t N e gr oes give b i r th to mor e chil d r e n ; but w he n

th e i n o r di n ate i n fa n t de ath r a te am o ng ou r N e gr o
-
p opul ati o n i s take n i n t o a cc o u n t i t i s cl e a r ly sh ow n

,
th at th e total n umb e r of whi te chil dr e n su r vivi n g to

ye a r s o f m a tu r i ty p r o ductive n e s s a n d r ep r o ductive
,
n es s is va stly gr e ate r tha n th a t o f th e bl a c k r a ce

, .
( It i s t r u e t h at m o r e N eg ro chi ld r e n a r e b o rn i,n
p r op o r ti o n to r el ative n um b e r s o f a dults but th e
,
exce ss i s b y n o m e a n s as g r e a t a s m a n y app e a r t o
b eli eve )
Th e n ext p oi n t m a de i s th at whil e th e N eg r o re
c e i v e s s om e b e n e fit — a s sh ow n by stati sti cs — fr o m
the imp r ove d conditio n s o f l i f e whi ch the r ap i d ad
,
v an ce i n the scie n ce o f hygie n e affo r ds he is n ot b e n e

,
fit e d prop o r tiona t ely to the extent that the wh ite r ace

,
is The p r ope r i n te rp r et a tion o f this co n ditio n is that

.
eve r y s ci e n ti fi c a dva n ce w hi ch i mp r ove s th e h e alth

a n d i n c r e a s e s th e ave rage p e r i o d o f exi ste n ce o f th e
wh ol e p eo ple te n ds to s olve th e N egro p robl em b y
,
dim i n i shing th e r el ative n um e ri cal stre n gth o f th at

r a ce.
Th e n ext p oi nt m a de i s th at w hil e th e r ap i d
growth o f p opulati o n o f South e rn citi e s decr e a s es
th e b i r th r ate o f all i t eff ects th e N egr o b i rt h r ate
-
,
-
fa r m o r e th a n th at o f th e whi te p o pul ati o n A n d .
th e f a ct m ust als o b e i n te r p r ete d a s p o rte n di n g th e

ulti m at e s oluti o n o f th e p ro b l em b y a wi dening r a t i o
o f bl ac k s to wh ites .
Th e n we h ave fou n d th at p r i o r to th e Civil Wa r

th e di fl e re n c e b etwe en th e de ath r ates o f b l ac k s a n d
-
white s w a s an d th at i n 1 90 0 i t wa s thu s
s ho wi n g th a t o u r p r og r es s h a s b e e n f a r m or e adv an
2 3 0 TH E ULTI M ATE S OLU TIO N O F
t ag eo u s to th e whi te th an t o the colo red r a ce ; that
eve r y influe n ce o f t im e and change re do wn s t o t h e
detrim ent o f th e Af r o Am e ri can t rying t o wo rk ou t
-
,
hi s s alv at i on unde r t he uniqu e condi t i o n s o f a v a s t

numb e r o f a l owe r race fi rst imp o r t ed i nt o a n ali en
,
country as sl ave s a n d l a te r em a ncip a ted p o ss ess ed

, ,
o f th eo reti cal civil a n d p oli t i cal ri gh t s a nd l e ft t o ,
hi s own m e ag r e c a p a ci t i es a n d devi c e s t o c omp ete , ,
o n u n equ a l an d di s adva nt ageous t e rms wi t h su ,
p e ri o r numb ers o f A n glo Ame rica n s -

.
Th e m a rked t e n de n cy o f th e black r ace to s egre

g a t i o n which
, a
,s all a re agree d m e ans de a
, t h to de
v elo p m e n t and p r ogress o f th at r ace i s t h e next i m
p o r t an t p o in t m a de It has b e en rep e at edly shown

.
t h a t s o l ong a s th e N egro i s shu t o ff from Clo s e daily

cont a ct with a sup e r i o r r ace h e i s a b sol u tely incap a
.
bl e o f p r ogres s o r a dvancem e n t o f any so rt wh atso

eve r . Indeed i t is re c ogni ze d a nd demonst r a t ed
truth th a t wh en s egregated and t o t ally sep a r ated
,
f r om co n tact w ith oth e r r aces a re t rogra de move

me nt u n i fo rmly ta kes place a mong Neg r o peoples .
I n t h e densely p opul ate d N egro di stri cts o f ce r

tai n Southe r n sta t es thi s s egrega t i on h as t a ken pl a ce
to a ve r y consi de ra bl e ex t en t a n d t h e re i s no evi
,
de n ce o f i ts cess ation ; but o n the con t ra ry it i s i n

cre a si n g a cco r ding to all the evi dence av a il able .
N e a r th e end o f C hap t e r XI V we have p r oduced

a t abl e showing th e co n s tan t decre as e i n Negro pop
u lat i o n fo r eve r y decenni a l enume ra t i on si nce 1 8 1 0 .
Th e total f a lli n g o ff in p e rce n tage o f N egro p o p u la

ti o n du ri n g the ninety yea r p e ri o d w as found to b e
-
p e r ce n t I f thi s a ve rage r ate o f decr ea s e in p e r

.
cent o f popul ati on b e p r oj ected into t h e fu t u re fo r

.
a like p e riod i t gives us a p e r ce n tage o f N eg r o p o p

u lat i o n i n the ye a r 1 990 o f p e r cent which a s a .
m a tte r o f fa ct i f p r es e n t te n denci es a n d i n flue n ces

,
TH E A M E R I CAN N E G RO P RO B LE M 2 3 1
a r e t o co n ti n u e will b e ve ry de ci d edly s m all e r t h a n

th e fi gu r e s woul d i n di cat e .
I n th e co n clusi o n o f th e ch ap te r i t i s o b s e r ve d th at
such a n i n sig n i ficant p e r centage o f N egro es a s will
th e n exi st i n th e U n i t e d States i s to o sm all to a ttra ct
atte n ti o n a s a s e r i ous r a ce p rob l em Thus we h av e
.
l e d up to th e n a tu ral e n di n g o f th e m o o t ed N eg r o
qu esti o n wi th out a n y pu r p o s e ful i nte r fe r ence o r in
,
t e rv e n ti o n by th e whites fo r th e a ccompli shm e n t o f

,
th a t e n d.
I n th e p r es ent ch apte r we h ave show n s om e o f th e

r eco r ds o f t h e di s e a s e s tha t ca r ry th e N eg r o m o r
tal i ty r ate s o fa r ab ove th a t o f th e white r a ce ; a n d
i t i s noticed th a t de ep s e a te d r aci al t ra its a n d ch a r
act e ri s t i c s a r e r esp o n sibl e f o r th e p reval e n ce o f
th es e di s e a s es ; all o f whi ch m a y b e i n clu ded i n th e
fa ct th at th e N egro h a s n o t b e e n i mp rove d i n p a st
— —
a ges eith e r physi cally o r m e n tally a s h a s b e en
his Cau ca si c b roth e r Thu s in th e st r uggl e f o r ex
°
—
.
i s t en c e— whi ch m e a n s th e su rviv al o f th e fi t t e s t all

p r o ces s es o f r e a s on combin e with th e m o s t a ccu rate
ob s e rvati ons to decl a r e th e f o r m e r th e unfit va ri ety .
Atte n ti o n h a s als o b e e n call e d to th e f a ct th a t

th e r e i s n o j usti fi ca t i o n fo r a tte m pts to s ep a r ate hi s
p r es e n t conditi o n f rom hi s p a st e n vi ro n m ent o r hi s
,
n a tu r al i n h e ri t a n ces f r om hi s l ong l in e o f stup i d i h,
di ffe r en t s ava ge a n cesto rs

, ,
. Pa st h isto r y o f th e
N eg r o va ri e ty o f hum a n ki nd an d p res ent day t r aits
-
a nd tendenci es a r e i n s ep a r a b l e .
CHAPTE R XVI
N eg r o Cr i mi n ali ty
RI M I NA L I TY i s defined a s the sci ence

which t r e ats o f th e c aus e s a nd nature o f
c r i me ,
but it h a r dly s e ems j ustifi abl e t o
cl a s s t hi s b ranch o f investi g a tion a s a s c i
ence at all in i t s p res e n t st at e o f devel opment Th e .
c a uses o r i nflu ences lying b ehind th e m a ny ki n ds an d
degre es o f c r im e a re a s va ri ed a nd compl ex a s thos e

whi ch h ave p r oduced M a n hims el f and m any o f
—
,
thes e caus es ce r t ainly m any o f t hei r comb ina t ions

— m u s t fo reve r b e consigned t o th at cl a ss o f phe
mom e n a which c onsi st o f s o gre at a multipli c ity o f
imp ressi ons o r influences op e rating du ring such vast
ages a s t o pl a ce them b eyond the powe r o f Man to
di senta n gl e .
I t s s ep a rate s t udy a nd cl as sifica t i on a s a s ci e n ce

i s o f ve ry rece nt devel opm ent a nd i s l a rgely du e to
C es a re Lomb roso a n It a li a n p ro fess o r i n t h e Uni
,
ve rsi ty o f Tu rin who i n 1 8 7 6 publ ishe d a b o ok e n

,
“ ”
titl ed , L uomo delinqu e n te
’
( Crimin a l M a n ) ,
whi ch a t tr a cte d th e at t en t i on o f th e civili z ed wo rld .
Since i t s app e a r a nce the subj ect h as receive d wi de

a t tenti on a nd b ee n t re at ed a t l ength by emine nt sci
,
enti s t s — j u rists physi ci a ns s oci ologi s t s economi s t s

, , ,
—a nd tho s e who have t o do in va ri ous cap aci t i es

, ,
with t h e conduct o f crimin a l insti t u t ions But on .
n e a rly eve ry b ranch o f the subj ec t t he re exi sts t h e

wi de s t v a ri ati on o f opini on th e re fo re it i s h a rdly
,
p rop e r t o sp e a k o f criminality as b elonging t o s ci

ence whi ch me ans ex a ct knowl edge o r know n facts
, ,
2 3 2
a rr anged i n thei r p r op e r r el ati o n to o n e a n ot h e r .
I f crimi n ality i s subj e ct to such tre atm e nt at all i t i s

°
ce rtai n ly i n a ve r y l imi te d way a n d even th e n th e r e

°
exi sts th e wi des t dive rsity o f op i n i o n a s to th e co r

r e ct n e s s o f i ts fo r mul a s .
Th e fact that th e N e gro i s i n fe r i o r r aci ally i m

°
p li es th a t h e i s als o m o r e c r i mi n al H o wev e r i n .
,
a ddi ti o n to hi s u nb ro k e n li n e o f s a vag e a nd b a r
b a r i a n a n ce st r y u p to th e ti m e ou r Am e ri ca n
-
N egro b e c a m e a ch attel th e r e a r e oth e r ex t e n u -
ating ci rcum st an ce s with whi ch th e N egro should b e

c r edite d It i s tru e th at h e h a s p e rp et r ate d m a ny
.
crim e s fo r whi ch he h a s n ev e r b e e n pu n i sh e d but i t ,
i s li k ewi s e tru e th at h e h a s b e en pu n i s h e d fo r a gr e a t
de al o f cri m e whi ch h e h a s not co mm it t e d *
.
Ju sti ce to t h e de spi s e d bl a ck m an n ece s sit a te s thi s

a dmi s s i on No r i s i t fa i r to comp a r e hi s c r i mi n al
.
reco rds with tho s e o f th e whi tes N ot th a t such .
re co rds sh oul d b e eithe r supp r es s ed o r minimi z e d ,
but th at h e h a s a ctu ally b e e n ch a rged with and pu n

i s h e d fo r m o r e th a n hi s f a i r sh a r e o f th e to tal
a moun t o f cri me commit t e d i n th e p oliti c a l communi
ti es i n whi ch h e re s i de s I n oth e r wo rds th e white .
m a n m o r e fr eque ntly eva des detecti on and whe n d e ,
t e c t e d a n d co n vi cte d u su ally suffe r s a l e ss s eve r e

p e n alty .
Th e white r a ce m a k e s th e l aws inte r p rets an d ,
executes th em Coul d i t b e re a s on a bly supp o s e d

.
,
unde r th e ci r cum s t a nce s a n d i n t h e v e r y fa ce o f a ,
V i ol ent r ace p r ej udi ce th a t th e w e a ke r r ace h a s re

,
c e iv e d a nd i s r eceivi ng a n e qu a l degr e e o f l egal

, ,
*
We do hi i p i it f
n o t s ay i ti i m b t hi t i ll y
t s n a s r o cr c s , u as s o r ca
tru e Wi th p p l ti f i
a om illi
u a Ng oni th S
o th n ne on e ro e s n e ou e rn
ti l t l th m i g idl y d t i fl i t
.
t t
s a es it i s e s s en a o ru e d e r , an o n c s e v e re an
s p eed y p h m t Thi i t l y
un s en s . ti l f th
s p t ti
s no on e s s en a or e ro e c on
o f th whi te b t b dl y
e s, id d b t f th bl k
u ro a con s e re es or e ac s .
2 34 TH E U LTI MATE SOLUT I O N O F
benefi t s a nd immu ni ti es $ It i s no t withi n th e b oun d s
o f human n a tu re And i f i t we re exp edi e n cy would
.
,
di scoun t en a nce such a cou rs e s o long a s t h e r ace

qu es t i on con t i nues to occupy the vi ta l posi t i on i t now
do e s a nd h a s done fo r mo re t h a n a c en t u ry p a st
,
A s h a s o ften b een ob s e rve d— in a n s we r to

, .
Utopi an t heo ri es in p ro N egro di s c ou rs e s reg a rding

-
t h e equ a li ty o r sup rem a cy o f Negro es in t he Sou t h

w e ar e no t i n t hi s ins ta nce de aling wi t h th e o ri e s o f
, ,
a ny ki n d bu t with a mos t s eri o us c o ndi ti o n W e

, .
mus t h a n dle th e si tu ati on acco rding t o nece s siti es ,
and i n f a vo r o f abs olute a nd unw a ve r ing sup rem acy

o f t he Anglo S a xon Si r H H Johns t on in a re
-
. . .
cen t public a ti on compl a ined bit t e rly o f t he s t e rn a nd

r igi d soci a l re g ul a ti ons appli ed uni fo rmly t o ou r nine
milli o n Sou t he r n N egro es ; app a rently fo rge tt ing
t hat n ot long s i n ce th e Uni te d St at es Gove rnment
wa s memo ri ali ze d by ce r t a i n Ame ric a n N egro es to
t h e effec t that i n Joh a nnesbu rg a n d i t s envi rons — a
B ri t ish commu ni ty whe r e a simil a r condi t i on exi s t s
— th ey we r e not allowed to us e t h e s idewalks but
,
r equi red to co n fine themselves to the mi ddl e o f t he

st r eets .
Ou r gove r n ment ve ry p rop e rly decli n ed to noti ce

t h e m att e r fu rthe r th a n to sta t e th a t no effo r t would
b e m a de t o i nte r fe re with this p oli ce regul at ion .
The b r o a d and logi c al V i ew o f thi s Sou t h A f r i ca n

regul ati on i s th at such a requi remen t found me c e s ,
s ar y by a gre at p eopl e like the B ri t i s h i s p rob a bly ,
es s en t i al fo r t he hi ghest i nte res t s o f th e sup e ri o r

r a ce in th a t locality And Si r H H Johnsto n might
. . .
p rofi t by refl ec t ing up on thi s mo re gene rous attitu de

o f Ame ri cans .
In a p ap e r en t itl ed C o nt r a s t s and Pa r allels ,
M r Wa l t e r F W ilcox s a y s
. .
°
“
Th e Southe rn people have l atel y b ee n told by a n
e m i n e n t A m e r i ca n s ch ol a r th at th ey c a nno t h op e to
s olve th e r a ce p ro b l em o r a n y oth e r p robl em until
, ,
‘
th ey fir s t l e arn th e r e al b a r b a r i sm o f t h e i r s oci al
sta n da r ds M y r eply t o thi s gene rous su gge sti o n
’
.
would b e simil a r to M r B l ain e s a n swe r a s Se c r e

.
’
,
ta ry o f State to th e th e n I t a li an M i ni ste r o n a ce r
,
t a i n imp o r t an t occa si on wh e n th e l a tte r f ou n d f au l t

wi th ou r co n fusi ng du al system o f st a te a n d Fe de r al
gove rnm ents It w a s to th e e ffect th a t h e w a s s o rr y
.
,
b ut re ally di d n ot b el i eve w e woul d m a k e a n y im

m edi at e ch a n ge I t i s n o t s a f e to ge n e r ali z e a bo ut
.
t h e attitude o f fi fte e n o r twe n ty milli o n s o f p e opl e

o n th e su b j ect But I f e el th at I ca n s ay th a t t h e
.
whit e p e o pl e o f th e South b eli eve th a t wh e r e tw o

ra ce s a s wi d e l y di ffe r e n t a s a r e the whit e a n d b l a c k
, ,
li ve to geth e r i n l a r ge m a s s es pu b li c p oli cy r equi r e s

,
th e ob s e r va n ce o f ce rtai n r egu l atio n s i n th e o r de r i n g

o f the s oci a l r el ati o n s b etwe en th e tw o Fu rt h e r
.
m o r e th ey a r e e n ti r ely s a ti sfi e d th at eve r y s i n gl e i n
,
st a n ce o f dis r ega rd o f t h e s e e sta b li sh e d r e gu l ati o n s

i s o f h a r m ful te n de n cy th r ough fo rce o f suggesti o n
,
a nd exa m pl e a n d t h i s with out th e l e a st r e f e r e n ce

,
wh ateve r to th e so ci al st ati on o f th e p a r ti e s i m m e
d i ate ly co n ce rn e d o r t o th e e ff ect up o n them a s i n
,
d iv i du als I t m a tte r s v e r y littl e h ow we m ay d e si g

n ate thi s — a s ra c e p rej u di c e s o ci al b ar b ari s m o r
.
, ,
wh a t n o t T h e r e i t i s a nd i t i s g r ou n de d up o n n o
.
,
su ch fe el i n g a s m ay b e di smi ss e d with a s n e e r I t .
i s b a s ed up o n hi gh consi d e r ati o n s o f th e ge n e r a l
wel fa r e o f th e state an d r i s e s to th e di g n i ty o f a
,
”
fixed ca n o n o f s o ci al a n d pu b li c l aw .
It m ay b e r ega rd e d r u de b y s om e to r e f us e to
b re ak b r e a d wi th N eg r o es b ut we ve n tu r e t h e
,
opi ni o n th at i t i s n o l es s im p ol ite a n d d i s cou r t e ous

th a n r equi r i n g him to w al k i n th e m i d dl e o f th e
s tr e t , and
e d e n y i n g h i mt h e u s e o f th e s i d e w a lks .
Wh e reve r the re a re g r e a t ma ss es o f an i n fe ri o r
r a e clo ely a soci a te d wi th a sup e ri o r th e fittest
c s s
,
mu t urvive a nd exerci s e supe rvi s ion a nd con tr ol

s s
ove r th e unfi t Thi s i s a n infl exibl e a nd i rrevoc a bl e

.
decre e o f m a nkind in a ll a ge a nd i n a ll l a nd r ei n s s,
fo r ed a nd uni fo rmly s pp o rted by n atu r a l l a w

c u
th roughout the en t i re kingdom o f living t hing ; a s
l aw sup e ri o r t o o rdin a ry inte rp retati o n s o f j us t ice .
N one f a mili a r wi t h t he N egro h a r a t e r c a n re a son c c
a bly a s e rt th a t i t i s s a fe to grant him a ll t h e soci a l

s
and poli t ic a l p r e rogatives pos s ess e d by the m a te r s
cl a ss and thi s a xi om m ay b e appli ed i n South Afri c a

, ,
B ra zil South e rn s tates o f Ame r i c a o r els ewhe r e

,
wi t hou t req i ring th e sli ghtes t qu a li fic at i on

u .
And wh en we come to vi ew th e situ a t i o n t hu b s a
t
s r ac tly it b ecom es mo re th a n eve r a pp a ren t tha t
ou r tre a t m e n t o f the N egro s ince em a ncip at i on h a s , ,
b e en gre atly temp e red by the i mp r oved mo ra l co n

cept o f ou r ow n r a ce I f the situ a ti on h a d b e en
. re
ve r e d a nd the bl a k r ace h a d p o s e ed a ll t he
s , c s ss
p owe r s o f gove rnment a nd num e ri a l domin a ti on c ,
but r e t ained its ra ci a l qu ali t i es t h e white m a n would ,
h ave l ong sin e b e e n bl o tt ed f r om th e f a e o f t he

c c
e a r th fa r a s th es e Sou t he rn st a tes a re once r ned

, so c .
R etu rning th en to the que ti on o f rel at ive crimin a l s
r eco rd in the U n i t ed S ta te s it shoul d b e b o r ne in

s ,
mi n d th a t N o rth a s well a s So th th e N egro do es u
not re eive the s am e a w a rds o f j u ti ce b e fo re th e

c s
l aw t h a t a r e vi sited pon th e sup e ri o r ra e

u c .
Passi n g st ran ge it i s a f t e r t h e m a ny p rotests an d

,
l a m ent a ti ons th at h a ve om e out o f th e No rth c , re
g a rding t h e ill us e a nd a bus e o f th e N egro in the

-
South r imi na l reco rd how th a t i n p ropo rti on to

, c s s
num e r i c a l st r e n gth he i s mo re f r equ ently a nd mo re

,
s eve rely puni shed i n th e N o rt h th a n el s ewh e r e .
H o weve r we have at l e a st a p a rti al expl a n ati o n f

,
o
TH E A ME RI CAN NE G RO PRO B LE M 2 37
t h i s to b e p r es e n te d l ate r whi ch r eli eves that s ecti o n

to s om e ext e n t at l e a st o f th e ch a r ge of u nd uly h a r sh
t re atm ent .
Th e r e i s b e fo re us a m as s o f evi de n ce f r o m su n
dr y s ou r ce s a n d b y v a r i ous w ri te rs showi n g th e hi gh ,
p e r centage o f c r im es comm itte d by N egro e s i n all

p a rts o f th e U n ite d Sta te s ; b ut i t s e em s b e st to p r e
s e n t o n ly a b r i e f state m e n t o f th e ge n e r al fa cts thus ,
avo i d i n g p r olixity i n th e p r e s e n t a tio n o f a m e r e

ph a s e o f ou r subj ect .
Fo r exampl e i n th e city o f Ch a rl esto n South C a r

, ,
olin a wh e r e th e col o r ed p opul ati o n co n stitute s 5 6 3 9

,
.
p e r ce n t o f th e wh ol e i t w a s fou n d i n a rece n t i n
°
.
,
v e s t i g at i o n o f reco r ds th a t th e p r op o r ti o n o f col o r e d
a mo n g th e m al e cri min al s wa s p e r ce n t a nd .
am o n g fem ale s 7 9 1 9 p e r c ent Fo r th e p e r i o d

. .
1 8 8 9 9 4 i n clus ive
-
N e g r o e s a r e sh ow n i n a t a b l e
, ,
co m p il e d b y M r Ho ffm a n from p oli ce r eco r ds o f

.
C h a r l esto n to b e r esp o n si b l e f o r
, p e r ce n t o f .
h om i ci de s a n d out o f 1 8 cas es o f r ap e 1 7 we r e c o m
,
m i tte d b y N egro es Fo r c r i m e s a gai n st p r op e r ty

.
th e N e g r o i s li k ewi s e show n t o b e r e sp o n si b l e f o r
°
m o r e th a n 90 p e r ce n t .
I n the N o r th e rn state s i n t h e yea r 1 8 9 0 th e r e , ,
we r e twelve whi te p ri s o n e r s to eve r y te n th ou s a nd

whi te s a n d sixty n i n e N e gro p ri s one r s to eve r y te n
,
-
t h ou s a n d N eg r o es I n th e st at e o f N ew Yo r k a nd
.
,
i n p r op o r ti o n to th ei r n um b e r s t h e N eg r o es co n ,
t r i b uted ove r five ti m es a s m a n y a s d i d th e whi tes

t o th e p r i s o n p o pu l ati o n .
Th e n um b e r o f N e g r o p r i s on e r s i n South e rn
states inc r e a s ed b etw e e n 1 8 8 0 a n d 1 8 90 twe n ty
, ,
n i n e p e r ce n t w h il e th e whi te p r i s o n e r s i n c r e a s e d
.
,
o n ly 8 p e r ce n t Du r i n g t h i s s am e p e ri o d a nd i n
.
,
sta tes w h e r e sl ave ry wa s n eve r i ntro duce d whi te ,
p r is on e r s i n c r e a s e d 7 p e r ce n t f aste r th a n t h e wh it e .
p opul a ti on whil e N egro p r i sone rs inc r e as ed 3 9 pe r

,
cent f a ste r t h an th e N egro p opul a tion Thus t he

.
.
i ncreas e in Neg r o crimin a li ty exceeded t he i ncre a s e

—
o f white crimin ality i f we m a y j udge from t he
—
numb e r o f p ri o n e rs mo re i n th e N o rth t h a n in th e
s
South .
In t h e few fi g ures he r e p r es ented which h ave b e e n ,
sel ected as refl e cting th e gener a l ave r a ge o f the gre at

m ass whi ch a r e a c c essibl e to a ll who ca re to t a ke th e
t roubl e to r evi ew t h em it will b e see n th a t t he rate
,
o f N egro crimin a lity i s much high e r th a n that o f th e

white r a c e an d th a t th e incre as e i s a sto n i shi n gly
,
m o re r a pi d th roughou t th e l e n gth and b r e a dth o f

th e count r y The s t at e o f N ew Yo rk s e r ves a s a
.
f a i r typ e o f condi ti ons els ewh e re .
W
“
riting o n t hi s s ubj ect M r Ho ff m a n s ays
.
All th e t a bl es fo r v a ri ous sta t es an d citi es co n

fi rm th e census d a ta and S ho w wi t hout excepti on
,
th a t th e crimin a lity o f th e N eg r o exce eds th a t o f a n y

o t h e r r a ce o f any num e ri c a l imp o rt a nce i n thi s cou n
t ry
Ou r expl a nati on o f the fact th a t N eg ro es commit ,
o r a re convi cted o f mo re crimes in th e N o rth tha n

in th e South i s two fold ; fi rst a l a rge p rop o r tion o f
,
the Negroes r esiding in N o rthe r n s t ate s ar e mu l at

to es a cl as s k now n to b e mo re c rimin a l th a n t h e
,
pu r e b lo oded N egro M o r eove r m a ny o f thes e mi

-
.
,
g ra t o ry N egro e s l e a ve thei r homes b ec a us e o f th ei r

criminal te n denci es Th ei r r o a mings b eing o fte n
.
du e to compulsi on r a th e r th an choi ce Seco n dl y law .

,
i s b ette r e n fo r ce d i n th e No rth and fewe r crimi n als

e s c a p e i ts vigil a nce I t m a y well b e added th a t i n all
.
s ecti ons t h e white m an ta k es hi s r a c e p rej udice with

him wh en h e i s c a lled upon to sit i n t he j u ry b ox ,
a nd c ontr a ry to th e co n templ at ion a nd decl a rati on

,
o f th e law to o fr eq u e n tly co n si d e r s the N e gr o p r is

,
THE A ME RI CAN N E G R O P RO B LE M 2 39
o n e r g u i lty u n t i l h e h a s a b u nd a n t l y esta bl i s h e d h i s
i nn o ce n ce t h us t r a n s f e rr i n g th e b u r de n o f p ro o f
,
i n th e ca s e o f th e N eg ro — from t h e com monw e a l t h

to th e p r i s o n e r
.
Th e r e i s still o n e o th e r f acto r wh i c h s ho u ld b e
r e co r de d i n co n si d e r i n g th e exces sively high c r i m i n a l
r ec o rds o f th e N eg ro Soci ol o gy h a s e s ta b l i sh e d th e
.
fa ct th at p o ve r ty g r e atly i n c r e a s es th e p e r ce n ta ge o f
crim e am o n g a p e opl e a n d th at thi s i s m a de eve n
,
m o r e consp i cu ous wh e r e g r e a t p ov e r ty a nd g r e a t
ri ch es ex i st i n cl o s e p r oxi mi ty Thi s f a ct n ot o nl y
.
s e r ve s to r eli ev e t h e N e g r o o f s o m e o f hi s b u rd e n
o f c r i m e i n th e Sou th but a ppli es wi t h eve n mo r e
,
fo r ce i n th e N o r th wh e r e th e w h i te p o pu l ati on i s
,
ri ch e r a nd th e N eg r o r el ati vely p o o r e r .
Bu t wh e n al l th es e all owa n ce s h a ve b e e n m a d e ,
th e crimin al te n denci e s a n d r eco r d s o f th e N eg r o

s till sta nd out i n b ol d rel i e f a s n e ce s s a r y c on s o
,
q u e n ces o f t h e f a ct th a t h e i s r a ci a l ly a n d m e n tal l y
th e m o st i n fe ri o r b r anch o f th e h um a n s p eci e s .
Thi s te n de n cy to commit c rim e co n stitute s a n im

p o r t an t el em e n t i n hi s e l imi n ati o n n ot th a t t h e n u m
,
b e r a ctu a lly k i ll e d o r imp ri s o n e d i s su ffi ci ently l a r ge

to p e r ceptibly i n flu e n ce th e q u estio n but th at p r i s o n
,
li fe i s det r im ent al to su b s equ e n t p r og r es s a nd h e a l th

°
a nd ra ci al r eputati o n f o r c ri m e a nd u nr el i a b ili t y
m ili t a te a ga i n st imp rovem e n t i n th e c ond i ti o n s o f t h e
r ace.
C HAPTE R X V I I
N eg r o E du c a ti o n
N D th e re a re a l so m a ny othe r thi n gs
whi ch J esus s a i d the which i f th ey
, ,
should b e writ t en eve ry one I suppo s e,
th a t even th e wo rl d its el f coul d not co n

”
tai n th e b o ok s that shoul d b e written .
Th e i de a conveyed in thi s quot a ti on f r om scrip

t u r e aptly illustr a tes th e feeling o f hop el essness ex
p e ri e n c e d whe n we a ttempt to w a de th rough th e de

luge o f writi n gs o n th e subj ect o f N eg r o educati o n .
Th e wo rl d somehow m a n a ges to cont a in them with

out giving evidence o f th e slightest inte r fe r ence with
he r annu a l j ou rney ar ound th e sun o r s e ri ous di s
,
tu rb an c e o f he r diu rn a l a nd n o c tu r n a l al te r nati o n s ,
but wo e b e u n to th e m a n who attempts to read them

eve r y o n e $
Fo rtun a tely the r e i s n o o ccasi on h e r e to e nte r
thus de eply i nto th e subj ect ; su fli c e it to consi de r
b r i efly the exp edi ency o f educating th e N egro at all ,
a n d i f so to wh a t exte n t and i n wh a t di r ecti o n It

, , .
i s exp ecte d th a t th e vi ews h e re exp ress ed will excite

th e h e a rt y di sple a su re and di s a pp roval o f s ome fo r ,
i t i s quite imp ossibl e that all o f thos e livi n g i n s ec

ti ons o f this v a st country whe r e th e re i s no N eg r o
qu esti on should ente rtai n th e s a m e opini o n s in thi s
r eg a rd a s do som e o f tho se l iving i n the mi dst o f
,
thi s bl a ck p opul ati o n

It i s ou r delib e r a te opi n i o n— a nd we t r ust i t i s n ot
.
fou n ded on p rej udice —th a t th e ab ility to re a d w ri te ,
a n d cou n t a l ittl e i s all th e b oo k l e a r ning th e N eg r o

-
2 40
THE A ME R I CAN NE G RO P RO BLE M 2 4 1
should r ecei ve fr om t h e pu b li c f u n d .
Co n si de r e d f r om th e sta nd p oi n t o f th e N eg r o thi s
i s b est although h e do es no t s e e i t s o ; a n d wh e n re
,
ga r de d in i ts rel ati on to th e hi ghest i nt e rests o f th e

°
South e r n whi te m a n i t i s likewi s e su fli c i en t ; but i f

,
th e l atte r 3 co n duct i s a n y c rite ri o n o f hi s convi cti o n

’ °
h e als o di s a gr e e s wi th thi s co n clusi o n How ev e r

.
,
we do n ot b eli eve th at th e a cti on o f th e South c an b e

ta k e n a s th e will o f h e r p eopl e Th ey a r e to s om e
.
exte n t i nflu en ce d by N o r th e r n op ini o n bu t to a much

,
gre at e r degre e d r agged along b y a n i n tre n ch ed

m i n o ri ty co n si s ting o f i ts ow n s c h o ol auth o riti e s a n d
,
oth e r p olitici a n s who (wh eth e r co r r e ctly o r i n co r

,
re c tly ) have l it t l e rega rd fo r th e will o f th ei r c o n
s ti tu e n cy . We a r e stro n gly incli ne d to the b eli e f

th at i f th e p e opl e coul d li ft th e wei ght whi ch su p
p r es s es th e t r u t h i t woul d b e fou n d th at a m a j o r ity
,
o f ou r Southe rn p e opl e a r e willi n g t o go quit e a s f a r

i n th i s di recti on a s w e h ave gon e .
Humbl e subm i s si o n to th e p ow e r s th at b e a n d
cl o s e attenti o n to p r a cti ce s o f fr ugality i n th e re ,
s t ri ct e d fi el d whi ch h e i s des t ined to conti nu e to o c
cu p y,
i s th e o n ly s ensibl e cou rs e fo r th e South e rn
N e g r o to pu rsu e I f h e i s n ot s a ti sfi ed with thi s i t
.
,
i s b ad p olicy f o r hi m to m ak e kn ow n h i s di sco n t ent .
I f h e w a n ts m o r e h e shoul d s e e k i t el s ewh e re and i n

commu n iti e s h avi ng n o N eg r o p robl em to consi de r .
As a m atte r o f p l ai n fa ct th e N eg r o r a ce i s n ot
,
cap a b l e o f utili zi n g m o r e b o o k l e a r ni ng th a n such

a s w e h ave sugges ted a nd eve n i f i t we re th e South
,
i s no t th e pl a ce— a cco r di ng to th e fixe d ca n o n s o f its

p e opl e— f o r th e N eg r o to s tep up hi gh e r We d o .
n ot thi n k th e n atu r al l imi ta ti o n s h e r e a sc r i b ed to

th e col o r e d r a ce a r e to o d ra sti c b ut b e th at a s it
, ,
m ay th e fa ct will eve r r em a in i n vi ol ate t h a t th e

, ,
So ut h e rn p e o p l e at hea r t d i s co un t en a n ce a n y att em p t
to el evate t h e N eg r o Wh ateve r h e m ay b e i n th e
.
eyes o f thos e who do n ot live i n hi s p re s e n ce he is a ,
N eg r o and a s e rvil e race i n th e j udgm ent o f eve ry

ri ght thi n king Southe rn white m an W e simply do
-
.
n ot want any equ a li ty o f a ny kin d wh a ts o ever a nd , ,
mo re ove r will n ot t ol e r a te i t Th e tru t h i s the South

, .
g r i t s h e r te e t h at th e ve ry suggesti o n o f equ ali ty a n d ,
swe a r s a s ol emn vow a s a unit tha t such sh a ll n eve r

, ,
com e to p a ss so l o n g a s the whi t e r ace s u rv ives .
Wh at t he n m a y we ask i s th e r e fo r th e N egro to
, ,
g a i n $ W hat does h e a s pi r e to unl ess he hop es t o

,
b ecom e m entally s o st rong as to b e abl e to b r e a k

down and ove r r ide t h e r a ce doc t rine o f the whites ,
and fo r ce am a lg a m a ti on up on an unwilli n g p eopl e $

I f ultim at e equ a li t y and i n te rm a rr i a ge b e hi s aim ,
i t i s to o p repo ste rous to deb ate ; and i f h e exp ects to

a bi de the infl exibl e decre e o f t h e m a s te r ra ce th e r e
can b e no j ustifi ca t i on fo r h i s whol es a l e edu c ati o n i n
di r ecti ons whi ch c an n eve r b e o f p r a cti c a l utili ty ,
even i f h e pos s es s ed t h e requi red n a tu r a l fit n ess .
In spi t e o f wha t h a s j ust b e en s a i d th e fu r the r

tr uth rem a ins th a t t he Souther n white m an is t he b est
fri e n d the N eg r o h a s Th e industri ous Southe r n
.
N egro who show s no i nclin at i on t o dep a rt from the

,
es ta bli shed p aths o f recogni z ed i n fe ri o rity to th e

white r a ce whil e re t ai ning a j e al ous reg a rd fo r his
,
ow n re sp e c tab ility i n hi s p r op e r sphere is w ell ,
t hought o f an d t re a ted with ge n e rosi ty a n d este em

by a ll B ut j ust i n p r oporti on t o his depa rtu re from
.
thi s demea n o r th e N egro su ffe rs h ar dships W h e n .
he dons hi s g a u dy cl othing a nd p a rades th e highways

and othe r publi c pl a ces o n wo rk d a ys with a ch a rac ,
t e ri s t i c a i r o f impo r tance and s el f ass e rtiveness de

-
,
cli n i n g l a b o r and re g ul a r oc cup at io n as b e n e ath hi s

di gnity hi s lot b ecom es h ar d i ndeed
,
.
Th i s l atte r cl ass i s t h e typ e tha t s cho o li ng te nd s

TH E A ME R I C A N N E G R O P RO B LE M 2 43
to p ro duce Th ey a r e r e a r e d i n a n atm o sph e r e t h at

.
h as no p a r t wi th m a n u al l ab o r as a m e a n s o f sub si st
e n ce a n d w h e n sch o ol days a r e ove r th ey a r e n o t
,
w illi n g to sta r t a f r e sh to l e a rn th e vo ca t i o n s a n d
h abits o f l i f e w hi ch b oth Go d a n d m a n h ave de
,
c r e e d sh a ll o ccupy th e d ays a n d h ou r s o f th e i r hum

,
b le l ive s .
He l a c k s th e p o w e r o f r e as o n a n d f o r e sight to en
abl e hi m to di s ce rn th e i n evi tabl e H e i s u n ab l e
.
m e n tally t o gr a sp th e si tu ati o n a n d fo r thi s dep lo r

, ,
a b l e st ate th o s e wh o h ave fo r ce d b o o k l e a rn i n g
,
-
up o n hi m a r e l a r gely r e sp o n si bl e Th e hi gh e r o ccu
.
p i o n s a r e no t ope n t o hi m but h e s e em s to live i n

a r ,
a fo r l orn h op e t h at s o o n e r o r l ate r eve r y b a r r i e r

—
b ot h n atu r al a n d arti fici al w ill b e sudd enly bu rn e d
away H e de sp i s es all w hi te m en p a r tly b ec au s e
.
,
th ei r l o t s eem s e a si e r th a n h i s a n d p a rtly by r e as o n
,
o f a n atu r al r a ce p r ej udi ce Thus i n m a n y ca s es h e

.
s oo n e r o r l at e r falls i n to p r i s o n a n d s e r ve s to in
c r e as e th e c r imi n al r e co r ds o f hi s r a ce a nd aug m e nt ,
th e b u r de n s o f th e whi te m a n .
Th e r e fo r e w e a r e wi lli n g to go o n r eco rd a s de
c lari n g th a t ve r y l ittl e b o o k l e a rn ing i s all th a t
-
S o uth e r n N eg r o es r e ally n e e d Th at ce rtai n ly with

.
i n th e a r e a o f exte n s ive N eg r o p opul a ti on eve n a ,
go o d commo n s chool e ducati o n i s a deci de d di s ad

v an ta ge to th e N e g ro a n d a co n sta n t m e n a ce to th e
,
whi te r a ce Th at such educati o n m ilit ates a ga i n st

.
th e p r o g r es s o f th e Sout h e r n N e gro an d a gai n st t h e

su rvival o f h i s r a ce i n th at l o cali ty .
Th e r e i s nothi n g fo r th e e ducate d N eg r o to do .
A go o dly n umb e r b ecom e te a ch e r s i n N eg r o scho ol s ,
a n d oth e r s b ecom e N egro p r e ach e r s th e l atte r cl a ss,
b eing gen e r ally r ega r de d a s a b u r de n a nd a di stu rb

i n g el em e n t t o b oth r a ces .
N e gro es are no t c ap a bl e o f b u i ld i ng up a nd co n
2 44 THE ULTI MATE SOL U TI O N O F
ducting l a rge busi n ess ente r p ri s es ce rtai n ly n ot

,
c ap a bl e o f doing s o i n comp eti t ion wi t h t he whi t e
m an a rel a ti on and a n ob s ta cle whi c h m u st continu e

,
t o con front t he South er n N egro t o t h e end o f t im e

i f need b e .
Out o f t he t o ta l ten milli o n bl a cks and mul a t to es

we doub t i f t he re a re a s m any a s one t hous a nd— in
cluding a ll t hos e t h at h ave eve n a slight s tra in o f
N egro blood— c onducti n g indep enden t m anu f actu r
ing pl a n t s o f a ny co n si de r a bl e si z e .
I f we h a d ten t hous a nd Negro e s in t he Sou t he rn

s tat es at t h e h e a ds o f a s m a ny l a rge m anu factu ring
pl a n t s buil t up by t hei r own ene rgi es a nd b ra ins
, ,
whil e empl oying no o t he r t h a n N egro l a bo r the re ,
wo u ld exi s t a dem a nd fo r a consi de rabl e n umb e r o f

men a nd women o f t h at r a ce wi t h a goo d commo n
s cho ol educ at ion W e woul d t hen a lso h ave a N egro
.
q u es t ion on o u r h a nd s showing li tt le tendency to

s olve i t s el f and th e fu t ure o f t he s e Sou t he rn s ta tes
,
would b e gl oomy indeed ; bu t fo r t un at ely fo r b o t h

,
r a c e s no s u c h s i t u at i on exi sts an d t he re i s no t t he
s li gh t e s t p ro spec t o f such a compli c at i on a ri sing in
t he fu t u re Th e di ff e rence i n th e cap a citi es o f the

.
t wo races is wide enough to ab solu t ely gua ran t e e

t hi s .
H a rd l a b o r in hot clima t e s i s t he n a t u r a l and

p rop e r sph e re o f t h e Am e r i can N egro a nd the r e h e
,
m u s t eve r rem a in N a tu r a l l a w h a s fi tt ed him ad

.
m i rab ly fo r t hi s positi on and hi s sup eri o r s a re mo re

,
t h a n willing t o concede i t t o him ; but a fte r sp ending

th e fo rm at ive yea rs o f hi s exi s t ence i n publi c a n d
p riv at e s cho ols he i s no l onge r conten t to accep t it .
Wh e re a s i f h e i s tr a ined t o i t from e a rly youth u p

as in fo rm e r d a ys — h e will conti n u e in it a n d th e r e
,
find t h e hi ghe s t degre e o f h a ppiness o f wh i eh tha t

r a ce i s cap a b l e Th i s who l es al e scho o ling of
.
TH E A ME RI CA N NE G RO P RO B LE M 2 45
N e g ro e s i n totall y i m p r a cti cal s tu di es i s a p e r ve r si on

o f n atu r e a n d a c r i m e a ga i n st hu m a n i ty .
N atu r e h a s s o o r de r e d thi n gs th at a t l e a st 7 5 p e r
ce n t o f m a n ki n d eve n u n de r ou r m o de rn system
.
,
m a de p o ssibl e by th e g r e at a dva n ce s i n sci e n ce a nd

—
di scove r y m us t co n ti n u e t o o ccupy th e fi el d o f m a n
u al l ab o r O n ly a s m all p o r ti o n o f th e hi gh est r a ces
.
c an e scap e thi s n ecessity . I s i t p r ob a b l e that a n y

co n si de r abl e p o r ti o n o f ou r S o uth e rn N eg r o p o p u la
t i o n ca n eve r es cap e thi s i nexo r a b l e l aw $ I s i t l ogi
cal to supp o s e th at th e sup e r i or r a ce will t ake up o n
i ts o wn shoulde r s th e b u r de n o f di ggi n g out of th e
s oil th e b r e a d wi th whi ch to fe e d b oth its el f a n d th e
in fe r i o r r a ce dwelli ng i n its m idst $ I s i t n o t n at
,
u r al an d m o r e l i k ely th at th e f o rm e r r ace will com

p e l th e l atte r— wh o i s b ette r fitted i n th e w a rm cli
—
m ate s o its p r incip al h a b i tati o n to do p r op or ti on
f
ately m o r e o f thi s l ab o r $ I f thi s b e s ou n d r e a s o n i n g
ou r co n te n ti o n th a t f ew N eg r o es a r e b e n efite d by
m o r e s cho oling th a n th e m e r e abil i ty to r e a d a nd
w r i te — ce rtai n ly i n a di r ecti o n that t r a i n s th em a w a y
—
f r o m l ab o r ca nn ot b e g ain s ay e d .
A r e w e th e n to co n ti n u e to e d ucate a n i n fe r i o r
ra ce fo r p o si ti o n s whi ch th ey a r e m e n t a lly i n cap a b l e
o f filli n g a n d whi ch p o s iti o n s do n o t and p r o b ably
, ,
n eve r will exi st to b e o c cup i e d b y th e N e g r o $

,
Thus w e a r e co n f r o n te d with th e ab su r d sp ect acl e

o f th e white r a ce s q u an de r i n g hu n d r eds o f milli o n s
o f doll a rs fo r th e educati o n o f th e m o st i nf e r i o r o f
—
all r a ce s o ccupyi n g th e s am e te r rito ry at th e s a m e
—
t i m e wi th i ts el f to fill p o siti o n s which do n o t exi st ,
o r to o ccupy s tati o n s which th ey th e m s elve s (th e

whi te s ) h ave e n ti r ely to o l a r ge a p e r ce n t a ge o f e d u
c at e d p opul a ti o n to supply a n d s el f p r es e r vati o n d e
,
-
man ds th a t th ey r etai n .
T h i s wh o l esa l e r eve r s a l o f t h e n a t u r a l o rd e r of
2 40 TH E UL TI M ATE S OLUT I O N OF
thi ng s ca n n e ve r b e a r tifici ally a ccompli sh ed to any

g re a t ex te n t o r fo r any p r olo ng ed p e r io d
, Th e .
comb in e d c i v i l a n d m i l it a r y p o w e r s o f this e nt i r e
. .
n ati o n coul d n o t fo r ce thi s s t ate o f a ff ai rs upo n the
South e rn states M o r eove r i f th e white ra ce we re

.
w il full y to tu rn ove r to th e N egro p opulati on o f th e

South every cl e rkship i n th e e nti r e l and eco n omi c ,
n ecessi ti es o f both r aces would comp el the whites to

r e occupy th em almost imm e di ately .
Th e s ud d e n e lev a ti o n o f t h e N eg r o i s i mp o s s i b le ,
i t ca nno t b e a ccompli sh ed un t il h e h a s h ad ma ny g e n
e ra ti o ns o f s li h t me n ta l i m r o v e me n t i n w hi ch t o
g p
m a k e o f hi m a cap abl e a n d r eli abl e r ac e ; and lon g
b e fo re thi s comes to p as s h e will h ave b e e n p r a e
ti cally elimi n ated f r om the A m e r i ca n co n ti n e n t b y
p e ace ful and n atu r al caus es .
I s i t n ot tim e w e sh o ul d p aus e i n thi s dist r acted

p oli cy a n d calmly ask ou r selves th e questi o n
“
, ,
whi the r a r e w e te n di n g a n d wh at m ust b e th e i n ev

,
i tab le co n s e q ue n ce o f detai n i n g th e e n ti r e youth o f

o u r N eg r o p opul ati o n i n publi c a n d p rivate schools
u n til th e fo r mative p e r io d o f l ife i s p ast $ Thus
m aki n g o f th em a p eopl e u n abl e to acqui r e th e habi ts
o f e a rn ing a livi n g an d imp r ovi n g thei r phys ical and
m ate r i al co n diti o n by ho n est l ab o r w hil e h aving ,
n othing els e to offe r them .
Th e co n ti nu atio n o f such a p olicy ca n o n ly s e r ve

to i n c r e as e c r imi n al r eco r ds m ake bad hygi eni c c o n
,
di ti o n s w o r s e a n d exp edi te th e ultim ate re ducti on

,
o f the r ace Th e r e fo r e w e hold and unhesitatingly

.
,
decl a r e th at th e only logi cal cou r s e fo r th e N eg r o

,
t o pu rsue i s f rugali ty a n d con t entm ent i n volu n t a ry

s e r vi tude o r i n dep e n de nt pu r suit o f the m a n u a l o c
,
cu p at i o n s .
At p r es e n t th e gove rni n g ra ce i s co n sum i ng m i l

0
—
li on s o f doll a r s a nn ually n ot t o m e n ti o n b r a ins and
TH E A ME R I CA N N E G R O P RO B LE M 2 47
—
e n e rg i e s d i r ectl y exp e nd ed i n t h i s caus e in a fr uit
l ess h op el es s e nd e avo r to el evat e th e m o st i n fe r i o r
, ,
of all r a ce s to a hi g h e r a n d u nn a tu r al p l a n e ; a n d
thi s to o t o th e de t r i m e n t alike o f b oth r a ce s .
I f th e N eg r o h a s a n y p r op e r pl a ce amo n g u s i t i s
i n th at fi el d w hi ch h e o ccupi e d b e fo r e em a n ci p ati o n ,
m i n us h i s b o n ds o f sl ave r y o f cou r s e H e w a s th e n
, .
,
i n a ce r ta i n s e n s e a n eco n omi c a dva n ta g e a s a l ab

,
o t e r i n th e cotto n r i ce a n d to b a cco fi el ds o f th e
,
su nn y South H e wa s the n co m p a ra tively h e a l thy

.
a n d c on te n ted whi l e u n de r th e p r es e n t r egim e h e i s

,
a l a rm i n gly u n h e al t hy n o t or i ously di sco n te n te d a n d

, ,
a f r ightful e co n omi c an d s oci al bu r d en to th e co m

mu n i ty i n whi ch h e r esi des Eve n am o n g ou r ow n
.
South e rn citi z e n s f ew i nde e d h ave a n y co n cepti on

o f th e r e al m a g n i tu de o f th e bu r d e n whi ch w e a r e
ca r ryi n g f o r th e pu r p o s e o f e duca ti ng th e N e gr o
,
p opula ti o n aw ay fr o m it s o n ly sph e r e o f u s e f ul em
p loy m e n t ; n ot to m e n ti o n th e f a ct th at eve r y doll a r
thu s i n ve ste d (b eyo n d t e a ch i n g hi m to r ead wr i te , ,
a n d c o u n t ) s e r ve s to m ake b a d m atte r s wo r s e a t ,
l e a st s o fa r a s th e p res e n t a n d i mm edi ate futu r e a r e

co n ce rn e d .
Thes e f a cts m ay b e illust rate d b y th e p r es e n t s it

u at i o n i n V i r gi n i a ; sp e aki n g r ou gh l y V i r gi n i a i s
—
sp e nd ing a nn ually f r om its publi c f u n d al o n e
m o r e th an a m illi o n doll a rs fo r th e l i t e r a ry e duca
ti o n o f h e r N eg ro es ; an d eve ry cent o f thi s va st su m
com e s di r ectly f r om th e p oc k ets o f h e r white citi
z e n s N o t on e p en n y i s contribut e d by th e N eg r o
.
fo r hi s o wn e d u cati o n Thi s doe s n o t ta k e i n to ac

.
cou n t th e su m s volunta r ily cont r ibute d b y he r white

citi z e n s o r ci ti z e n s o f oth e r state s Priv ate ci ti z e n s
,
.
o f th e N o r th p r o b a b ly co n tri bute a l a rge r su m ; a n d

wh at i s th e r e sult — a wea n i ng o f the N eg r o yout h
a w a y from h is onl y fi e ld o f u s e f u ln e ss a nd a n ah ,
nu a l i n c r ea s e i n h i s crimi n al reco r ds with additi o n a1
deficits i n c r imi n al exp e n s es to b e m et by t he white
rac e .
W e h ave state d t h a t th e N eg r o does no t co n

t ribute any p o r ti o n o f the mo n ey expe n ded fo r hi s
educati o n Th e expl a nat i on i s th at hi s crimi n al ex
p e n s es exce ed hi s t ax r eceip t s —o f eve r y kind and
.
—
,
descri pti on i n fa ct t h e t otal exp e n ditu r es i n t hi s di

r e c t i on a re mo r e th an doubl e hi s tot a l t ax r eceip t s .
Thus i n additi o n to th e sums menti oned as exp e n de d

by t h e whites fo r N egro educa t i on i n Vi r gini a it b e ,
comes n ecess a ry to m eet a l a r ge annu al defici t b e

caus e o f hi s crimi n al exp e n ses A n d t he mo re we.
contribute to hi s educati o n th e hi ghe r r u n s hi s r eco r d

o f crime App alli n g a s a r e th e f a cts i n Vi rgini a it
.
,
but illust r ate s exi sti n g conditi ons i n eve ry othe r

s ta te a n d eve ry l a rge city o f t h e enti r e coun t ry h av
,
ing a consi der a bl e N egro popul ati o n .
A n d thi s exp ositi o n o f fa ct whe n co n si de r ed in i ts

,
p rop e r r el ati o n to o t h e r p o r t i ons o f t his wo rk we ,
b eli eve mo r e th a n j ustifi es ou r conclusio n th a t we

a re wro n g in educating t h e N egro b eyond the m e rest
rudiments o f e rudi t i on such a s a re commonly in
,
cluded in the th r e e Rs .
I f th e rem ainde r o f t hi s mo n ey coul d b e j udi ci ous

ly exp ended i n th e pu rch a s e o f sm all t r a c t s o f l and
a nd simpl e equipments fo r i t s cultiv at i on a gre at ,
de al o f goo d i n stea d o f much h ar m a s at p re s ent , ,
might b e a ccompli shed ; at l e a st in s o f ar a s the co n

di t ion o f t h e N egro i s conce rned .
As the m a tte r st an ds to day we a re givi n g th e

-
N egro book lea rn ing fo r which h e contributes n o

-
p a r t o f th e co st A n d to wh at end $ To encou r age

.
him i n i dl e n ess to incre as e hi s insol ence to a dd fu el

, ,
to the fl am e o f r ace h at r ed and to multiply hi s

,
fr i gh t fu l r ec ord s of cri m e a g a i n st h i s wo ul d b e b ut ,
m is gui ded b e n e fa cto r s

, .
I s b o ok l e a r ning th e n a mi stake n p oli cy a n d a

-
cu rs e to th e fe ebl e mi n de d N eg r o r a ce $ U nqu es
ti n b ly t i s wh en ca rr i e d to th e ri dicul ous ext r em i ty
°
o a i
o f ex i sti n g system s a n d whe n r ega r de d in th e li ght

°
o f th e ab su r d e n ds whi ch i t s i n te n ded to a ccompli sh

°
i .
But th e r e i s a totally di ff e r ent si de to thi s wh ol e

°
qu es t i o n o f tra i n i n g th e N eg r o away f r om m a n u al
l ab o r a n a sp ec t r e ally pl e a s ing to th e m o s t
, b st a su n
ti al el em e n t o f South e rn whi te s I r i s t r u e th at thi s

°
camp a i g n o f d ti n ali en ati n g th e N e g r o f r o m

°
e uca o , 1n
h i o n ly sou rce o f sub st a n ti al gai n a n d e n t i ci ng hi m

s ,
i nto th e sn a re o f th e th r i ftl es s r o a m in g i dl e li fe , ,
thus r ap i dly in c r e a s i n g hi s m o r tal ity r a t e— i s h a ste n

°
i n g th e en d o f th e p r obl em b y g m ti g th e te au en n ra
o f l ti de cli n e m i l t V in
° °
re a ve i n nu
g t h i ewe
er c ad s re n .
thi s li ght th e oth e r wi s e no n s e n si cal an d bu r de n s o m e

p oli cy m ay r e ally b e rega r ded a s a b l es si n g i n di s
gui s e to all p a r ti es co n ce r n ed .
Th e two gre at i n dep e n de n t N e g r o scho ol s

( H ampto n and Tus k ege e ) h ave b e en els ewhe r e
b ri e fly r e fe rr e d t o ; but co n sti t t i ng a s th ey do th e u
tw o p r i n cip al f o ci o f i n dep e n de nt exp enditu re o f th e

whi te m an s su b st a n ce i n a n e ffo rt to el eva t e th e
’
,
N egro to th e l evel o f h i sup e ri o rs a fe w ge n e r al s ,
r em a r ks m ay b e a dva n tage ously a dded i n co n n ecti o n

wi th th e subj ect o f educati o n .
Ju dging from ca su al ob s e rv a ti on a n d th e te sti

m ony o f s eve r a l o f its fo rm e r stu de n ts i t m ay well ,
b e doub te d i f th e ave ra ge student b o dy o f H ampto n

p o ss es s es a s much a s 5 0 p e r ce n t o f N eg r o b l o o d . .
—
And we p resum e f o r thi s i s but a p r e sumpti o n
—th at th e s am e stateme n t hol ds g o o d a s r e ga r ds
its stalwa rt o ff sp r i n g—Tus k ege e Th e l atte r m o v ’
3
—
.
—
i ng spi rit D o cto r B o oke r T Wa shi n gto n h as .
ce r t ai nl y no t mor e and p rob abl y l e ss t h an 5 0 p e r

, ,
ce n t o f N eg r o bloo d i n hi s vei n s We h ave re ce n tly

. .
di scuss ed th e questi on with a ve r y i n tellige n t and

reli a bl e colo red m an ; i n ch a racte r i ndustry a n d ab il
,
i ty deci de dl y ab ove the ave rage whi t e m a n Thi s

.
p ers o n i s p r ob ably o n e fou r th N egro o n e fou r th

-
,
-
Am e ri n d and the r em a ini n g hal f white m an H e at .
t e n ded t h e H amp ton s cho ol fo r t h re e ye a r s a n d

sta t es t ha t du r i n g th a t time h e i s q u ite ce r tai n t h at
th e a ve r a ge s tudent wa s a t l e ast h al f white Mo re .
ove r h e r ega r ds th e pure N egro as fa r b elow the

h a l f b reed i n intelligence t hough th e l at t e r i s ge n
-
,
e rally mo re V ici ous an d c r iminal cons equent i n p a r t

, ,
at le a s t up on a re ali z a t i o n o f hi s hop el es s positi o n

a s an in fe ri o r — ap a r t f r om i n divi du al wo r th— and
,
esp eci ally b ecaus e o f hi s cl a ssi fica t i on a s a Negro .
He also rega rds the mul a tt o a s men t ally and physi

cally in fe r i o r to t h e pu r e blo o de d whi t e m an bu t
-
,
holds tha t j ustice dem ands that t hey m ay b e recog

n i z e d as o ccupying a n i nt e r m edi ate p o siti o n b et w een
the two r aces .
I n V i ew o f th es e facts H ampto n I n s t itute ca n no t

b e reg a rded a s a fai r test o f N eg r o educatio n a n d
t h e us e which he i s cap abl e o f m a king o f it ; th e co n
di ti o n s a r e en t i rely ab n o r m a l a nd a r t i fici al a n d the
,
s t ude nt b o dy i s by n o m e a ns uni fo rmly N eg r oid .
M o r eove r th e educati on o f a few t hous and

N egroes and cro ss b re eds by such extraneous a n d
-
a rti fici al m etho ds re ally h a s no sp eci al b e a ring up on

t h e qu es t i on wh en conside re d in connecti on wi th a
r a ce c omp ri sing t e n milli o n s oul s .
The ve ry few s o call ed N egro es o f di sti n cti on

-
sca r c ely requi r e m en t i on in thi s con n ecti on .
I n th e fi rs t pl a ce few i f a n y o f them a re re a lly

N egro es and s econdly thes e m ay almos t b e cou nt ed
, , ,
on th e finge r s o f o n e hand I f the re is a ny truth i n

.
the m axi m t h at we m ust h ave a f e w excep ti o n s i n

THE A M E RI CAN NE G RO P RO B LE M 2 5 I
o r de r to p r ov e a r ul e we ce r ta i n ly cam e da n ge r ou sly
n e a r b ei n g u n a b l e to p r o duce th e excepti o n s a s a
m e an s o f ve r i f yi n g ou r a ss e rti on r ega r di n g m e n ta l
in fe r i o r i ty o f th e N egro r a ce We a re n ot su r e .
th e r e h a s eve r li ve d a pu r e N eg r o excepti o n ally di s

t i n g u i s h e d f o r hi s i n tell ectu a l p owe r s Th e r e a r e a .
ve r y f ew m e n wh o h av e l ived — and two o r th r e e

—
m e n still li vi n g o f m ixe d bl o o d wh o h ave a ttai n ed
such di sti n cti on .
I n r evi ewi n g thi s li st it h a s b ecom e so r t o f a n

a rb i t r a r y custom to b egi n with th e n am e o f th e di s
t i n g u i s h e d F r e n ch n oveli st an d d ram ati st Al ex an d r e ,
Dum as wh o h app e n e d to h a ve a str a i n o f N e g r o

,
bl o o d i n hi s oth e r wi s e f am ous F r ench a n cest r y *

.
Th e di sti ngui sh ed nov eli st a n d d r ama ti st m ay

h a ve h a d o n e tw el f th N eg r o b l o o d Sin ce i t I S p r o b
-
,
a b l e hi s g r e at g r andm oth e r wa s a m o n grel B ut i f

-
.
it c an b e sh ow n th a t thi s g r e at gr a ndmothe r w a s a -
pu r e N egres s th e n oveli st wa s i n all li k elihoo d o n e

sixth p a r t N egro How eve r it m a k e s n o r e al di ff e r.
,
*
Th e Al e x d D
an re u m as , wh om w e p re s u m e to b e th e one us
lly f e rre d to as N
Ng t f di ist n c t o n i
w as n o t a
a
u re a e g ro o ,
e ro a
a
H i f ths hi p t
a l g
e r, s d hi p t
a e rn a l g t ran df th
a e r, an s a e rn a re a
g randf th w a ll F erhm f
e re x p tia ll y f t il b i re n c en o e ce o na er e ra n s ,
an d ll tt i d di t i t i
a a Th g
a ne t—g s df th w nc w l th y
on . e re a ran a er as a ea
H i ti
a l i t d it p p
an co o n s th t h an h bi t d wi th w m a e ars a e co a e a o an
wh i
o m ti m
s so p k f e m l ttes s d m ti m
o en o as a u a o an so e es as a
Ng e Wh th t hi l ti w l g i tim t
re s s . e er ill g i t i m t i
s re a on as e a e or e a e s
a m tt a f di p t
er o s u e .
N w th o m t b th ge re se et d bt t wh i m t
s o e e rav e s ou as o o s ean
by A l x d D m e an f th re d u w b th m
as , as f g t a er an so n e re o en o rea
li t y di ti ti h i g id ti ll y th m m Th f th
e rar s nc on av n en ca e sa e na e . e a er
w as yg t
a v er li d t y t ll
rea whil th
no ve hi d
s t an s or e e r, e e s o n ac ev e
th ehi g h t h es li t d d m ti t
o n o rs as a n o v e s an ra a s .
Thi f i
s co n m t b d us on t ig s ee th s p t
o f e ue o n o ran c e on e ar o
th mm l y
o s e co f i g t Al x d D m
on re e rr n di ti g i h d o e an re u a s as a s n u s e
Ng e Wh
ro . d f th p p en usef g l if y i g th or Ng e ur o se o or n e e ro
rac e th f h ld l t t th f th wh h d y li ttl
e r e e re n c e s ou re a e o e a er o a v er e
N g bl d b t m r f c
e ro oo , th a d i d th e
u o e o o u rs e n so n .
e n ce wheth e r he was on e sixth o r o n e twel fth o r -

,
-
,
sm all e r p e rcent a ge o f A fric a n o r H a i ti a n extracti on ;

eno u gh h a s b e en shown to expo s e th e a b surdi t y o f
crediting th e N egro r a ce wi t h hi s a c c ompli s hme n ts .
F r e de ri ck Dougl a s s i s p e rh a p s the nex t m a n t e

p u t e d a s a di stin g ui sh ed a nd a bl e N egro Hi s fathe r .
was a pu re Anglo Am e ri can -

.
P a ul Lawrence D u nb a r w a s a po e t o f some n ote

an d it do es not app e a r t h at a n y o f hi s a ncesto rs we re
white but coming from a r a ce o f s l a ves i t is qui t e
,
impossibl e to p rove that such w a s o r was not the

case .
Pro fe s so r Dub oi s o f the Atl a nt a Unive rsity a n d , ,
Willi am H Lewi s recen t ly app oi nte d A s s ist a nt At

.
,
to rney Ge n e r a l o f th e Unite d S ta tes a re unque s t i on

-
,
a b ly m en o f excep t i on a l a b ili t y ; but wh a t we h a ve

s ai d i n r eg a rd to D u nb a r a ppli e s wi t h equ al fo r c e
he re and whil e we h a ve no in fo rm a t i on on t he sub

,
j c et we fe el su re th at a n i nvesti g a ti on would reve al

th e fact th a t th ey a r e not pu re bl ooded N egro es -
.
La s tly we h a ve the n a m e o f D r B ooke r T Wa sh . .
i n g t o n who s a ys i n hi s ow n writings th a t hi s fathe r

,
w as a white m a n *
.
The re fo re i t m ay co rre c tly a nd j ustly be s a i d th at

even unde r th e mo s t f a vo red p ossibl e envi rons the
Negro r a ce h a s p ro duce d no gre a t i ntell ects .
The re i s n o ch a nce th en fo r th e N egro to ri s e to

*
I t h as b t d d by t l t
e en c o n en w it e thi bj t a e as one r er on s su ec
h
t at t h e di l f th f t th t m t
sc o su r e o ll d N g
e f
ac a os so - c a e e ro es o
di ti tis nc f m i x d bl
on a red i t o lid g m t g i t
e oo s no a va ar u en a a ns
i y N i hi i
,
th e ca
p t f t h
ac g t o t e g h e t t ro i o r se o a er s a on n o ur n a
ti l lif ; f
o na th e th t th
or p e bl m whi h w
rea s o n f i g
a e ro e c e a re ac n
h t
as d wi th m l tt
o o w ll p N g u a o e s as I t hi h w e as u re e ro e s . n s, o
e v er ,th yi t i w g i
e essa s t m s th ro n 5 p t f
s nce no o re an 1 e r c en . o
N g p p l ti l y d d l wh h
,
m
.
th e e ro p o p u ab g
o n c an t t
ro er e re ar e as u a o es , ic
i s m thi g li k
so e p n t f e 2 t t l p p l
er c e nt i A d o o ur o a o u a on . n ev en
t hi i i g ifi t mb i dditi t it t d y t t t
.
s ns n c an nu e r, n a on o s en en c o re u rn o
th p e Ng t k h b
u re e h w t b p idl y d y i g t
ro s o c , as een s o n o e ra n ou .
th e i n tell ectu al l eve l o f th e whi te A m e r i c a n ; a m a l ga

m ati o n i s much f u r th e r r e m ove d th a n it w a s at th e
cl o s e o f ou r Civi l Wa r ; dep o r tati o n i s al m os t im
p o s sibl e u n de r all th e ci r cum st a n ce s .
We a r e abl e to di s cove r n o o t h e r s oluti o n th a n

r a c i a l d e c li n e a n d ulti m a te e li mi n a ti o n b y n a tu ra l
c a us e s .
CHAPTE R XVI I I
P r o p o s e d So lu ti o n s o f th e N eg ro P ro b lem
VE R since em a n c ip at ion the r e has bee n a

l uxuri a n t produ c t ion o f theories by which
Southe rn white p eopl e mi ght r i d th em
selves o f th e bu rden thus imp os e d We .
h a ve s ometime s wonde red i f i t would now b e p ossi

bl e t o invent a pl a n fo r t h e exti rp ation o r s egrega
t i on o f the Ame ri c a n N egro wi t hout in fri n ging one
,
o r mo re o f t ho s e a l re a dy p res ented Thus fa r th e .
only go o d th a t h a s eve r c om e o f such i nve n ti o n s h as

b e en th e a dded illustr at i on o f th e fe r t ility o f th e
b rains o f o u r Am e ri c a n peopl e .
Among th e s u gge s t ed s oluti on s most commo nly

.
b e fo re t he publi c m a y b e m en t i oned education

( which u s u ally m ean s b o ok l e a rning
-
rathe r, th a n
su c h m a n u a l and mo r a l training a s th e N egro re ally
ne eds ) pu rp os e ful o r involunta ry s egreg a ti o n de
, , ,
p o rt at i o n a nd coloni z at i on ,a nnihil a t i on o r vi ol ent

ex t e rmin a ti on John Templ e Gr a ves t heo ry o f am
,
’
pu tat i on a nd m o re re c ently ste rili z a ti on

,
.
Mo s t o f tho s e p roffe red pl a ns o f s olu t i on h ave

b e en el a b o r at ely wo rked o u t b y thei r a utho rs a n d ,
som e o f th em when s u p e rfi c i a lly c o ns ide red s eem

, ,
deci dedly pl a usibl e ; but ve ry li t tl e r efl ection i s n e ed

ed to reve a l the fact t hat not one i s consti tuti o n al .
Wh en t h eoretical det a ils o f th e initi a ti on o f thes e

s u gges t ed voliti on a l soluti ons h ave b e e n c a st a side
a nd the mo re s e ri o u s a sp ects o f th e c as e a r e co n s i d
e red we p romptly em e rge from th e mi sts a nd f og
,
wh i ch o t he r wi s e ob scu re thei r mo r e vi tal r elat i o n s .
2
54
TH E A ME RI CAN NE G RO P RO BLE M 2 55
The n me n tally j ou rn eyi n g i n to the poo r l y illu m i n e d

futu re but taki n g wi th u s th e candl e o f p a st eve n ts
, ,
ou r expl o r ati ons ca n b e m a de to r eve al wi th cl e a r

n es s th e f act th at no pl a n h a s yet b e e n p r e s e n te d ,
a nd th a t n o n e i s l i k ely to a ri s e c a p a b l e o f m e t a
,
m o rp h o ri z in g i n to such p r opo r tio n s as to constitute

a p a n ace a f o r thi s m o st vi tal s oci al a n d p olitical d i s
o rd e r .
P r e s e n t n um e r i cal st r e n gth co n stituti o n al p ro t e c

,
ti on a n d imp r ove d m o r al concepts o f m o de r n civi l

,
i z at i o n s s e r ve to illust r ate th e r e m ote n es s o f p ossi

,
bl e executi o n o f p r opo s e d pl ans f o r co l o n i z ati o n ,
e ith e r at h o m e o r a b r o a d a gai nst th e will o f th e

,
N eg r o r a ce A n y o n e o f th e pl an s sugge ste d f o r
.
colo n i z a ti o n coul d b e ca r ri e d out eve n i n o pp o siti o n

,
to N eg r o r e si sta n ce i f all whit e citi z e n s wil l e d to d o

,
so ,
a n d f o r ei g n p owe r s d i d n o t i n te rve n e Th e .
p h ysi cal b a rr i e r s coul d b e ove r com e B ut th e ve r y .
co n diti o n s sta n di n g i n th e w ay o f a n y attemp t to

exe cute th es e r a d i cal p r op os als fo rm th e c r u x o f t h e
whol e si tuati on .
E ducati o n i s a n i n s i di ou s pl a n o f s o l uti o n h avi n g

its b i r th i n the f e r til e b r ai ns o f s o m e o f ou r N o r t h
e rn b r oth e r s a n d app a r e n tly i nte n d e d to r i s e s o h i gh
,
a b ove th e m e n tal pl a n e o f South e r n i n tell ect a s to

compl etely e s cap e t h e li m it ati o n s o f i ts supp o s e d ly
r est r icte d vi s i o n ; b ut th e m e n tal atm o sp h e r e o f th e
South i s n ot n ow a nd n eve r h a s b e e n s o h a z y a s t o
, ,
p r eve n t a m i c r o s copi c exa m i n ati o n o f i ts s m a ll es t

d etail s C e r tai n o r ga n i z a ti o n s o f th e N o r th h av e
.
b e e n a nd still a r e a ctively e n ga ged i n s o wi n g w h at

, ,
th ey b e l i eve to b e t h e s e eds o f d e st r ucti on to o u r

pu r e A n gl o Sou th e rn p opu l ati o n Th e l a b e l o f t h e s e
-
.
s e e d s i s e du ca ti o n a nd t h e f ru i t wh i c h t h e y are in
t en d e d to b e a r i s a ma lg a ma ti o n ; b ut t h u s f ar t h ey
h av e al l r otte d i n th e b a rr e n s oi l of N eg ro ch a r a cte r
and th e pu t resce n t p r o duct s o f thei r decompositio n

h a ve contri b uted much tow a rds th e physi cal deca
dence o f th a t ra ce And i f we m ay j udge by the
.
m a gnitude o f th e s e seconda ry p rodu c t s a p e rsis t e n ce

o f su c h e ff orts will s e ri ouslyyinte r fe re with the co n
elusi o n s d r aw n from ou r investi g at i o n s by th e p r o
ducti o n o f a geom etri c a l r a t i o o f raci al decline to

sub stitute ou r a rithm e t i cal b asi s o f estim a ti o n .
Such educa t i on as the m a ss o f ou r N eg r o p o p u la

ti on i s now r eceiving i s cert a inly a c o nt ributing f ac
to r in hi s ultim a t e exte rmin a ti on Thus fa r educa
.
ti on h a s h a d n o p e rceptibl e te n dency wh ateve r to

b ring ab out th e a b omin a ti o n o f a m a lgam a ti o n a re ,
sul t s o confidently exp ected by ce rt a i n educ a ti onal

s oci eti es having t he i r o r igi n in the No rth a nd the
fi eld o f thei r n e f a ri ous op e r a ti o n s i n th e South As .
a mat t er o f fact such ille gitim a te am a lgam a tio n a s has

t a ke n pl a ce ha s neve r done mo r e tha n p r oduce a b as
t a r d mul atto ra ce whi ch i s even mo re unfit tha n th e
pu re N egro hims el f a n d th e re h a s neve r a ris en
,
—
even in t he No rth th e slightest tendency to ab so rb
thi s hyb ri d s t o ck N egro education whe n ge n e r a l
.
,
appli cati on i s m ade s e rves o n ly i n elimi nati o n by

,
u n fitti n g him fo r such o ccup a ti ons a s a re op e n to him
a n d s uch a s h e i s natu r a lly suite d to fill .
Involunta r y s egreg a ti on ha s n eve r been attempt

ed and i n a ll p rob a b ili t y neve r will b e It is t h e
, , , .
m ost r om a n ti c a nd illogi c a l exp edi ent o f all po ssi bl e

s oluti o n s yet a dvanced .
Such a n attempt would b e r evoluti on ar y b ei n g i n

,
di r ect a n d o p e n confl i ct wi th th e C onsti tuti o n: M o r e

ove r th e r e exists no j ustifi a bl e c a us e fo r thi s r adic a l
r em e dy It i s pl ain th at th e gove r n ment could n eve r
.
s et its s e al o f s a n ction to such a p r opositi on and re ,
vo lt agai nst th e m e a nest o f gove rnments i s always

th e l ast reso rt o f a p eopl e opp r essed b eyo n d e n du r
a n ce A n d ce r tai n ly the r e ca n b e n o n e to p r opo s e

.
th at s eg r egat i o n b e u n de rt ak e n b y South e rn white s

i n o pp o s i tion to th e gove rnm e n t th e N o rth
, a n d th e
,
ten m illi on N egro es them s elves N o go o d a n d e n

.
li ghte n ed ci ti z e n i n a n y secti o n o f ou r commo n cou n

try woul d d re am o f a dvoc a ting su ch a cou rs e and ,
a va st m aj o ri ty woul d r esi st th e p r op os a l with all

t h e fo r ce o f th ei r b ei n g.
Th e o n ly a lte rn ati ve th e n o f e ffecti ng thi s th e ,
m o st r e as on able o f all r adical r em edi es woul d b e ,
b y a lte ra ti on s in th e Co n stituti o n a mou n ting almo st

to a r ew r iti n g o f th at i n st r um e n t a n em e rge n cy fo r
,
whi c h th e i n st rum e n t i ts el f p r ovi de s Fo r v a r i ou s

.
s ecti o n s am endm e n ts a n d cl aus es woul d h ave to b e

,
r ep e al e d a n d oth e r s totally di ff e rent i n funda m ental

p r i n ci pl es su b sti tu ted Such d ra sti c r evi si o n s woul d
.
n e ce ss a rily gre atly a b ri dge p re s e n t gu a r a n tee s o f
h um an r i ghts wi s ely i n cu l cat e d i n th at do cu m e n t th e ,
p r o b ab ili ty o f whi ch a r e e a ch an d eve ry o n e al i k e

u n re a so n a b l e a n d u n th i nk a bl e
.
Usu ally wh e n a w r ite r sugge sts colo n i z ati o n h e

ap p a rently f o rgets th e m o re s e ri ou s a sp ects a nd d i f
ficu lt i e s i n volve d a n d el a b o r ates on th e co sts a n d
,
f a cili ti es f o r i ts physi ca l p e r fo r m a n ce I f we h a d to
.
co n te n d o nl y wi th th e p h ysi ca l o b stacl es standi n g i n

t h e w ay a n y pl a n cou ld b e ex ecute d f o r we a re a
,
m o st p o w e r fu l a nd r esou r ce ful n ati o n .
A m pu tati on (whi ch o f cou r s e m e a n s cutti n g o ff )

h a s b e e n p r o p os e d b y M r Joh n Temp l e G r ave s i n
°
a lectu re d elive re d t o a C ha utau q u a audi e n ce an d ,
whil e we 1 av e n eve r s e e n o r h e a rd t h i s th e o ry e l a b
o r a ted i t i s a fe to pl a ce it i n th e common ca tego r y
,
wi t h ot h e r ra d i ca l p r op os a l s a s n ot likely to b e at
,
a n y t i m e s e r o u sly co n si de r e d
.
T h e th e o ry o f a nn ihi l a ti o n o r vi ol e n t exte rm i n a
,
t i o n wa s a p r o du ct o f Reco n st ructi o n ti m es a nd i f
, ,
o t he r s ol u t ion s o f t h a t dre a dful condi t i on h ad n ot

s p eedily p re s ented t h e o u t r a ged So u t h migh t ul t i
, ,
m at ely i n i t s desp e ra t i on h a ve ven tu red upon t hi s

, ,
p e ril ous at temp t Bu t a ll p ossibili ty o f t hi s reign

.
o f t e rro r a n d blood s h ed p a ss ed from t h e fi el d o f

c on t empl at e d s olu t i ons m a ny ye a r s a go Even thi s
.
coul d h a ve b e en don e at t h e s a c rifice o f m an y m e n

a nd h a l f t he wom en a nd c hildren o f th e l an d i f by ,
any m e a n s th e co n s ti tu t i on a l r equi rements o f gov

e rn m e n t al inte r c e s s i on co u ld h a ve b e en h eld a l oo f
,
a nd t h e p eopl e o f o t he r s ta tes a nd fo reign coun tr i es

deb a rred from in t e rven t i on whi c h l att e r a re condi
,
ti on s t o o a b s u rd t o di s cu s s Du ty wo u l d h a ve mece s
.
s i t a t e d th e a r re s t o f thi s whol es a l e mu rde r by thos e
who m a de th e conditi on s p rovoking it .
Thi s s u gge s ted s oluti on t hen i f i t eve r h a d a s e r i

,
o u s a sp e c t i s long since p a s t a nd gone fo reve r

, .
S t e rili z a ti on o f one o r b oth sexe s h as b e e n p ro

pose d by s om e ext remi sts a nd i f the N egro r ace
,
a nd t h e re s t o f th e n at i on u n a nimou s ly s upp orted it

no t hing co u ld b e s imple r o r l e s s co stly But a p ar t .
from i t s u ncon s t i tution a l ity and the resi st a n c e which

othe r s e c tions wo u ld n eces s a rily off e r —eve n i f th e
,
So u t h i t sel f we re re a dy and willing to att empt it

it wo u ld in v olve th a t s ect i on i n a m os t hi deous a n d
s a nguin a ry r a c e w a r ; a ve rit a bl e de a th g ra ppl e b e-
twe en t he two ra c e s a nd i f unin t e rr u p ted vo u ld re

,
s
s ul t i n th e mo re o r l es s compl ete and v i o lf n t exte r
min at i on o f the we a ke r a nd frightfu l lo s e s to th e

s t ronge r . The ve ry su g g e s ti on o f thi s ra si a l ste ril
i z ati o n i s t o o u nre a s on a bl e to requi re s e ri o us r e futa
ti on
—
.
L a s t ly it h a s b een suggested to th e w r ite r b y a

mo s t c a p a bl e m a n — th at a p l a n o f s egreg a ti o n coul d
b e fo rmul at e d a nd c a r ri ed out with out di stu rb ance
o f any kind Thi s pl a n p r opos es to establi sh th e
.
TH E A ME RI CA N NEG R O P RO BLE M 2 50
N e g r o r a ce i n som e p a r t o f ou r ow n te rr ito r y o r i n,
s om e co n tiguous te rr i to ry a cqui r e d f o r t h e pu r p o s e ,
p re fe r ably s om e i sl a nd su ch a s Cub a U nde r thi s

, .
pl a n th e exp at r i ate d r ace i s to b e m a de to r e ali z e

t h at th e s chem e co n templ ates its b e n e fa cti o n q u ite
a s much a s t h e reli e f o f t h e whi te m a n o f hi s o b j ec
ti o n ab le p r es e n ce
. Th e N eg r o i s to b e s ecu r ely e s
t ab li s h e d and m a d e a s el f gov e r n i n g commu n ity
-
.
Th i s pl a n contempl ate s th e p a s s a ge o f a l a w b y
th e N a t i on al C ongr es s to th e e ff ect th at all N eg ro e s
b o rn a fte r a ce rta i n date be r emove d a t m atu r ity to
a s el ecte d sp o t an d th e r e p r ovi de d a sm all hom e b y
th e gove r n m ent o f th e U n ite d State s Th e U n ite d
.
State s i s to fo ste r th e n ew n a ti o n i n eve ry n ece ss a r y

way i n cludi n g g u a r an te e s a gai n s t b oth fo r ei g n i n
,
t e rf e ren c e a n d i n t e rn al diss e n si on a nd vi ol e n ce .
Th e ge n e r al con cep ti o n o f thi s pl a n p rovi d es th at

th e details b e s o co mpl etely a n d el ab o r ately w o rk e d
out tha t th e N egro e s woul d b e willing a n d anxi ou s
to d ep a r t at th e a ge m en t i o n ed to i nh e r it a h o m e a n d
full p rivil eges o f ci ti zen shi p H e w oul d b e m a d e to
.
unde r stan d th a t h e w ould b e take n w i th all hi s c h at

,
tel s to a l and o f pl e n ty ; w h e r e h e coul d exe r ci s e a n d

,
e n j oy i n f a c t th e s o ci al a n d p oli ti cal p r e r o gative s

,
which a t p r e s e n t a r e hi s o n ly i n th e o ry .
I t i s fu r th e r suggest e d th at i f th e r equi r em e n t t h at
all n ew b o rns b e t r a n s p o r te d a t a give n a ge b e re
-
ga r de d a s t o o r ap i d a ch a n ge th at th e l aw b e m a d e
,
to p rovi de th a t o nly a ce rta i n p e r ce n t o f e a ch g e n

.
c r ati on b e thus dep o rted ; o r , th at they b e give n a

ce r t a i n am ount o f C h o i ce a s to w h eth e r th ey g o or
s tay but m aking t h ei r l egal a n d s o ci al co n diti o n s o
,
much b ette r i n thi s l a n d o f col oni z a ti o n th at all in

fl u e n c e s would co n sp i r e a s it w e r e to br i n g a b out
, ,
th e ch a n ge .
I n t h i s p ro mi s e d la nd th e N e gr o wo u ld ru n h is
2 60 THE ULTI MATE S OLU TION O F
—
own gove rn ment el ecti n g hi s ow n o fli c e rs a n d r ep
re s en t at i v e s— a s f a st as consi ste n t with o r de r ly
g o v
e rn m en t .
Thi s pl an o r s omethi n g simil a r i s by fa r th e b est

, ,
a n d mo st re ason able ye t a dv a nced ; but i t do es no t

o ffe r a solu t ion o f ou r N egro p r oblem Fo r i n the
—
fi r st pl ace i t like the r est— i s u n co n stituti o n al i n i ts
,
.
ve ry co n cepti o n .
W e could not requi re the m to go n o r could Co n ,
g r ess o ffe r su c h at t rac t i o n s a s w oul d supp o se dly in

duce them t o volunta r ily l e a ve thei r p r es e n t homes
t o accept gra tuitous grants a n d e q uipme n t i n te rr i
t o r y s et ap a rt fo r thi s pu r p os e ; e ach p r op o siti on
b eing alike withou t t he cons t i tuti o n al powe rs o f C o n
gress To comp el t h em would b e to ab rogate thei r
.
co n sti t u t i o n al r ights and to i n duce them w ith m a

,
t e ri al r ewa r ds woul d no t co n fo rm to th e p r ovi si o n

o f equ a l rights to all u n less i t coul d b e sh own o r
, ,
c ons t ru ed th at the r est o f th e Ame r i ca n p eopl e re

,
c e i v e d an equival ent i n the i m p r ove d s o ci al a n d

economic conditi ons at ho m e Eve n i f thes e c on di
.
t i ons could b e ove rcom e we could n ot co n si ste ntly

deny t he N egro t h e r i ght to r etu rn at w ill .
I f t h es e obj ec t i o n s could all b e su r mou n ted a n d

such a p ro ff e r s e r iously tende red o n ly a small p er
,
c en ta ge o f N egro es woul d p rob ably accept And .
o f t hi s n u mb e r i t i s quite ce rt ain th at m a n y wo uld

re t u rn a f t e r the novel ty a nd emoti onal exciteme n t
h a d p a s s ed Th e whol e a rgum e nt i s wo rs e tha n u s e
.
l ess fo r th e fu r t he r re a son th at o nly a m i n o r i ty o f

t h e memb e r s o f C o n gress rep res e n t di st r i cts h avi ng
a N egro p robl em and m any o f them a r e still st r o ng
,
ly in favor o f equal rights fo r th e N eg r o whil e liv

ing i n ou r midst The r e fo re the r e i s n ot the re
.
,
m o t e s t p rospect o f th e p ass age o f such a l aw eve n ,
i f i t c o uld b e sho wn th at C ongr e s s is w h o ll y f ree

f rom c on sti tuti o n a l b a rr i e r s .
I f a n y schem e o f i n te rn al o r exte rn a l s e gr e g ati on

o r col o n i z ati o n i s eve r e ff ecte d i t m u st b e p l a nn e d
a n d execute d by p r iv at e ente r p r i s e a nd i n a cc o rd ,
a n ce w ith existi n g p r ovi si o n s o f th e C on sti tutio n .
Such an u n de r ta k i ng by p r iv ate i n divi du als o r a ss o ,
c i ati o n s o f i n divi d u al s i s ext r e m ely i m p rob a b l e ; a nd

°
i f p ro p o s e d a nd s e r i ously u nd e r ta k e n wo ul d u m ,
doubte dly m e et with opp ositi on o n th e p a rt o f th e

,
N eg ro r a ce Th e r e fo r e a n d i n vi e w o f th e ci r cu m
.
,
sta n ce th at e q u al r i ghts a n d e q u a l p ro tecti o n a r e

gu a r ante ed to th e N egro al o n g w i th all o t h e r s , ,
w h e n a dde d to hi s deci de d di si n cli n a ti o n to m i gr ate ,
eff ectually shuts o ff p r i vate e n te r p r i se i n thi s di r c e

ti o n A n d such a n attempt with out th e supp o r t a n d
.
,
p e r p etu al gui da n ce o f ou r A m e r i ca n go ve rn m e n t ,
woul d b e d esti n e d to ig n omi n ious f a ilu r e .
Th e r epub li c o f Lib e ri a fou n ded i n 1 8 2 2 o n th e , ,
Gr ai n C o a st o f We s t A f r i ca i s a n excell e n t exa m p l e ,
o f such a sch e m e I t s p r o m oti o n w h il e n ot di r e ctl y

.
,
u n de r th e Unite d St ates g ove r n m e n t w a s ce r tai nl y ,
fo ste r e d a n d encou r a ge d by a cla ss w ho h a d th e su p

p o r t o f th o s e hi g h i n autho r ity at Washi ng t on Th e .
p r om ote rs o f thi s sch em e o r g a n i z e d th em s elve s i n t o

“ ”
th e N ati o n al Col o n i z ati o n So ci ety o f A m e r i ca ,
—
a n d b ega n by col o n i zi n g f r e e N eg r o es b ut w ith th e
de ep e r a n d comm endabl e pu r p o s e o f ulti m ately de
t ro y i n g th e instituti o n o f sl ave r y i n t h e U n it e d
Stat es Am o n g its m em b e r s w e r e to b e f ou n d such
.
i nflu enti al n a m es as B u sh r o d Wa shi n gto n Ro b e r t ,
Fi nl ey Ch a r l e s C a rro ll J a m e s M a di s o n H e nr y
, , ,
Cl ay J H B Lat rob e B i shop H op k i n s Ru f us

, . . .
, ,
Ki n g D r Ch anni ng B e n j a m i n Lu n dy G arrit S m ith

, .
, , ,
a n d J am e s G Bu rn ey J o h n R a n d o lph o f Ro a nok e
. .
, ,
w a s als o i n te r este d i n th e p r oj ect a n d Th o m a s J e f

°
f e rs o n h a d su g geste d th i s o r a simi l a r p l a n i n th e
°
, ,
2 62 T HE ULTI M ATE S OLUT I O N O F
ye a r 1 8 1 1 .
It app e a rs th a t thi s pl a n mi gh t h ave m et w ith

gre a te r s uccess h a d i t not b e en cri ppl e d (about 1 8 3 1 ,
only nine ye a rs a f t e r t h e fou n ding o f Lib e r i a ) by th e

a li en ati on o f som e o f its s t ronges t supp o rt e r s ,
t h rough th e extrem e r adi cali sm o f Willi am Ll o yd

G a rri son .
Duri n g the twenty fiv e years (1 8 2 2

-
o f the
a ctive efforts o f these in flue n tial Am e r ica n s o n ly a ,
few thous a nd Negroes we r e i n duced to en t e r upo n t he

p e rilous ven t u re though n o doub t t r a n sp o rt ati o n
,
from Am e ri c a t o t hi s n ew l and o f lib e r t y w a s p ic

tu re d t o th e i g n o r a n t a n d credul ous N egro es by ove r
z e a lous enthusi a s t s on N egro fre edom as a ch a n ge ,
o f r el at i ons C lo s ely r es embling transl ati o n fro m hell

t o h e aven .
I n 1 8 4 7 th e n ew r epubl ic w a s l e ft to it s ow n re
s ou rces , a nd i n s pi t e o f a c e r ta in amount o f p ro t e c
t i on affo rded by t h e Uni t e d S ta tes has p roven a n
ut t e r f a ilu re Th e old ol d s t o ry ove r a g a i n o f th e
.
, ,
N egro fa ili n g to m ake go o d wh en dis associ ated w ith

i ntellect ual r a ce s .
And t hi s i s t h e f a te t h at a w a i t s fu rthe r attemp t s

o f p riva t e coloni z at i on o f th e N egro H e i s b o r n .
a dep enden t a hewe r o f wo o d and a d rawe r o f

,
wate r a nd such he must eve r r ema i n

,
.
It h a s b e en shown t hen t h a t eve ry plan devi s ed by

t he whi t e s in t ende d to ri d t hems elve s o f t he p r es
ence o f t h e N egro p opul at i on is wholly i n su fli c i en t
,
to p e r fo rm t he ta s k s imp o s ed a nd th at nothing
,
s ho rt o f a c ombined dete rmin at i o n o n t he p a r t o f the
white p opul at i o n o f th e en t i re coun t ry a nd a rem o d

,
elling o f t he N a t i on a l C on s t i t u t i on co u ld re a sonably
,
b e exp ec t ed to m eet s u c c e s s fully t he exigenci es o f th e

unde r ta king And such a comb in a ti o n o f fo rces a n d
.
ci r cu m sta n ces will n eve r com e to p ass .

THE AME R I CAN NE GR O PR O BLE M 2 63
Th e Co n stit u ti o n p ro vi d e s t h at w h e n eve r tw o
thi r ds o f b oth H ous e s o f Co ngr es s sh a l l d ee m it
n ece s s a r y am e n dm e n ts m ay b e by t h e m p r op o s e d
, ,
o r, o n th e appli c ati o n o f th e l egi sl atu r e s o f t w o

thi r ds f th e s eve r al State s th e Co n g res s sh all c a ll
o ,
a co n ve n ti o n f o r p r op o s in g ame nd m e n ts wh ich i n , ,
eith e r ca s e sh all b e vali d t o all int e n ts a nd pu r p o s es

a s p a r t o f th e Co n sti tutio n wh e n r ati fi e d by th e l e g
,
i l t
s a u re s o f th r e e fou r ths o f th e s eve r a l St a tes
-
or ,
by co n ve n tio n s i n th r e e f o u rth s th e r e o f a s th e o n e
-
,
o r th e oth e r m o de o f r atifi cati o n m ay b e p ro p o s e d b y

th e Co n g r e ss .
F r om thi s i t m ay r e a dily b e s e e n th at it i s no e a s y
m a tt e r to a m e n d th e N ati o n al C o n stituti o n I t ca n .
b e d o n e b ut th e p r op o s iti o n h a s to b e supp or ted b y

,
t h e p e opl e a n d by th e p oliti ci a n s th r ough out th e

cou n t r y I t r e qu i r es eith e r two thi rd s o f t h e m e m
.
b e r s o f b o th Hous e s o f C o n g r e s s o r t h e r e q u e st o f
th e l egi sl atu r e s o f two thi r ds o f al l th e sta te s t o call
a co n ve n ti o n wh e r e a m e n dm e n ts m ay b e p r op o s ed .
Wh e n thi s h a s b e e n a cco m p li s h e d such pp r op o s e d

am e nd m e n ts m ust m e r it a n d w n th e p p o v al o f t h e
i a r
N ati o n al Co n v e n ti o n ; a n d wh e n th e C o n ve n ti o n h a s
a g r e e d to such ch a nge s a n d a m e n dm e n ts th e s am e
a r e o n ly th e n r e a dy t o g o b a c k to th e p e opl e for
th e i r fu r th e r d eli b e r ati o n whe r e th ey must s ecu r e
,
th e supp o r t o f at l e a s t th r e e fou r ths o f t h e l egi sl a

-
tu re s o f all th e s tate s o r co n ve n ti o n s o f th r e e
,
fou rths o f all th e sta t e s call ed a cco r di n g to t h e p ro

,
vi si on s o f l a w fo r th e exp r es s pu r p os e o f co n si de r
,
i n g th e a dvi s a b ility o f r ati f yi ng th e w o rk o f th e N a

t i n l Co n g r ess
o a .
Thu s t m ay b e s e e n th at whi l e it i s n ot i m p o ssi bl e

i
th at a co n stituti o n al am e n dm e n t o r ame n dm e n ts , ,
a s wo u l d b e r e q ui r ed n thi s ca s e b e a d opte d in re
° °
i ,
2 04 TH E ULT I M ATE S OLU TION OF
sp o n s e to a ge n e r al dema n d o f thi s p eople that s o m e

o n e o f th e pl a n s m e n ti o n ed o r some othe r pl a n o f
,
s olvi n g th e N eg r o p r obl em be m ade l egal ; yet o n

,
th e othe r h a n d such a compl ete r evolutio n o f publi c

s en t iment as would m a n i festly b e necessit a ted i s so
, ,
imp r ob abl e as to j usti fy th e conclusi o n that it w ill

n eve r co m e to p a s s .
Th e r e exi sts no p r essi n g n e ed o r ge n e r al d em a n d

fo r it and n ot the sligh test p r ob ability th at the r e w ill
,
l a te r a r i se such a dem an d o r n ecessi t y Th e r e f or e

.
we deduct f rom t he fac t s he re exhibite d th e co n clu

s ion th a t no r evolutio n a ry o r c o n s titu ti o n al atte m pt
, ,
will eve r b e m ade to fo rce a complete s ep a r atio n o f

th e two r aces Th a t on e and all o f the theo r i e s ad
.
v an ce d a r e imp r acti cabl e a n d unnecess a r y a n d th at

,
such i dl e talk i s wo r s e th an us el ess a n d sh o uld b e

,
di scounte n a n ced in publi c pl aces as h a rm ful ali k e to

b oth r aces by r e as on o f its obvious te nd e n cy t o ex
,
ci t e mu t u al a nim ositi es a n d to a dd fu el to the fl a m e

o f ra ce p rej udi ce Such di scussi o n s a nd sp ecul ati o n s
.
can neve r b e fruitful o f b enefici al r esults Such i dl e .
t a lk i s wo rs e t ha n a me re w a st e o f w o rds ; a n d apa r t
from such u se a s the exhibiti o n o f the fact th at thos e
p roposing them have n eve r gone de eply i n to the
compl ex influences t ha t h edge ab out the situ atio n o n
eve ry s i de they a r e hu rt ful to t h e fri e n dly r el ati o n s
,
b etween th e r a ces which should b e e n cou r aged a n d

,
fo ste re d by goo d citi zens i n eve ry p r op e r m a nn e r .
No one po s s ess ed o f an u nbi as ed a n d di sc r i m i n a

ting knowl edge o f th e deep e r facts r el a t ing to th e
N egro p r oblem can consi stently co n clude th at th e r e
,
i s t he l e ast j us t i fic a ti o n fo r hoping th at a n y o n e o f
—
the m u l t i fa ri ous p ro ff e red pl ans o f s olution b y di
—
r e c t a nd pu rp os e ful i n te r ve nti on c an eve r f ructi fy
i n to accompli s h e d fa ct .
T HE A ME RI CAN N E G RO P RO B LE M 2 65
A l i ttl e l e a rn i n g i s a d ange r ous thi n g ;

D ri nk de ep o r ta ste n o t th e Pi e ri a n sp ri n g ;
Th e r e sh all ow d r aughts intoxi cate th e br ai n ,
”
And d r i nki n g l a rgely s o b e rs u s a gai n
.
CHA P TE R $ I$
Th e N a tura l So lu ti o n o f th e P r o b le m
ENT RE D ab out t h e p r im a ry f a ct o f m en
ta l i n fe ri o rity o f the N egro n at u r a l fo r c es
,
a re a pp a rently busily at wo rk solving

, , ,
t h e Am e ri c a n ra ce p robl em ; no t by p re
p a ring t he w a y for any sudde n ca ta s t roph e o r ,
b re a ch o f comi t y b e t we en the r a ces n o r by develop ,
ing a ny condi t i on nece s si t at ing s u dd e n and dr as ti c

a c ti o n on t h e p a r t o f t h e white p op u l at i on ; but by a
gr a d u al a nd o rde rly e li mi n a ti o n o f the N egro

th rough ce r ta in s o c i ologi c a l di s a dv a n t a ges a nd hi s
own l a ck o f n at u r a l fi t nes s ; with a c oncomitan t ap
p rop ri at i on t o i t sel f on t he p a rt o f the white race
, ,
o f a p rogre s sively l a rge r sh a r e o f a c cumul ated

we a l t h a nd desi rabl e b r a n c hes o f i ndu s t ry .
Th e v a ri ous infl u en ce s combining t o e ffect t hi s s o

lu t i o n h a ve b een sy s t emati cally p re s ented i n e a ch
s uc c eeding ch a p t e r o f t hi s work Th e whol e qu es
.
ti on hinge s o n r a ci al qu a li t ies — whi ch in cludes raci al

,
a dv a nt a ge s— a nd we b eli eve t he p roo f o f gre ate r

n atu ral fitness and gre a te r soci al poli t i c al a nd e c o ,
n o m i c al a dvantages o f the white ra ce i s implici t i n
th e co n text .
Som e h a ve co n tended th at the N eg r o i s desti n ed

t o domin a te t h e fi el d o f ag r i cultu ral l ab o r in the
South— in t h e fu t u re a s in the p ast— but we h ave
,
s hown th a t h e i s b eing r api dly crowded out he r e a s
el s ewhe re .
M r Al fred Holt Stone o f Mi ssissippi (i n hi s

.
, ,
”
S t udi es in t he Am e ri can Race Problem ) h a s give n
r eli abl e evi dence i n sub stanti ati on o f the f act th at in
2 66
ce r tai n cott on d ist r i cts o f th e Sout h I tali a n i mm i ,
g r a n ts h ave suppl a n te d the N eg r o alm ost with out ,
a co n te n tio n o f th e g r ou n d o n th e p a r t o f th e l atte r
, .
H e p r o duce s th e figu re s i n sub sta n ti ati o n o f hi s st ate

m e n t th at th es e i m m i g r ants c an a ccompli sh a g r e at
d e al m o re wo rk f r om t h e sta r t b y vi r tu e o f such
qu aliti e s a s i n dust r y f o r eth ought a nd r e g ul a r i ty
, , .
He a l s o sh o ws th at th ey c an l ive b ette r o n l es s
mon ey .
I t i s no t h oweve r co n t e n ded that th e ti m e i s

, ,
com e o r i s eve n cl o s e at h a n d wh e n th e South e rn

, ,
N eg r o w ill n o l o n ge r b e a bl e to fi n d e m ploym e n t o f
som e s o r t i n thi s fi e l d Hi s elimi n ati on will com e to
—
. .
—
p a s s s f a r a s i t i s to ta k e pl a ce th r ough a g r a d
o
u al re a dj u st m e n t H e i s n ow b e ing suppl a n te d a s
-
.
a n a g r i cultu r al l a bor e r b ut hi s dul l fa culti e s a r e

,
s ca r cely abl e to detect eith e r th e fa ct o r th e caus e .
E a ch d e ca de will wi t n ess a l a r ge r p rop o r tio n ate

n u m b e r o f whi te l ab o re r s i n th e South a nd th e g r e at
b o d y o f N eg r o es will find it i n c r e a si n g l y di fli cult to
e a rn su ffi ci e n t mo n ey to m e et thei r n ecessi ti es —an
e co n om i c c ond i ti o n te n din g s l owly b ut su rely t o , ,
m a rk ed r e ducti o n in r el ative n u m e r i cal st r e n gth o f

°
th e N eg r o Thi s will fi n al l y r esul t i n h i s eli m i n ati o n

.
a s a s e r i ou s r a ce p r o b l e m b ut n ot we b el i ev e i n
, , ,
ab s o l ute exte r mi n at i o n .
Whi l e th e N eg r o do e s n ot mi g r ate i n g r e a t n u m
b e r s f r om o n e cou n t r y to anoth e r h e i s a n atu r al ,
rove r withi n ce r tai n n a rrow l imi ts a n d as h e fin ds ,
hi s ol d p o siti o n i n th e South o ccu p i e d b y th e wh i t e

m an h e wil l i m m i g r at e i n in c r e a s in g n umb e r s i n t o
oth e r sta te s s e e k i n g p r ofita b l e empl oym e n t ; the r e
, ,
i n m a n y ca s es to s i c k e n a n d di e b ecau s e i n th e fir st
°
, ,
pl ace o f hi s co n stituti o n al u nfitn e s s f o r c l i m ati c

,
C h a n ges (e sp eci a lly fr o m h ot to col d e r clim ates ) i n

, ,
th e se co n d pl a ce b eca u s e o f hi s l ac k o f m e a n s to
,
p r op e rly p r ovi de a gai n st the da n ge r s o f hi s new co n

di ti o n s .
The immig r ant an d th e No rth e r n s e t tle r i n the

South a re i n active competiti on wi t h th e Negro in t h e
fi eld o f m anu al l ab o r o f eve ry kind ; while t h e Sou t h
e rn white m an i s rapi dl y p a ssing from u n de r t he
i n fluen c e o f t h e silly a n te b ellum s e n timen t t h a t a gri
-
,
cultu r a l l a b o r i s disg r ace ful Th e r e a re o f cou rs e .
o ccup a tions mo re highly thought o f an d m o re re , _
mu n e rativ e but none mo re hono r a bl e a nd re s p ec t

,
a bl e th an us e ful m a nu al l ab o r A m an b e s t fitt ed .
fo r physi cal l a b o r but who p e rsiste n tly re fus e s to

,
p u r su e i t and instead l e a ds a li fe o f i dl e pover t y

, , , ,
13 an undes i r abl e ci ti z e n H e ca n not comm a nd the

.
r esp ec t a n d high r ega r d which all e nt ert a in fo r t he

ho n est l ab o re r Thi s the South e r n p eopl e a re f a s t
.
comi n g t o app r eci ate a nd cons equ ently e n te rin g

,
m o r e a n d mo r e i n to a ctive a n d success ful comp e t i

t i o n wi th th e u nr eli abl e N eg r o i n thi s fi eld .
By r e ason o f hi s i n ability o r u nwillingness to su c, ,
c e s s f u lly r esi s t thes e new a n d a dvers e i n fl u en c e s the
Neg r o i s f a st l osing ground a n d losing hi s fo rme r

p ositi o n o f p r actic a l monop oly o f Southe rn f ar m
l abo r .
A n othe r impo rta n t caus e o f N egro ra c i a l decline

is voliti o n al seg r ega ti o n which h a s go n e on s t e a dily
,
a n d p r og r essively f r om the tim e h e b ecame a fre e

m a n As he come s to l ive mo r e t o hims el f the re i s
.
o b s e r ved a m a rked r etrogressi on with a decided i h ,
c r e as e in hi s de ath ra te ; whil e th e ab s ence o f clo s e

-
co n tact o f th e two r aces imp roves the hygi enic c o n

dition o f the whites a n d m ate r i ally l essen s its mo r
,
tality r ate .
B oth B alti m o r e M a r yl a n d and Ri chmo n d Vi r

, , ,
g i n i a h,
a ve thei r A f ri c a (a communi ty com p os ed al
mo st exclusively o f N egro es ) a n d a s 1m 11a r ten ,

de n ey i s o b s e r v e d i n al l citi e s h avi n g a N eg r o p o p u
l ati o n— w h eth e r l a rge o r sm all I n a dditi o n to thi s
.
n atu r al s e gr egati on th e white m a n h a s b e e n f o r ci n g

th e N eg ro b ack b y system ati c r e gul ati o n s eve r
, ,
s i n ce ema n cip ati o n B oth o f th e ab ove n a m e d ci ti es

.
h ave ve r y r ece n tly a dop te d wh at i s known a s s e g r e

g a ti n g o r d i n a n ces ,
b y whi ch th e N e g r o i s f o r b i d d e n
t o m ove i n to ci ty d i s tri c ts h av i ng a m aj o ri ty o f wh i te
re s id e n ts o r di st r i cts exclusively i n h ab ited b y white s
,
.
O th e r ci ti es wil l l ate r take s imil a r a cti o n B y th es e

.
m e a n s w e h ave a p ro g r e ssiv e s e g r egati o n m ovem ent

supp o r te d a nd e n cou r a ge d by the N egro hi m s el f o n
th e o n e ha n d a n d dem a n de d a n d ex a cte d by th e
'
white s o n t h e o th e r .
It i s i m p o r ta n t i n c onn e ctio n with th e m a rk e d te n

de n cy o f th e A m e r i ca n N eg r o to s eg r egate i nto d i s
ti n c ti v ely N eg r o commu n i ti es to n ot e th e n a t u r a l
,
te nd e n cy— u n de r such co n diti o n s — o f a r ace o r v a

ri e ty to r etu rn to for m e r custom s a n d h a b its o f l i f e .
T h e n a tur al c o ns eq u e n c e s o f N eg r o s eg r eg a ti o n
h ave b e e n m o r e f u l ly b r ought out i n e a r li e r ch apt e r s ,
but i t m ay b e fu r th e r st ate d i n c onn ecti o n wi th th is

i mp o rta nt ph a s e o f n a tu ral s o lu ti o n o f th e N eg r o
p r o b le m
,
th at th e N eg r o 13 kn ow n to b e n egl ect f u l o f
hygi e n i c su rr ou n d i n gs wh e n di s a s so ci ated wi th th e
white m a n and th a t un d e r such co n diti o n s h e sh ows
,
a st r o n g te n de n c y tow a r d a r esu m pti o n o f hi s fo r

m e r r u de h a b i ts o f l i f e I n exclusively N e gro co m
.
mu ni ti e s th at r ace 1s l a r gely b e re f t o f th e e n c o u rag

i n g exampl e a n d upli fti n g p r ecept a ffo rd e d b y cl o s e r
co n tact with th e sup e r i o r r ace .
Eth n ol ogi sts a n d a n th r op ol ogi sts a r e ag r e e d th at

u n d e r p r es e n t co n diti o n s o f l i fe th e r e i s a m a rk e d
te nd ency tow a rd a muc h clo s e r app r o ach to a co m
mo n typ e o f m a n whi ch i m pli e s a co rr esp o nd i n g
,
el i m i n at i o n of th e u nfi t va r i eti e s Th e k e e n c om p e
.
2 7 0 THE ULTI MATE SOLU TION O F
ti ti o n a n d excessive activiti es o f mode rn li fe le ave

li t t l e pl ace fo r th e th r i ftless sluggish N eg r o typ e .
Thi s te n de n cy s e r ves to m aintai n a much high e r

death rate fo r ou r Negro populati on a n d ca n h ave
-
n o othe r m e a n i n g tha n th at t h e N eg r o i s b eing

crowde d out by exi sti n g s ociologic a n d economi c co n
di ti o n s .
I n this p r ocess o f na tural s e le c ti o n (i n th e b r o a d

est us age o f th at te rm ) the r e a r e ce r tai n typ es
a mo n g th e highest race t h at a r e to b e gr a dually elim
i n at e d as the u n fit but wi t h the p assing o f t hi s white
,
el ement a much greate r p a r t o f the N egro r ace i s

,
doomed to ce rtai n el imin ati o n Thi s eli m inati o n

.
will b e m a rked by a c o nt i n u al lo weri ng o f r e la tiv e

N eg r o i ncre as e and finally by a n a c tu al de cre as e i n
,
n umb e rs .
A s we h ave r ep e atedly s ai d the p r im ar y caus e o f

thi s na tura l s o lu ti o n o f th e N eg r o p r o b le m i s to b e
s ought and fou n d i n the es t abli shed f a ct o f hi s me n
ta l i nf e ri o r i ty Othe r caus es which h ave b ee n m e n
.
ti o n e d a s well a s thos e co n t a i n ed i n t he r em ai n de r
,
o f thi s ch apte r a re but n atu ral sequences o f thi s

fu n dam e n t a l truth .
C a n ad a i s n ow compl aini n g o f the numb e r o f

Neg r o e s a nn u ally cro ssi n g he r b o r de r fr o m the
U n ite d States ; but i f sh e kn ew b ette r th e deep e r
causes o f thi s migrati on a n d t h e st ress o f ci r cu m
,
stances comp ell i n g that eleme n t o f ou r o p u lati o n to

exch an ge a f a vo r a bl e fo r a mo st un fa vo ra bl e cli
m ate a n d th e na tu r al cons equ e n ces t o th e N eg r o
,
ra ce o f such clim at i c ch an ges sh e would h ave n o

,
fe a r s o f a s e ri o us f u tu re N eg r o p r o ble m .
W he n th e N eg r o c r oss es th e M a s on a n d Dixo n
l i n e — as m an y a r e n ow doi n g—it i s i n des p e ra te
s e ar ch o f som e loc a li t y whe r e co m peti ti o n 18 less
k ee n a n d w h e r e r ac e p r ej u d ice n o l o ng e r m ilitat e s
TH E A M E R I CAN NE G RO P R OBLE M 2 7 1
a g a i n st h i s v e r y e i ste n ce ; n ei th e r o f wh i c h co nd i
x
t i on s i s t o b e f ou n d o n thi s A m e r i ca n c on ti n e n t .
Th e p r es su r e o f th es e a d v e r s e ci r cu m sta n ce s w i ll
fin al l y s catte r a c on s i de r a bl e p o r ti o n o f S o uth e rn
N eg ro p o pu l ati on t o t h e fo u r w i n ds a n d wh eth e r ,
th e i n divi du al el ects t o g o o r s ta y th es e n a t u r al
cau s es o f hi s el imi n ati o n r em ai n c on st a n t .
T o t h os e who a r e n ot to o gr e atly p r ej u d ice d th e

p o siti o n o f th e e m a n cip ate d N e gro i s de ci de dl y
p at h eti c E d ucate d a w ay from hi s o n ly h op e o f s al
.
v ati o n c ro w d e d out b y wh i te comp etiti o n a nd

,
h ou n de d b y r ace p r e$j u d i ce h e I S u n a b l e t o m ai n tai n

,
h i m s el f aty h o m e a nd wo r s e co n diti o n s a w ai t h i m
,
a b ro a d .
We do n ot co n te nd th a t d u r i n g th e p r es e n t g e n e r
atio n no r eve n d u r i n g tw e n ty g e n e r ati o n s th e
, ,
South e rn N eg ro 3 to e n ti r ely di s app e a r b ut w e b e

1 ,
li eve it h as b e e n p r ove n t h a t h e s to b e r est r i ct e d 1
i n n u m e r i cal st r e n gt h at p r es e n t a nd l a te r t o decl i n e ,
i n actu a l n u mb e r s a nd fin ally — a n d withi n th e p r e s

, , ,
—
e n t ce n tu r y to b e s o r e d uced m r el ative n u m e r i ca l
st r e n gt h as n o l o n ge r to consti tute a s i us A m i er o er
ca n pr bl m o N o h ou s e i s l a rge e n oug h f o r t wo
e .
f a m ili es N o n ati o n s l a r ge e n oug h fo r two r a ces

. i .
I n fu r th e r su b sta n ti ati o n o f thi s p o siti o n th e f o l

l owi n g p e r s o n a l l ette r s fr om M r Fr ede r i c k L H o ff . .
m a n chi e f st ti st c n to th e Prude n ti al I n su r a n c e
, a 1 1a
Comp a n y o f A m e r i ca a r e i n t r o duce d wi th o ut alte r

,
ati o n or a b r i d g m e n t
( IRFST H O FF M A N L ETTE R — DA TE D A U G U ST 5 , 19I O )

i
You w ll find all th e i nf o rm ati o n wh i c h you d e
si r e in my o o k o n th e R a ce T r ai ts a n d Te nd e n ci e s
o f th e Am er i ca n N eg r o a copy o f whi c h can b e o b ,
t ai n e d o n ad d r ess i ng M r T N C arv e r S ec r eta ry . . .

, ,
Ame r ica n Economi c Associ ati o n H a rva r d U n ive r

,
s i ty C amb ri dge M ass

, , Th e b o ok w as publi shed i n
.
1 8 9 6 a n d th e d at a h ave no t b een b ro u gh t dow n t o
date but I hop e to h a ve tim e to go i nto th e m atte r

,
ag a i n a fte r t h e resul t s o f t h e c ensus o f 1 9 1 0 ar e

av a il a bl e I t r equi res to b e s a id howeve r th at t he
.
, ,
g r e at s a nita ry a dv a nce o f th e count ry a s a whol e ,
a n d o f l a rge citi es i n p a rti cul a r h a s b een o f b e n efit

,
t o the N eg r o r a ce and th at t he re h as b e en a fall i n

,
th e de ath r ate from a ll cau s es bu t no t to th e exte n t

o f the c o rresp onding decline in t h e de a th rate o f th e
white p opulati on I am i n a po s i t i on to s ay a s th e
.
,
result o f exte n s ive co r r esp o n dence with Southe rn

physi ci a ns a n d tho r ough p e rs on a l i n vestig at i on that ,
the physical conditi on o f th e r ace p a rti cul a rly in th e

,
r u r al di stri cts a s well as i n th e ci t i e s h as de t e ri o r

,
ate d du ring the l ast ge n e r ati on a nd that b oth tu

,
b e rcu lo s i s a nd syphilis a re extremely common It is .
a lso t r u e th at drug h a bit s h a ve t a ken a n immens e

hold upon th e col o r e d p opul a tion in t h e South p a r ,
t i cu larly the m en empl oye d a long t h e Mi ssissippi

rive r a nd th e lumb e r camp s o f the Gul f States A n .
othe r un favo r able el emen t i s th e i ncre a sing tendency

towa r d c r i mi n a l a b o rti on and a diminished b i r th
r a te a s the result o f delib e r at e m ean s a s well as o f
a p o ssibl e inc r e as e in physi ol ogical ste rili t y .
“
Ou r C omp a n y h a s not fo r a numb e r o f ye a rs i n
su r ed N egro es except in ca s es wh e re w e we re c o m
p e lle d to do s o i n compli a nce wi th th e l aw Ab out .
fi fte en ye a rs a go b eginning wi t h M ass achus etts a

, ,
numb e r o f No rthe r n St a te s p a ss ed anti di scrimi n a -
t i on l a ws which p rohibite d comp ani es from cha rg

,
i ng a hi gh e r r a te to N egroes th an to whites i r re ,
s p e ct i v e o f the fa ct o f an excessive mo rt a li t y Th e .
P r udenti a l h a s not since th a t t im e s olici ted r i sks

amon g th e c o l o r e d popul at i o n b ut o f cou r s e i f suc h
, , ,
TH E A M E R I CAN NE G R O P R O BLE M 2 73
r i s k s o ff e r th e m s elves volu n ta r ily a n d ca n p a s s th e

r equi r e d m e dical examin ati o n th ey a r e accept e d but ,
such cas es a r e ve r y r a r e .
“
Althoug h I h ave b e e n qu oted to t h e e ffect th a t
th e N egro will ulti m a tely di s a pp e a r I am n ot o f th e ,
op i n i o n th a t th a t is l ikely to b e th e c a s e I am .
r a th e r o f th e opi n i on th a t th e r a ce will r e a ch a s t a
ti n a y co n di ti on ve r y much a s i s th e c a s e wi th th e
o r ,
Gyp si es i n E rop e and to a ce rt a i n extent with ou r

u ,
I n di a n p opul ati o n Th e e n o rm ou s i nflux o f n ew im

.
mi g r a n ts wi th a h i gh bi rth r ate will a l o n e b e su fh

, ,
ci e n t to p r ovi de a n atu r al i nc r em ent o f th e whi te

p opul ati o n fa r i n exces s o f t h e co r r e sp o n di ng i n c r e
m e n t o n th e p a r t o f th e colo r e d As th e di sp a rity i n
.
n umb e r s i n c r e a s e s th e N eg r o will te n d to b ecom e

m o r e an d m o r e a n e gl i gi b l e f a cto r excep t i n p a t i c r u
lar secti o n s wh e r e th e r a ce h a s ga in ed a num e r i ca l

a nd p r e do m i n ating po si ti o n .
( SEC ON D H OF F M A N LETTE R— DA TE D A U G U ST 1 7,
1910 )
Y o u m ay m a k e us e o f m y l ette r o f August fi f t h
a s you desi r e I n a dditi o n howeve r I m ay ca l l you r
.
, ,
a tt e n ti o n to th e foll owi n g comp a r ative death r ate s

o f t h e whi te and col o r e d p opul ati o n a cco r di n g to ,
th e m o r tali ty sta ti stics o f the Ce n su s o f 1 9 0 8 Th e .
i nf o r m ati o n i s fo r p r a cti c a lly all o f th e citi es o f th e

U n ite d State s excepti n g c e r ta in ve ry l a rge citi e s i n
,
the N o r t h Acco r di n g to thi s tabul ati o n whi ch ap

.
,
p e a r s o n p 2 6 o f th e r ep o r t o f th e C ensu s O ffi ce f o r
.
1 9 0 8 th e e n ti r e d e a th r at e wa s
, per and
th e co l o r ed d e ath r a te Fo r M o b il e Al a th e , .
,
r ate wa s fo r th e whit e a n d f o r t h e col o r

e d Fo r Wa shin gto n D C
.
, .f o r th e w h ite a n d
.
,
fo r th e c o l o r e d Fo r Atl a n ta G a
. fo r ,
.
,
th e whi te and fo r th e col o r ed Louisvill e Ky .

, .
,
fo r th e white an d fo r t he colo red N ew .
O rl ea n s L a , .
, fo r th e white an d for th e
colo r ed Ri chmo n d V a
.
, fo r the white a n d
.
,
fo r th e colo red .
“
Thes e r a tes a re su ffi ci ent t o sustai n th e co n clu
S i on th a t p r acti cally without excepti o n the de ath
, ,
r ate o f th e colo r ed popul ati o n m a te ri ally exceeds the

co rr esp o n ding de a th r ate o f the white p opulati o n at
th e p r es e n t tim e .
“
I c an also give you the r ates fo r ce rtai n No r th
e r n citi es fo r 1 90 8 whi ch a re a s follows : Chicago
, ,
Ill white
.
, colo red B osto n M a ss whit e , .
,
colo r ed St Loui s M o white

.
, .
,
colo red N ew Yo r k white col o r ed

,
Phil a delphi a white , col o red

“
Th e actu al di ff e r e n ces i n all cas es a r e r e ally
much g r e a t e r o n account Of the fact that th e age di s
,
t ri b u t i o n o f th e colo red p opul a ti on i s mo r e favo r

a bl e to c ru de low de a th r ate than the co r resp o n di n g
age distributi on o f th e whi te p opul ati on .
“
At p r es ent th e r e a re n o d a ta fo r recent yea r s
which p e r mit o f an a n alysi s o f the m o rt ality b y divi
”
s i o n al p e r i ods o f li fe .
In th es e lette r s we n o t only h ave ve ry r ece n t fig

u r e s S howi n g the te n dency o f N egro raci a l decli n e ,
but als o t h e opini on o f a m an who h as m ade a li f e

study o f th es e qu esti ons ; b oth o f which a r e c o nfirm a
to r y o f ou r co n clusi ons whi ch h ave b e e n r e ache d by
a comp r ehe n sive stu dy o f th e deepe r caus es lying
b ack o f stati stic a l evi de n ce .
Th e wide sp r e a d doctri n e th a t th e co n ditio n o f

-
th e N eg r o — at l e a st m o r ally a nd physi c a lly—must

b e m ade a s good a s th at o f the white m a n fo r the —
—
p r otect io n o f the l atte r i f f o r n o oth e r r e aso n i s a
,
si n g u l a r c o m bi n ati on o f l o g ic a nd s ophist r y I f th e .
TH E A M E R I CAN N E G R O P R OBLE M 2 75
wh i te s w e r e t o b e as c lo s e l y a s s o ci ate d w it h t h e
N e gr o a s th ey a r e wi th m e m b e r s o f th ei r ow n r a ce
th e r e w o ul d b e n o de n yi n g a ve r y m uch gre ate r n e
c es s i ty fo r e ff o r ts i n thi s di r ecti o n th a n a r e de m a n d
e d by a ctu al c on di ti on s . Th e mor als o f th e w hite s

wo ul d th e n b e i n flu e n ced to s om e exte n t at l e as t by
, ,
th e im m o r ali ty o f th e N eg r o ; a n d t h e h e alth o f th e
form e r w ould th e n b e di r ectly a n d s e r i ously j o p e ar
di z ed b y th e di s e a s e d co n diti on o f the l atte r B ut .

,
clos e c on ta ct o f t h e t w o r a ce s i s now a n d al w ays ha s

—
,
—
b e e n th e excepti o n a l r el ati on no t th e usu al a n d
,
w h e r e suc h cl os e c on t a ct still exi sts th e te n de n cy i s

st ron gly t ow a r ds s ep a r ati on .
I n fr e e d o m th e N eg ro h a s sh ow n a n i n c r e a si n g
te n de n cy to r aci a l s e gr e g ati o n a n d th e f e w w h o at
,
te m pt clo s e r co n ta ct a r e r ep ell e d a n d f o r ce d b ac k
, ,
b y co n ce r te d p r iv ate a cti o n a n d st atuto r y r e g ul ati o n

on th e p a r t o f t h e wh it es Th e r e fo r e th e statem e n t
.
th a t b oth m o r a l a nd physi cal n ecess iti e s o f th e w h ites

1mp e at iv ely de m a n d th at N e g ro h y g 1e n c condi ti o n s
r 1
b e m a d e e q u al to th o s e o f th e hi ghe r r a ce i s a v e r y
f a l s e V i ew to ta k e o f thi s fe atu r e o f th e p r obl e m .
I ts d esi r a b ility fr om a ce r t ai n sta n dp o i n t i s ad

, ,
m itt d b ut its u rge n t n e ce ssi ty i s a s p o sitively d e n i e d

e ,
.
Th e d r e a df ul scou r ge s th at fili ct th e N eg r o r a ce a r e
a
to s o m e exte n t a s ou r ce o f i n fecti o n to th ei r w hit e

n e ighb o r s b ut th e l a tt e r s succes s fully gu a r d
,
o
a gai n st thi s da n ge r a s to m a i n ta i n a m o rt ality r at e

ve r y n e a r ly i f n o t qui te as l o w a s th at o f com m u n i
,
t i es h avi n g n o N eg r o p opul atio n A f o r N eg r o

. S
m o r al i t y o r i mmo r ali ty (m o r e co rr ectly n o n m o

, ,
-
rali ty ) ,
i t h a s l ittl e i f a n y i n flu e n ce on th e m o r al
, ,
standa r ds o f th e w hit e r a ce B ut thi s statem e n t o f

.
f a ct sh o ul d n ot b e consi de r e d a n a rgum e n t i n f avo r

o f a sl a cke n ing V i gil a n ce o f th e w hites a s r ega r ds ,
th e mor a l a nd p h y s i ca l co nd i ti on of t h ei r N egro
2 7 6 THE U LTI MATE SOLU TION O F
n ei ghbo r s Imp roved sta n da rds o f Neg r o li fe i n
.
c ommuni t i es comp os ed o f b o t h races ce rtai n ly c , on

t ribu t e t o t he h e alth o f the white elem en t .
I f we ac ep t th e ve rdi c t o f sta t i ti ci ans and a ll

c s
othe r s who h ave given the subj ec t t hei r atten t i o n

including th e gove r nment au t ho ri t i e t hemselves s
t o t h e eff ect th a t t h e publi she d figu res o f th e ce n sus

rep o r t cove ring t h e decad e 1 8 7 0 1 8 8 0 a re i n a c
,
-
, c ur
at e and t h a t t h e Negro p opul a tion declined in r el a

t ive numb e r du ri n g t h at p e ri od t h e p e rcen t age o f
s ,
N egro p opul a t i on h a s declined in eve ry d ecade since

t h e ye a r 1 8 0 ; o r from the t im e o f t he p ass age o f a
1
l a w by Cong r ess restric t ing the impo r ta t ion o f Afri

c a n cap t ives .
Thi s we r ega rd mo st powe rful a rgume n t i n

a
f a vo r o f a con t in ati o n o f a simil a r de li n e during

u c
t he rem ainde r o f the p res e nt cen t u ry When we . re
m emb e r t h a t du ring th e p e r i o d m en t i o n ed ab ove we

h ave h a d fi fty ye a rs o f N egro s l ave ry and fi fty ,
ye a rs o f freedom and t h a t th e p e riod cove r s all

—
,
so rts o f co n diti o n s ye t without a single inte r r up

t i on o r reve rs a l o f t hi s declining p ercent a ge a nd
, ,
—
t h a t t h e p e rcentage o f N egro es h a s fallen (i n rou n d
numb ers ) from 1 9 p e r ce n t i n 1 8 1 0 t o 1 1 p e r cent
. .
i n 1 90 0 (a s t ill smalle r p ercentage will b e shown fo r

t h e census o f 1 9 1 0 ) we hold th a t i t i s hi ghly p rob
a bl e tha t a simil a r ra t e o f decli n e will c onti n u e
t h ro u ghout the p res ent ce n tu ry .
I f ou r re aso n i n g p roves to h ave b e en accu rate ,
the ye a r 2 0 0 0 will witness a N egro popul at i o n o f

l ess t h a n 3 p e r cen t which will b e to o sm a ll e s
.
,
—
p e c i a lly in V i ew o f th e t he n p rosp ect o f a continu a
t i on o f t hi s decline— t o give ei t he r t h e N a ti on o r ,
t h e indivi du al the le ast concern reg a rding the race

,
qu es t ion o f th e futu r e .
W e a r e a w a r e th at s o m e sti ll c on te nd t h a t t h i s
d ecli n e n r el at i ve n um e r i cal st r e ng th 1s sp e e d i l y t o
1
te rm i n ate a n d oth e r s yet who go still f u r the r a nd

, ,
i n ve n t th e o ri e s b y whi ch th e tabl es a r e to b e tu rn e d ,
a n d a r eve r s e p r o cess i ssu e i n ; but n V i ew o f th e I
m a s s o f ve r i fi abl e evi de n ce h e r ei n co n ta i ned to th e

co n t r a r y w e a r e u n a b l e to take th em s e r i ous l y .
I f th e n ou r p r edi cti o n s b e t r u e o r eve n p p o i

, , , a r x
m ately t r u e i t ca nn o t b e de n i e d th at w e h ave p o i n te d
,
th e sub stanti al e n d o f th e N eg r o p r o b l em i n th e
U n ite d Sta te s a n d th at to o wi thi n th e p r es e n t ce n
, , ,
tu r y .
Let u s r evi ew th e p o i n ts m a de i n thi s ch ap te r

alo n e i n supp o r t o f t h n tu l l ti e af t h p
ra b so u on o e ro
le m .
E sta b li sh e d m e n t al i n fe r i o r i ty i s given a s th e b a si s
o f th e a r gume n t a nd th e s ou rc e o f all m ino r i n flu
en c e s te n ding to r educe th e r el ative n u m e r i c al
st r ength o f th e N eg r o r a ce .
Th e whites a r e sh ow n to b e b ette r fi tte d i n eve ry

way fo r th e va ri ou s o ccup ati ons o ff e ring a m e a n s o f
e a r n i n g a com fo rta b l e exi ste n ce Thi s f act com
.
b in e d with th e fu r th e r f a ct th a t th e r e exi sts a st r o n g

mu tu al r a ce p r ej udi ce p r eve n ts th e N e gro fr o m
,
h avi n g a n equ a l ch a n ce wi th th e wh it e m a n Thi s .
com b in ati o n o f facts i s cau si n g th e N eg r o to s ca tte r

i nto th e N o r th a n d West wh e r e co n diti o n s a r e eve n
wo r s e th a n i n th e South .
At th e s a m e tim e th e r e i s o b s e rve d a mutu al s eg r e

g a t i o n i n th e cou n try di st r i ct s a n d i n th e citi,e s E ach .
r a ce showing a ten d e n cy to s ep a r ate i ts el f f“r om th”e

oth e r Thi s i s illust rate d b y th e Ri chm o n d A fr i ca
.
a n d a simil a r di st r i ct i n B altimo r e Th e n t h e r e i s .
als o show n a d ete r mi n e d pu r p os e o n t h e p a r t o f th e

whi te s to fo r ce b ack th at sm all e r el em ent o f N eg r o
p opul a tio n who woul d i n t r ude up on whi te r esi d e n ti a l
s ect i on s Th i s 13 i ll ust r ate d b y t h e ve r y r ece n t i n
.
2 7 8 TH E U LTI MATE SOLU TI ON O F
v en ti o n o f s eg reg a ti o n laws.
Th e well establi she d te n de n cy o f m ode rn li fe to

-
caus e a cl o s e r app r o ach to a com m o n typ e o f M a n

— Whi ch m e a n s eliminatio n o f the u n fit— i s deci dedly
a n adve r s e i n flue n ce t o th e su rvival o r i n c r e as e o f
, ,
ou r N eg r o p o pul ati o n .
A no th e r evi de n ce o f a slacke n i n g r ate o f N eg ro

i n c r ea se u n de r th e p r essu r e o f whi te co m p e t itio n
,
a nd r a ce p r ej u di ce i s th e r ece n t compl a i n t of Ca n
,
a da o f the l a r ge n umb e r s a n nu ally c r ossi ng he r b o r

de r f r om th e U n ite d States .
I t i s n ot h e r e co n te n ded th at the N eg r o r ac e i n
Ame r i ca will sp eedily di s app e a r but r ath e r that ex
,
i s ti ng a dve r s e i n flue n ces w ill caus e a co n ti n u ati on o f

hi s decli n i n g r el ativ e n um b e r s . Thi s p ositio n i s
s t r ongly supp o r ted by th e Ho ff m a n l ette r s i nt r o
du c e d (Th e Ai n o r ace o f J p
a an i s the b est o f e v i
de n ce tha t a r a ce ca n i n defi n itely e n du r e—i n r educed
.
n u m e rs — eve n i n the f a ce o f a st ron g r ace p reju

dice p
Selfish mo tives do n ot de m a n d that the white r ac e
st r ive to b r i n g N eg r o hygi e n e a n d N eg ro mor ali ty
up to th e high sta n da r ds o f th e fo r me r a s s o m e have
,
atte m pte d to m ake i t app e a r N eg r o i mm o r ali ty ha s

.
l ittle o r no b e a r i n g o n th e white m a n s e thical st a n d

’
a r ds Hi s physi cal u n cl e anli n ess ce r t a i n ly ha s s o m e

.
i n flu e n ce o n th e heal th of hi s white n ei ghb o r s b ut it,
i s sho wn that thi s i s slight u n de r the r igi d vigila n ce

of the l atte r t o p r otect its el f ag a i n st thi s da n ge r .
—
O n the o the r h a n d a n d ap a rt f r om the m or al
—
questi o n i nvolved a gre a t m a n y white p eople in
l ocaliti es h avi n g a l a r ge N egro p opul ati o n l o ok up on
e ach indivi du al N egro as a sou r ce o f co n sta n t m e n
ace t o thems elves a n d the r efo r e h ave n ot the sli ght
,
e s t obj ectio n to th e p r eval e n ce o f p esti l e n ce dis

,
e as e s and d e ath among th at r ac e s o lo ng as t h ey

,
TH E A M E RI CA N N E G RO P RO B LEM 2 79
( th e wh i tes ) fe el re as on a bl y f from con ta m i n a

sa e
ti on .
Th e wh it e r ac e i s n ot a s a ru l e n su ffi ci e n tl yc l o s e
, , 1
c o n ta ct w i th th e N e gro f o r d i s e a s e s to sp r e a d r ap i d
ly from th e o n e r a c e t o th e th e r ; a n d th e b o nd s o f
o
u nion an d a s s oci a ti o n are b ei ng c on ti n u al l y l ess e n e d

a nd seve red .
CHA PTE R XX
Su mmary a nd C o n c lus i o n
N THE e a rly ch a pters o f thi s wo rk we h ave

given t he r e a de r a n outli n e o f t he imp or ta n t
facts conce r n ing t he o r igi n o f the huma n sp eci es
and t he n atu r e o f its e a rly developme nt .
Th e obj ect o f thi s 1s to S how o n t h e one h and tha t

th e N egro typ e h as from t he ve ry beginning b e en t he
most b ackwa rd divi sio n o f th e r ace ; a n d on the
othe r t h a t th e C aucasi c typ e ha s com e to its position
,
o f sup e r i o r intellige n ce and physical fit n ess fo r all

clim at es by u n told ages o f S li ght na t ural a dapta
,
t i o n al cha n ges to vastly mo re va ri ed conditi ons Thi s .
fe atu re o f the subj ect i s reg ar ded a s one o f t he

fu n dame n tal el em e n ts co n cerned in the s olutio n o f
th e Negro p robl em by na t u r a l caus es
—
.
A fte r showing th at until ve ry rece n tly a n d t o a

—
g r e at exte n t even n ow t h e geogr a phic dom a i n o f
the Negro h as b e e n tropi c a l o r s em 1 t ropical and
, ,
th e r e fo r e a dve rs e t o m ental a dva n cemen t we h ave ,
taken up t h e subj ect o f t he A frican stock from whi ch

ou r Am e ri can N egro wa s chi efly drawn This stock .
i s s hown to b e i n cap abl e o f p roduci n g a civili zati o n

o f any ki n d U n a ssoci a t ed with the whi t e m a n i t i s
.
b eli eved by som e to exhibi t a te n dency t owa rd g r e a t

e r depths o f deg r a dation .
The n it i s also shown t h at t he metho ds empl oyed

in th e captu re o f thes e N egro es tended t o supply the
Afric a n t r a de r with t h e very lowes t s t r a tum o f thi s
b a rb a ri an r a ce fo r t r anspo rt a ti o n as ch a ttel s t o the
Ame r i ca n col o n i sts— a class l a r gely hel d as S l aves by
2 80
th e s avages th e m s elve s .
Th e ho rr o r s o f th e mi ddl e p a s s a ge a nd e a r ly
,
colo n i al t r e atm e n t o f sl ave s a r e show n to co i n ci de

,
w i th th e r est o f hi s hi sto r y a s tendi n g to p rev e nt ,
r ath e r th a n to c aus e m e n tal o r m o r al imp r ovem e n t

,
o f a n y k ind .
H a rsh l aws fo r th e e a r ly r egul ati o n o f S l ave r y i n

Am e ri ca a r e als o show n to h ave b e e n a f u r the r ad
ve r s e i n flu e n ce .
Fol l owi n g out thi s li n e o f i n v esti gati o n w e h av e

p r es e n te d i n th e fou rth a n d fi fth ch a pte rs a sci e n tific
i n vesti gati o n o f th e N e g r o b r a i n and o f N eg r o m e n
t al faculti es a n d th e facts thus r eve al e d a r e fou n d t o
,
b e i n p e r fe ct h a rm o n y with th e p revi ous hi sto r y of

th a t r ace H i s b r a i n i s fou n d to b e d eci dedly sm a ll
.
e r th a n th at o f high e r r ace s Th e a n te r i o r l ob es
—
.
th e thi nk i n g p a r t a r e eve n di sp r op o rti o n ately

sm all e r ; s o much s o t h at hi s skull i s des c r i b e d a s e gg
sh ap e d wit h th e p o i n te d e nd fo r w a r d M o r e o ve r
, .
th e ei ght b o n es th a t coll ectively f o r m th e os s eou s

cove ri n g o f th e b r ai n b ecom e u n ited m th e N e gr o
a b out th e twel fth ye a r e n cas in g th e b r ai n I n a r i gi d
,
w all a n d m aking i ts fu r th e r developm ent i mpo ssi b l e ;

whil e i n th e hi ghe r r a ce s th es e b o n es r em a i n mo r e o r
l e ss s ep a r ate up to th e fo rti eth ye a r p e rmitti n g a
,
conti n u ou s developm e n t u n til th e m e r i di a n o f l i fe 18

p a st .
M a n y o th e r s ci e n ti fi c fa cts a r e given a s co n c r ete

p r o o f o f th e s el f evi de n t f act o f m e n tal i nf e r i o r ity
-
o f th e N eg r o typ e .
Still fu r th e r o n i t i s show n th a t th e m ake r s o f th e

N a ti on a l C onsti tuti o n we r e well awa r e o f th e
ini qu ity a n d folly o f th e i n stitutio n o f u n limit ed S l av
e r y a n d whi l e eva di n g th e wh ol e qu esti o n s o fa r a s
, ,
p o ssibl e only r ecogni z e d hum a n ch atteli sm a s th e

,
l e s s e r o f ev i l s i n a cho i ce b et w e e n a n att em pt t o re
p u d a tie sl ave ry a n d a failu r e to i n au g u r ate the Con

st i tu t i o n I n f a ct any othe r cou rs e would have me an t
.
de fe at fo r b oth the r atificati o n o f the C o n sti tutio n

an d t he e ff o rt to abolish t h e insti t uti on o f sl ave ry .
The South wa s r e a dy to r epudi ate the p rop os ed C o n

s ti tu ti o n i f i ts p rovi sio n s in t e rfe r ed i n a n y way with
the holding o f sl aves .
Li n col n exp ressly r eco gn i ze d N eg r o i n fe r i o r ity ,
but fought fo r j usti ce a n d the g u a ra n tee o f natu r al

r ights to all m e n a s outli n ed i n th e D ecl a r atio n o f
,
I n dep e n de n ce a n d in th e C o n stituti o n .
The ci r cumsta n ce th a t th e N eg r o r ace too k n o

volu n ta ry p a r t i n th e st ruggl e fo r hi s f r e edom eve n
,
a fte r the i ssu e o f Li n coln s E ma ncip a ti o n P r o clama

’
~
ti o n i s fu rthe r evi de n ce o f r a ci al i n a ni ti o n
,
.
Th e s eque n ces o f th e C ivil Wa r th r e w the Neg r o

i n op e n a n d active comp eti ti on with the white m a n
fo r gai n a n d h ad it not b e en fo r a ce rt a i n spi r it o f
,
g e n e r o sity on th e p a rt o f the l atte r a ve r y g r e at p a r t

,
o f th e N egro p opul atio n woul d h ave p r o m ptly p e r

i Sh ed .
Thus it i s s e e n th at Ema n cip a ti o n a n d R e c o n

s tr u c ti o n s et i n motion th e fo rces th at s e r ved to
m ai n tai n a high N eg r o mo rtali t y r ate which forces

, ,
i n the e n d will su ffice to solve the vexati ous p r oblem

,
w i th whi ch thi s w ork i s co n ce r ne d .
Th e pu rp os e to tell wh at we co n ceive to b e the

whol e t ruth fea rl essly an d without rega r d to s ec
,
t i o n al feeling o r i n dividu al difl e re n c e s is m ade pl ai n .
Th e p rocess o f gradu al crowding out by which

th e N eg r o i s b ei ng e li mi n a te d i s show n to b e in co m
p l e t e h a rmony w i th the n a t u r al l aw o f the s urv i v a l
o f t h e fitt e s t .
C ontinui n g th e pu r suit o f a co nn ected a r gume n t

it i s S hown that i n eve ry sep a r ate deca de fo r a b u n
d r ed y e a r s p ast th e r e l ative n u m e r i ca l st r engt h o f
th e N eg ro i n th e U n ite d States h as d ecli n e d ; a n d

th a t a co n ti n u ati o n o f a simil a r r ate of decli n e will
r eli eve thi s n ati o n o f a s e r i ous r a ce p r o bl e m b e f o r e
th e e n d o f th e p r es e n t ce n tu r y .
The a ccu r a cy o f all th e s e d e d ucti o n s i s still

f u r th e r supp o r te d b y i m p a rt ial stati sti cs p r e s e n te d ,
a n d by th e Ho ff m a n l ette r s i n t r o duce d .
A fte r showi n g th at a t l e a st s eve n ty fiv e p e r ce n t -

.
o f all th e p eopl e must i n o b edi e n ce to a n i n exo r a bl e

,
dec r e e o f n atu r e co n ti n u e to occupy th e m s elve s wit h

,
th e p e r fo rm a n ce o f m a n u a l l a bor we co n c l u d e th at
t h e m a ste r r a ce— h avi n g m u ch to o l a r ge a n e d ucate d
cl as s o f i ts own— w i ll i n f utu r e a s i n th e p ast r eta i n
, ,
to i ts el f p r a cti ca l ly all p o siti o n s calli n g for th e u s e

f u l appl i cati o n o f b o ok l e a rn i n g -
.
I t i s l i k e w i s e f u r t h e r co n cluded th a t si n ce th e
—
N eg r o r a ce i s p o or i t m ust i f i t woul d su rvive a nd
—
p r o sp e r eve n i n r educed n um b e rs a pply its e l f to
,
th e e a rn i n g o f i ts d ai l y b r e a d an d th e r e b ei n g n o
,
opp or tu n i ty to do thi s ot h e r th a n b y m a n u a l l a b o r
, ,
e ducati on a b ov e th e th r e e Rs a nd aw ay fro m t h e
wo rk th at i ts h igh est i n te r e sts de ma nd th at i t as s i d u
,
o u s ly pu r su e , n eces s a r ily m ilitate s a ga i n st t h e su r

v i v al o f th e r a ce .
I n suppo r t o f th e w hol e a r gu m e n t t h e f act i s

b r ough t out th at f ew i f a n y N eg r o e s h ave eve r b e
, ,
co m e excepti o n ally d i sti n gui sh e d .
Th e m o r e co n spi cuou s a mon g th e v a r i o u s p l a n s

o f s oluti o n o f t h e p r o bl em b y di r ect w h i te i nte rv en
,
ti o n a r e ta k e n up a nd e a c h m tu rn r e fut e d a s t o o im
,
p r o b a bl e to b e r e ga r de d s e r i ously .
T h e wo rk o f th e N ati o n a l Col o n i z ati o n So ci ety

o f Am e ri ca i n est ab l i sh i n g th e N e g r o r epu b li c o f
Li b e r i a 1n A fr i ca 18 r evi e w e d a s a d d iti o n a l ev i d e n ce
, ,
o f N eg r o i nf e r i o r ity .
M e ntal i nferi o ri ty i s aga i n d ec l a r ed t o b e th e

gre at ce n tral truth i n th e m any c ontributing causes

to th e n a t u ral s oluti o n o f t h e p r obl em .
C l os e con ta c t o f th e two r a ces rs S hown to b e con

s t an tly l es s ening a s a result o f the resp ec t ive s eg r e
g a t i o n o f e ach t o its el f This s eg r eg at i on is b o t h

.
volu n ta r y and enfo rced t hus con s ti tu t ing a n eve r i n

,
c r e a si n g ca u s e o f N egro r e t rogressi o n .
The causes o f na t u r a l elimin at i on o f th e N egro

p r es e n ted in this wo rk a pply in g r e a t m ea su re to t he
South A f ri c a n ra ce p roblem There a re ce rt a i n el e
.
m en t s such as clim at i c fit n es s a nd a p repondera n ce

,
o f N egro popul a ti on (a mo u n t ing t o 8 to 1 in favo r

o f t h e Negro ) in South A fri ca whi ch s erve t o m ake
,
th at p r obl em slowe r bu t i t s eem s to b e only a m a tte r

,
o f a gre a te r l ength o f t im e when t he whi te s will

th e re also gre a tly exce ed th e bl a cks i n nume ri cal
stre n gth .
Summi n g up th e n and contempl at ing a s a whol e

, ,
th at which the successive ch a p t ers h a ve p res en t ed

i n p a r t s we a re a bl e to s e e how e a ch mino r g r oup
o f t ru t hs f a ll s in t o its n a tu r a l pl ace wi t hi n s om e m a
j o r group a n d how a ll m aj o r groups fit into thei r
,
s eve ral pl a ces ab out t he gr a nd cent r al fact o f me n

ta l i nf e ri o ri ty o f the N e g r o ra ce .
Fin a lly then a nd in con c lusi on we b eli eve the fol

, ,
l owing fac t s h ave b e en a bund a ntly demonst r ated

Th a t th e N egro i s ve ry de c idedly i n fe rio r to th e
whi te m an in m e nt al cap acity ; t h at the r e i s a deci ded
tendency towa rds a mo re o r l ess compl ete elimin a
ti on o f th e Am e ri can N egro a s a n unfit element o f
ou r popul a ti o n ; an d th a t the c a uses op e ra ting to
b ring ab out thi s s oluti on o f the N eg r o p r o ble m will
p e r si st and ultim ately— and within t he p resent ce n
tu ry— s o reduce th e rel a tive nume ric a l stren g th o f
, ,
th at ra ce a s to h ave remove d the N eg r o p r obl em

fro m th e fi el d o f s e r i ous n ati o n al q uesti on s .
THE A M E RI CAN N EG RO PRO BLE M 2 85
Wh eth e r o r n o t we h av e ta k e n i n to a ccou n t all th e

i n flu e n ce s co n ce rn e d i n thi s s o ci ol ogical p r obl em a n d
gi ve n e a ch its p r op e r valu ati o n r em ai n fo r th e i m
,
p a r ti al and di scrimi n ati n g r e a de r to de fin itely d e

te rm i n e
.

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Th e U lt i m a t e S o lu t i o n

Negr o Trai ts an d Ch arac teris ti cs— Th e ir I n

Th e Tes t i m o n y o fi iSt a t s t cs to N u m eri cal R et

a ccumul ated system ati ze d kn owl e dge fo rm ul ate d

fo r th e di scov e ry o f ge n e r al l aws Wh eth e r o r n ot

I h ave succe ede d i n thi s r em ai n s to b e d ete rm i n e d b y

h a ve b e en well fou n de d I b eli eve i t will b e a d m itte d

doubt i t will app e a r t o s om e th a t I h a v e go n e t o o

lust r ati o n s th at do n ot di r ectly b e a r up o n the th e m e .

such el a b o r a ti on th e sci e n ti ﬁ c m atte r contai n ed i n th e

th e N egro mi n d a n d ch a ra cte r I h ave suc ce ede d i n

l a rgely dep e n de n t up on th e a dmi ssi o n o f th e f u nd a

ga rdi n g th e a ccu r a cy o f my de ducti o n s a n d p r e d i c

s t i tu t e th e j ust an d lo gi ca l arb i t o rs.

Fo r m a n y cou r te si e s a n d valu abl e a id m s ecu r i ng

in fo rm a ti o n I a m gre atly indebted to the V i r gi n i a

indebtedne s s t o m a ny s t udi ous f r i e n ds who h ave ai d

D a rwin Amel i a V a Sept 1 1 9 1 2

N w r iti n g o n Th e N egro P r obl em we ca nn ot

sh r ou ded the b i rth o f ou r e a rli est a n cesto r s .

I n m o st wri ti ngs on th e r a ce qu esti on th e su b j ect

a n d u n s ci en ti ﬁc ally Th e wri te r som etim e s selecti n g

a s hi s sta rt in g p o i n t th e imp o rt a ti on o f N e gro S l ave s

i n to th e Am e ri ca n col oni es a nd aga in h e b egi n s with

Li n co ln 8 Em a n ci p ati on Pro cl a m ati o n an d s o o n

N o su ch w r i ti n g howeve r cl eve rly do n e c an h op e t o

luci d ate thi s questi o n n o r ca n i t p r es e n t to th e mi n d

o f th e re a de r a compl ete p i ctu r e o f th e N eg r o c h a r

I n co n si de ri n g th e ultim ate s oluti o n o f th e p rob

suppli e d w i th the f a cts o f cau s a ti o n whi ch l att e r ,

h ave p ro duce d b oth th e r a ce a n d its p res e n t e n vi r o n

f r om th e whit e r a ce i n o rde r to co n si de r i n t elli

Th e imp o r tatio n o f N egro e s i n to th e Am e r i ca n

but ve ry lit tl e r efl e c t i on w a s ne eded to c onvince us

s e tt ing fo r t h t he condi t i on s u nde r whi ch t he hum a n

divi ded in t o t he s eve r a l mo re o r le s s di s t in c t va ri e

In t h e a b s ence o f t he in fo rm at ion c on ta ined in this ,

and t he t h re e o r fo u r immedi at ely s u cce eding ch a p

whi t e pop u l at ion witho u t som e el emen ta ry knowl

edge o f t he i nﬂ u ence o f envi ronm en t a nd o f i mb e r

From t he over t hrow o f t he We s t ern Roman Em

o r t h e di s c ove ry o f Am e ric a in t he ﬁ fte en t h cen t u ry

c on s t i t u t es one o f t he mo s t rem a rk a bl e p e ri ods i n

hi s t o ry Thi s e r a i s gene r a lly re fe rred t o a s t he

M iddl e Age s or D a rk Ages S u p e rs t i t i on w a s ri fe

Sin c e t h at t im e howeve r M a n s powe r s o f investi

in ve ry re c en t ye a r s M a n h a s i n t ruded u pon the s e c

dis c ove ri e s h e h as b ro u gh t fo r t h her a n t h ropoi d

it i s impo r ta n t to deﬁn e the s t a r t ing point o f the

to re co g n l z e th e s e r i ous di fﬁ culti e s whi ch we a re to

th e p e opl e o f ou r own country a s els ewhe r e a r e

s tr o n gly i n clin ed to h ol d f a s t to a rb itr a ry a nd u n

r egrettabl e c i r cum s ta nce i s th e ten dency o n t h e p a r t

ti o n do c tri n es p ro p a g a te d by i nte rest ed p a r t i s a n s

a re a ctu a te d by ulte ri o r m o t ives Thi s a pp a rent

l a c k o f i n dep end e n t r eﬂ ec t i on 1s s triki n gly s ingul a r

cultivated to a degre e n eve r b e fo re known i n th e h i s

I n a cou rt o f j u sti ce th e l a w requi re s th a t all ava il

c e i v e d V i ews a s r eli cs o f th e Wa r B etwe e n th e States ,

n o r as h ei rlo oms o f ou r ance sto rs ; but a s i ntelli ge n t

On a ccount o f thi s a ttitude o f unwill ingn ess to b e

ﬁxe d op ini o n s we ca nno t consi de r th e s ci entiﬁ c ac

count o f th e n atu ra l d evelo pm ent o f t h e hum a n r a ce