Newly Acquired Territory Presents a New Problem to the American People.
“The rather unusual activity of lawless persons throughout the country of late, especially the lynching element, has started anew a flood of opinions and discussion of what is termed the ‘negro problem.’ As of yore, diverse opinions, sometimes diametrically opposite, are expressed. There is one striking likeness in all, however, and that is, the evident belief of the writers that each has discovered the panacea for the great negro ‘affliction.’ The virtues and vices of the negro are discussed at length, all seeming to forget that there is nothing especially remarkable in negro humanity differing from the balance of mankind under the same circumstances. He is ignorant, dirty, vicious and lazy, or, intelligent, clean, peaceful and thrifty under precisely the same circumstances that affect the balance of mankind.
“I doubt very much whether there is any such thing as an unsolved ‘negro problem,’ since the negro was granted the same rights and privileges as others enjoy under the Constitution. There certainly was a problem before that, but when the government clothed the negro with the full rights of freemen the problem was solved, and there remains now but to allow the slow process of time to adjust ourselves to the situation.
“The negro is a citizen of the United States, invested with the suffrage, guarded by the most solemn and positive safeguards, and the nation will never turn back the pages. And all that now remains, as said, is to adjust ourselves to these unalterable conditions. The age of miracles is probably past, certain it is that this is not an age of miracles; hence, we do not look for the elevation of a despised and formerly enslaved race to the full plane of its surroundings in a day, nor in any time short of that usually required to elevate mankind generally. The process seems slow and discouraging except, possibly, to those who have lived long enough to comprehend the changes that have been wrought over a period of many years. Remarkable advancement has been made by the whole people since the proclamation of freedom was issued, and we should be well satisfied that on every hand progress is reported and manifest.
“Whatever may be the treatment accorded the negro, he nevertheless, recognizes the fact that his condition is an improvement upon the condition which might have been his had his progenitors remained in the shade of the Dark Continent. Reckoning over a period of two hundred and fifty years, he has been much the gainer and has no disposition to return to his ancient condition. He has now passed the problematic stage; there is nothing doubtful, untried or unsolved in his case. His is an open book.