at the heart of the republic that shall one day prove as dangerous as an attack from an army without or within." After all these years have passed the following incident shows that Booker T. Washington's words have fallen upon barren soil. THE COLOR LINE AMONG SPANISH WAR VETERANS.-"Recently a camp of Spanish war veterans in Washington, composed entirely of Negroes, proposed consolidation with a white camp. The proposition was repelled with energy. Not content with that attempt to obliterate the color line, Past Commander Worrell Ball renewed the effort the other night at a reception to National Commander-in-Chief Walter Scott Hale, at Grand Army Hall, where both white and Negro veterans had gathered, by declaring that "the color line does not exist in the Spanish War Veterans." His declaration was not only hissed, but many whites left the hall. The color line is definitely drawn everywhere. Its eradication is impossible. All effort in that direction is not only futile, but operates as a positive injury to the Negro, as it tends to arouse race antagonism." This editor says that the color line is definitely drawn everywhere, and that the eradication of it is impossible, and wherever attempted it "operates as a positive injury to the Negro." First, why? Because it "tends to arouse race antagonism." Secondly, how? By giving him the shadow of a hope of social equality. Thirdly, because his skin is dark or black, his hair kinky, and he has once been a slave, and by the law of "might makes right," must be eternally doomed to the realms of an inferior being. Fourthly, to sum up the whole matter, the common phrase of the South is appliable "The nigger must be kept down." The editor does not say all this in the above comment, but he who runs may read between the lines all that is meant to be conveyed in every reference to this subject. THE COLORED GENTLEMAN.-Once upon a time he may have crawled up to his master, and kissed the dust from his feet in humble submission, but conditions have changed. The "smart nigger," the enlightened colored gentleman of today is a different psychological product. While he may have inherited some of the worst elements in two races, he also decidedly inherited the noble qualities which form the foundation upon which a noble race may well be founded. We are prepared to meet the criticism of the biased. We have knowledge of instances of the noblest sacrifices, the bravest deeds of heroism, and the chivalrous characteristics so well marked in him, that to dispute this point would be nonsense, or rather indicate a sad lack of information on the part of the investigator. Space does not permit us to give illustrations here, but a little investigation on the part of the reader will prove to him the truth of our statement. COLORED CHILDREN GENTLEMAN.-Should we OF THE compare the children of this class with those of the northern whites, we find a marked contrast and a heavy balance on their side in many cases, in regard to obedience to parents and respect for both whites and blacks of mature years. Any unbiased southerners will testify to this fact. This has been to us one of the most pleasing qualities found in these people. It counts for much. And then when we find that these children are also taught to be thrifty and industrious and make something of themselves, we feel a sensation of hope and brighter days for the American colored folk. When we stop and think of the contrast between these little folks of color, who are for the most part kept busy in the field and home, or at something in the city or in school, and then are reminded of the great army of white boys and girls, North and South, who idle away so much of their time that Icould be devoted to some useful as well as instructive vocation, we cannot help but believe that these little dark people are on the right road to future moral and industrial greatness. We admonish parents to ever keep before them the duty of teaching their children to be industrious. It is with a philanthropic feeling, undoubtedly well-meaning and genuine, that time and money are at present spent in northern cities for the establishment of well-equipped, extensive playgrounds for children. This is all good and well for the smaller ones, but that larger children should thus idle away their time in play, is not conducive to good morals or future good citizenship. The foundation for usefulness and industry must be laid early in a child's life. In other words, it must be taught early to do something and form the habit of doing something. It is with great pleasure and profound admiration that we often watch the little brown hands do useful things and a great variety of things, and the little minds ever busy to conjure up some way in which the thing in hand might be done a little quicker and a little better. As for intelligence; these children certainly deserve great credit. But it is phrenologically known that Negroes are generally bright in early childhood, and in the cross breeds none of this native alertness seems to be lost; neither have we found that |