the stamina of the Negro is lost in the children of the fairer parents, or in the offspring of a white man and a fair colored woman. The result of such crossing depends invariably upon the constitution and health of the parties who thus cross, as it does with people of the same

race.

We do not give illustrations to prove these statements here, but have simply touched upon this matter in passing, to prepare the reader for a fuller discourse.

A BAD ELEMENT, NOT A CREDIT.It is not the colored man's fault that he is not what the whites would wish him to be. The power that moves and controls the destiny of all mankind, includes him and shapes him as well as every other creature in the evolutionary process. There is an element among them, to be sure, that is not a credit to the race or to our age. And we are convinced that the southern states must, in the near future, provide means to rid themselves of this degenerate, criminal class. Why such men as Senator Tillman, ex-Governor Vardaman and others should so hopelessly lose themselves in the race question, is more than we can comprehend. An incredible amount of harm is done the South by such men. They do not represent the real sentiment of their country, or any country, but arouse the devilish, groveling

instinct of the bloodthirsty beast of prey, without a shadow of justice or reason. Let human justice step in, calm, considerate, and the race question will be solved and settled for all time, and a superior people will be the result; and this great Southland will blossom like a rose, and its dusky citizens will prove indispensable to the greatest of all countries on earth.

We here ask, is it fair, is it just that the enlightened, respectable colored people of the South should be classed with their unfortunate, depraved black brothers? Should those who have striven against mountains of obstacles, and have risen in spite of them, be thus classed? Should any white man, North or South, with any sense of decency, of justice, ever open his mouth and say "all Negroes are alike?”

CHAPTER VII

COLOR AGAINST WHITE

A WRONG FEELING.-A feeling prevails among a scattered class of colored people in the South and elsewhere, that the whites are invariably opposed to them socially-that there can never exist a feeling between them to the extent of co-operation in business, society and religion-visiting and returning visits, and in other ways cultivate the Christian spirit, as becomes a free people of a free country.

Now, while we have found that the common run of whites, which constitutes a majority, are opposed to and prejudiced against socially, industrially, politically or religiously mingling with color; we have discovered, and are aware of, a spirit of liberality or toleration in a cultured few in nearly every neighborhood throughout the country, that points toward a better fraternal feeling and the social emancipation of at least the better class of people of color in the near future. Furthermore, it cannot be denied that the colored people themselves are to blame for a great deal of the nefarious colorphobia contagion prevalent in America. When we started out to prepare this book we promised

ourselves and all concerned that we would tell the truth, so help us God, and that promise stands.

The Negro cannot forever fall back on the fact that he has been a slave, and consequently is irresponsible. That he was taught to steal and must steal still; that he was taught, by cruel treatment, to hate the white man, and that he must hate him still; that he was in poverty, superstition and ignorance, and must continue to plead poverty, ignorance and immunity from all responsibility. We tell an absolute truth when we say that there exists as much prejudice of color against white today, as white has ever harbored against color. We have made numerous experiments along this line, and have, for the most part, found that the better class of Negroes have no fraternal feeling or sociability toward the white man in the South. No matter how kind the white man may be toward them, or how far he may press his society upon them, there is generally little or no response, and he is made to feel that he is none too welcome among them. Yet, we have heard the complaint by this class, that the white man will not recognize them or treat them with respect, socially.

A FRATERNAL SPIRIT AND A TIE THAT BINDS.-Not long ago a refined, intelligent southern gentleman, who has been a

confederate soldier, told us that in all his long life and varied experiences with the "darkey," he could sincerely say that he would far rather have a good colored family for a close neighbor, and his intimate friends, to any whites. He could call upon them at any time, in case of need or emergency, and they would generally stand ready and willing to assist you and do what they could for you. And these old southerners do not speak thus flippantly, or without tangible reasons. Perchance, their thoughts sometimes revert to the "dear old plantation, 'way befo de wah," and they once more feel themselves nestled in the big, soft arms, against the broad, heaving bosom, beneath which the throbbing of a big, loving heart could be felt; and they again catch the broad smile, and see the row of glittering white teeth, and the play of sunshine light up that big, black, maternal face; and they again hear the cooing of the old plantation melodies, as they are gently rocked to and fro, until they lose themselves once more in the dreamland of slumber on the arms of their old black mammy, their dear old mammy, long since gone to the dreamland from whence there is no return. No monument may shade her lonely grave, telling of her life of love and devotion to the holy cause of rearing some of the greatest men and women of their generation, yet she was a heroine.