ployed for the most part in the colored schools heretofore, but the tendency is to displace them by colored teachers, so far as practicable. If not, the relation between teacher and pupil is not an exceptionally close one, and the white teacher is preferred by colored parents, where he is preferred, mainly because of his racial authority and habit of control. But leaving the teacher out of the question, the white and black children are kept jealously apart throughout their early years. The lesson of racial distinctions and prejudices is the first and plainest lesson they are taught in the very schools which are to fit them for future citizenship. There could be but one consequence of such a system of "education" if applied to any marked classes in any community and that consequence is fully exhibited in the South. The strongest antagonisms are manifested already between the younger members of the races, now entering manhood and womanhood. The "old family servants" are almost the only remaining bond between them, and when these shall have vacated the stage of life, together with their old master and mistress, that last bond also will have been broken.

The difference of sentiment between the older people of the two races, on the one hand, and between the younger people on the other, is too well known to require more than this slight mention. The obvious fact is that the races have moved far apart in the course of one generation,

and that the gap widens yearly. The Southern white man never contemplates the possibility of closer relations. The Negro entertains little or no hope of closer relations. There is peace between them so long as the Negro "knows his place" and keeps his place, and no longer. The slightest assertion of equality provokes a conflict, in some form, and the Negro is never the victor. He has made some costly mistakes, but has learned a lesson from them. He seldom asserts himself very positively now; and when he does assert himself the lesson is usually taught anew, promptly and impressively. He knows his place at last, very nearly, and is keeping to it very closely, being hedged around by a thousand invisible thorns and spears which materialize the instant he approaches forbidden ground, and prick him or pierce him according as he presses against them. The lesson of the school-room is the lesson of his whole life.

The writer does not wish to be betrayed into any exaggeration, to miss any important qualification, to state any fact offensively, or to mislead himself or others by sweeping generalizations. What is desired rather is to present the plain, broad facts of the existing status of the Negro in the Southern States, and some of the plainest and broadest of these facts, as they appear to be, have been presented as frankly and honestly as practicable. If some of the assertions that have been made have somewhat of a dogmatic char

acter, this may be pardoned, because it is impossible to go into details of evidence or argument on every point within the scope of this book. A volume would be required indeed to exhibit fully any one of several phases of the negro question which have been passed over in a line or two. Moreover, it is not possible to anticipate every objection or denial, or to guess at what passages they will be directed. It is probable that no statement of fact whatsoever, on this general subject, could be made without being called into question by some critic on one side or the other. There are not wanting those who would still deny that Slavery was injurious to the States which tolerated it; that Emancipation was due to military necessity; and that Reconstruction was a national nightmare. There are some persons who deny constantly and publicly and strenuously that there is the slightest interference with the Negro's exercise of the right of suffrage in the South, at any time or place. The best that one can do, under these circumstances, perhaps, is to tell the truth as he sees it, and as freely and fully and honestly as he can, leaving his words to justify themselves if they can in the minds of honest, truth-seeking and truth-loving men. This course the writer has tried to pursue, by the light of conscience, without motive for misrepresentation, and without regard for aught but the truth and its seemingly vital consequence. What he has written must stand for itself,

The main fact perhaps is enough after all, if we can accept it alone. That fact is, as it has been stated, that the two races in the South are absolutely separate and apart in every relation of life, and meet in friendly intercourse, or in formal intercourse, only on the ground that remains of the old relationship of master and slave. When the Negro, in other words, cannot or will not serve the white man in a capacity or in a position or under circumstances where equality is out of question, or where his inferiority is distinctly and unwaveringly recognized, on both sides, as a condition of the service or association, they do not meet at all except under compulsion; and outside of this kind of association they certainly have no dealings with each other, nor expectation of any dealings.

VI.

RACE-PREJUDICE, SOUTH AND NORTH.

THE " cause" of the condition of things outlined in the preceding chapter need not be discussed at very great length. It is as well known. and as well understood, perhaps, as it ever will be. We are not expounding mysteries, nor investigating new discoveries. It is enough for our purpose that the line of separation which has been so broadly traced follows the race-line, the "color-line," undeviatingly; that the Negro, because he is a negro, is shut out absolutely, without exception, from association, on any ground of equality, with the white man of the South.

The motive of exclusion has its origin unquestionably in racial differences; and draws its strength from some sort of sentiment of racial antagonism, as was asserted and sought to be proved. There is no other explanation of it, and we need not seek for any other.

The familiar name of this sentiment is " raceprejudice," and we may retain the term because it is familiar, and because we know what it means, in effect. Why such a sentiment exists, and what are the secret springs of its operation in any case, we need not consider. The important