e hearing so much, is for the white man alone, then I think
that the Negro should know it, and if it is for all people he should
know that.

The white man owes it to the Negro to make this matter plain.

CHAPTER 17.

WHERE LIES THE NEGRO'S OPPORTUNITY?

The liberation and enfranchisement of four million of slaves in this
country fifty years ago brought into the body politic a situation that
has ever since been a bone of contention. Because of their ignorance,
most of these people were without the slightest idea of the proper use,
or the power, of the ballot, and but few could properly exercise this
new and high prerogative.

As long as the federal troops remained in the South and supervised and
controlled the elections, these newly-made citizens retained their
rights, but when, during President Hayes' administration, the troops
were withdrawn, the South immediately set to work to remedy this
condition. Starting with Mississippi in 1890, state after state
disfranchised the Negro. Other discriminating laws have been enacted
setting apart "Jim Crow" apartments for the Negro on all public
carriers, establishing "Jim Crow" schools, and, in fact, segregating the
two races in all public places wherever it is possible.

This action on the part of the South brought forth a storm of criticism
from the North. The North accused the South of treating the Negro
unjustly and taking from him his constitutional rights. The South
answered the North, not by claiming its policy towards the Negro to be
right, but by accusing the North of hypocrisy; but both sections agree
that the Negro should be made as useful as his capacities will permit,
and that he should seek the place where this usefulness can be best
secured.

This long and constant agitation has led thoughtful students of the race
problem to ask the question:

Are the conditions in the South more conducive to the social efficiency
of the Negro than those offered to him in the North? This is a vital
question and a just answer to it will have a far-reaching and lasting
effect upon the future welfare of the Negro race in this country. By
social efficiency we mean that degree of development of the individual
that will enable him to render the most effective service to himself,
his family and to society. As has been defined, all will agree that
social efficiency is the chief end of life.

In the North the Negro lives mostly in the large cities, while in the
South he