parasitical employments. It will make him soon become a
property-holder; and, when a citizen becomes a holder of property, he
becomes a conservative and thoughtful voter. He will more carefully
consider the measures and individuals to be voted for. In proportion
as he increases his property interests, he becomes important as a
tax-payer.
There is little trouble between the Negro and the white man in matters
of education; and, when it comes to his business development, the
black man has implicit faith in the advice of the Southern white man.
When he gets into trouble in the courts, which requires a bond to be
given, in nine cases out of ten, he goes to a Southern white man for
advice and assistance. Every one who has lived in the South knows
that, in many of the church troubles among the coloured people, the
ministers and other church officers apply to the nearest white
minister for assistance and instruction. When by reason of mutual
concession we reach the point where we shall consult the Southern
white man about our politics as we now consult him about our
business, legal, and religious matters, there will be a change for the
better in the situation.
The object-lesson of a thousand Negroes in every county in the South
who own neat and comfortable homes, possessing skill, industry, and
thrift, with money in the bank, and are large tax-payers co-operating
with the white men in the South in every manly way for the development
of their own communities and counties, will go a long way, in a few
years, toward changing the present status of the Negro as a citizen,
as well as the attitude of the whites toward the blacks.
As the Negro grows in industrial and business directions, he will
divide in his politics on economic issues, just as the white man in
other parts of the country now divides his vote. As the South grows in
business prosperity it will divide its vote on economic issues, just
as other sections of the country divide their vote. When we can enact
laws that result in honestly cutting off the large ignorant and
non-tax-paying vote, and when we can bring both races to the point
where they will co-operate with each other in politics, as they do now
in matters of business, religion, and education, the problem will be
in a large measure solved, and political outbreaks will cease.
CHAPTER VII.
One of the great questions which Christian education must face in the
South is the proper adjustment of the n
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