1 66 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
rulers ; and it is not unlikely that they will continue to exert a far greater personal influence upon the African race than will the Europeans. This is true also of the Hindus, who are settling in large numbers along the east coast. The French seem of all European nations to be most successful in charming the African natives into civilization. Their missionaries work in large com- munities, and are thus assisted by the experience of many societies operating for a long time. Moreover, the French do not exhibit an excessive sense of race-superiority over the negroes. They have therefore already exercised a distinctive civilizing influence in northern Africa. The classical example of a relation of mutual friendliness between the white race and the black is the life of the unhappy island of Martinique unhappy not only on account of cruel natural catastrophes, but on account of the terrible force of atavism which, with the gradual departure of the white popula- tion, is dragging the charming race of the island back toward the dark superstitions of African life. It is remarkable that in coun- tries like Martinique, Hayti, and the southern states of the Union, the vices of the negro populations assume more repulsive aspects than they bear in the African home. This is due no doubt to the fact that the original social unity has in these cases been destroyed. An African society, although it may have barbarous customs, still has a certain moral character which preserves individual morality and dignity of life. This social check is very much impaired, and often totally absent, among the American negroes. The two things which the negro race needs most are a feeling of social cohesion and responsibility, and the presence of true models in the person of leaders. The mass of the negroes cannot pattern primarily upon the whites with whom they come in con- tact, but should have leaders of their own race to look up to. It is only by showing consideration to negroes of high character and intelligence that the whites can assist in setting up the best models for social imitation among the negro race. No more statesman- like and far-seeing principle, both for Africa and for America, can be imagined in this matter than that of President Roosevelt, when he says that " the door of hope must not be closed upon the negro race." This does not mean, even in its most distant impli-
