Page:The Negro a menace to American civilization.djvu/279

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THE NEGRO
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ders for various reasons. It has seldom, if ever, occurred, so far as I know, that an equivalent for loss of property was granted in such cases, and as is pro- posed in the case of the removal of the American ne- groes to Africa. Whatever reasons may have existed, or do exist, for the removal of particular peoples, or the exclusion of particular races from any country, they exist with ten- fold force in the case of the negroes of the United States. In no country having a republican form of government, has the lowest race of mankind been found dwelling with the highest. The case is a new one, and demands some independence of thought for its treatment. So-called human rights appear to come into conflict with questions of physical fact or law. The pure idealist will sustain the former, in spite of the latter; but the wise man knows that he must bow to the latter, and acts accordingly. It seems hard to the idealist that inequalities between men exist, yet they do exist and appear to work injustice. But we cannot help it. I will not discuss again the mental status of the black race. It is well known except to those who will not see. The ability to weave and raise crops does not make a man just or rational, or free him from de- grading vices and maddening superstitions. As to race mixture, Mr. Holland is a trifle prejudiced in his re- marks. The inferior race has never been known to resist the attractions of the superior, to any great ex- tent, so far as I am aware ; least of all, the negro. If Mr. Holland doubts the certainty of race-mixture, let him read history, or better, visit all countries where different races come in contact. The white race of the European coasts of the Mediterranean have not been benefited by their mixture with the African races, and these latter were and are superior to our negroes. The reasons why the American negroes object to being returned to Africa are self-evident. As bene- ficiaries of a civilized nation, they have their rights