“The question now before us is how best to serve the nation’s interests in the disposition of or employment of the negro? I believe I can best illustrate the question by instituting a comparison between the negro and the races of men that the fortune of war has placed under our care.
Chinese Versus Negroes.
“Under the above caption, in 1891, for some reason which I at this moment do not recall, the Boston Herald was giving in its editorial columns considerable attention to the discussion, ‘Chinese vs. Negroes.’ Several articles appeared in it, justifying its opinions, when occasionally they were disputed by other journals, foremost among which I noted the Boston Journal.
“I recall the matter now because the negro is the recipient of much attention, as before referred to, and because circumstances confronting our government at this time render the subject of extreme importance. Since then the United States has acquired territory very largely inhabited by Chinese and other Asiatic races, and the question becomes important immediately to the American people as to what policy shall be pursued in the future with reference to these races.
“Shall the attempt be made to assimilate and ingraft these upon our tree, or shall they be replaced by negroes?
“Were the fears which moved the American people in the past to exclude Asiatic races justified, or have we seen a new light? Is Christian civilization endangered by the presence of these people? All are potent questions at this time, requiring sound judgment and unerring decision; for we are not building for a day a temporary house, but one which it is hoped shall endure forever.
“What may have been the questions which occupied the attention of the American people in the past in regard to the negro as a fit subject for assimilation within the body politic, there can be but little or no good reason for continuing those discussions now. Since the negro is already admitted to citizenship, guarded by constitutional enactment, and, whatever may be the difference of opinions as to his mental capacity, as compared with the Caucasian or Asiatic, there nevertheless remains the gratifying fact that no one has attempted to prove that his presence is in the least threatening to our Christian institutions. Indeed, it may be said, upon the other hand, that many thoughtful persons regard the negro’s presence as a comforting assurance, a bulwark for the preservation of the faith of the founders of our government.”
Writing now from memory, not having a copy of any of the articles referred to as having appeared in the Boston Herald, I will briefly outline as best I can their import. The position taken by the editor was not new, but one assumed by many able persons in similar discussion. “The Chinese,” he says, “are an ancient race, with a civilization antedating our own; largely progressed in the arts and sciences; having made many important discoveries before our own age. While on the other hand, the negro comes from the wilds of an unknown continent, a barbarian, a slave, mean of intellect and of forbidding mien, with thick lips, black face, flat nose and woolly hair; who has not in the interval of time shown the high capacity of the Caucasian for improvement.
“The fathers of the republic,” he further says, “while providing an asylum for the oppressed of other lands, nevertheless were desirous of attracting hither only the most intelligent peoples, depending upon these rather for the perpetuity of republican institutions.” But, as we have said, the negro has been already admitted to citizenship, and the question closed in one of its aspects; so that the only question remaining for us to consider is, what I may regard as a corollary to the first proposition, viz.; negroes having been admitted to citizenship, shall we not now admit the Chinese? If the semi-barbarous negro can be ingrafted upon our body politic, can we not safely extend to these Asiatic races, having centuries of civilization behind them, the same privileges?
Had we not an actual experience with the two races, covering a period sufficient to form a safe judgment, we would very likely jump at a conclusion in answer to the last question and decide it in the affirmative. Experience, however, is a safe teacher.