Chinese vs. Negroes as American Citizens: Mr. Scottron's Views on the Advantages of the Proposed Negro Colonization in South America — John Shaqi
Chinese vs. Negroes as American Citizens: Mr. Scottron's Views on the Advantages of the Proposed Negro Colonization in South AmericaScottron, Samuel Raymond
History
Chinese vs. Negroes as American Citizens: Mr. Scottron's Views on the Advantages of the Proposed Negro Colonization in South America
Scottron, Samuel Raymond
African Americans; African Americans -- Colonization -- South America
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.
The difference between the Chinese and negroes is as that between old
men, with fixed ideas, and children. If we have ideas and institutions
to perpetuate and preserve, we shall entrust and communicate them to
children rather than to those grown old in an opposite philosophy and
experience. The new born mind is a blank, ready to receive impressions
and to develop largely according to its surroundings. Early impressions
may never be lost.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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