Despite the advanced civilization of that section, its enlightenment, and its assimilation of British ideals, with the growth of the material prosperity of its people, there has grown a belief that money, if given with sufficient liberality, can cure any trouble. This is more than hinted at in “The Souls of Black Folk.”[268] How then can it be other than extremely distasteful to those, so conscious of their great generosity, to read in place of the encomiums with which the assisted writings of Washington abound, the following audacious criticism: “Our Northern philanthropists, with no trustworthy knowledge of the conditions of the freedmen, have neither sought nor acquired capable insight into the needs and wants of Negro life. Having been influenced by the special pleading of interested advocates, and their own imperious convictions, it is consequently small wonder that they have hitherto failed to deal with the problem in the most satisfactory manner.”[269] It is true that in considering: “The two antagonistic forces which germinated at about the same period in the Western world at Jamestown and Plymouth,” Thomas thinks the product, as well as the seed, of the latter is far superior; but, to the residents of that portion of our common country, that has long been axiomatic and does not wipe away the offense of making admissions with regard to the moral qualities of his fellow Negroes, which have been widely taken up and quoted by anti-Negro writers. Almost it might seem in anticipation of this, Thomas says: “In this age of realism illusions should have no place and especially in a question of such perplexity as this and one involving such vital issues. The Negro above all others should welcome honest criticism, for in so doing, he will discover that those who point out faults are not always actuated by vindictive sentiments and he may learn that timely reproof and wise guidance may be derived even from the censure of enemies.”[270] With regard to the possibilities of improvement, Thomas believes: “That rural work constitutes a basis for character building incomparably beyond that of any agency within his (the Negro’s) reach.”[271] While Thomas’s view concerning the injury to the South of the presence in it of the Negro is more strongly put it is the view expressed by Senator Butler in 1900, and of Senator Barnwell in 1803, in all probability; yet it is a striking fact that in South Carolina, since emancipation, after thirty years of experience, we came back to the view expressed in 1865, and this, in spite of the fact that, as stated by a great authority on the subject: “It is very convenient for the Southern white man to include everybody with a trace of Negro blood under the general race designation.”[272] Mr. Stone cannot include South Carolina as contributing to what he styles: