Will the Negro Relapse into Barbarism? [pp. 179-184]

WILL THE NEGRO RELAPSE INTO BARBARISM?
ARPT. XI.-WILL THIE NEGRO RELAPSE INTO BARBARISM?
TO WHAT EXTENT WILL THE NEGRO OF THE SOUTHERN STATES
RELAPSE INTO BARBARISM?
[WVe agree with the writer of the article which follows upon the general
question of the negro in his relations to civilization and Christianity under
slavery and in freedom, but as to the remedy he indicates we are unwilling
to express an opinion. It is a matter of theology which the reader, whether
Protestant or Catholic, may decide for himself. There can be no harm to
result from a moderate discussion to which the pages of the REVIEW will be
open. If Protestantism, however, cannot be entrusted with the religious
charge of the negro, what will become of its whole missionary system?EDITOR.]
THE inegro population of this country are incapable of selfgovernment, and if left to their own devices must rapidly degenerate into barbarism. This proposition will not be questioned
here, nor should it be doubted anywhere. The intelligent Southern
planter asserts this with authority, for he has long been a critical
and interested observer of the character, habits and tendencies of
the Americanized African. The Northern sojourner in the
Southern States is compelled reluctantly but unequivocally to
add his testimony to the same fact. If he does not speak to this
effect, it is because he is silent with shame. History confirms it
without a doubt. Not one fact in the memory of man dissents
from it.
Grant then that the evidence of these witneqses is conclusive,
and that the tendency to barbarism does exist, and on so strong a
degree that if no counteracting influences operate, the degeneration
must be rapid and complete. Is there any ground of reasonable,
hope that contact with the superior civilization of the Caucasian
race of this continent will overcome that admitted tendency? In
wh,t does a relapse into barbarism consist? The whole catastrophe is comprised in two losses; loss of civil government, loss
of the Christian religion. This simplifies the question which now
resolves itself into a duplex form, each branch of which will
admit of evident answer. The question now becomes-, to what
extent will contact with a superior race secure the negro against
loss of civil government and loss of the Christian religion? and
the answer-is plain-against the first loss his security is ampleagainst the second it is totally inadequate.
That the security of the negro against the loss of civil government is ample is a truth so evident that it has only to be suggested
in order to be cquiesced in. It is too plain for proof and too
clear for illustlon. The security of the negro against such a
disaster is precisely the same with that of the white man; the
destinies of the two races are interwoven, and whatever may be
the fluctuations of government on this continent the inferior race
must continue to be the unwilling and ungrateful recipients of
the benefits of organized society. Hence the conclusion-that
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