444 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



whites, and in the mass of population lose race distinctiveness. He 

 was compelled to stand off by himself, a separate and alien people. 

 Like food incapable of digestion, and which lies in the stomach only 

 stimulative of disease, he remained in the body politic a foreign ele- 

 ment, without opportunity or power of assimilation, and a perpetual 

 source of alarm. Hence, Mr. Clay advocated colonization ; and happy 

 would it have been for the country if his views had prevailed, and the 

 slaves been bought up by the Government at an appraised rate, and 

 transported either to their native land or to some section provided for 

 them exclusively. 



We have an impression that a move was made in Congress last 

 winter by some Senator, looking to the accprisition of territory in 

 Central America as a home for the blacks. Though nothing came of 

 it, it is matter for rejoicing that Congressmen are turning their eyes 

 this way. The sole ground whereon Ave favored ex-President Grant's 

 project to buy San Domingo was that it would afford a home for our 

 black population. Some home for them outside of this country must 

 be provided at an early day, or ultimately their presence here will lead 

 to complications and disorders of appalling character. The current 

 news from the South, amid much that is cheering, strengthens our 

 forebodings. There are a present peace and prosperity ; but, to an 

 attentive ear, mutterings of this storm are already beginning to be 

 heard. 



The republic is so rich and so prosperous, and its future, from 

 some stand-points, so fair, that it seems invidious, perhaps, to mar the 

 picture and reveal a frightful evil slowly developing in its bosom. 

 Some would fain deem the danger imaginary ; and, even when fully 

 realized, the trouble, in its ultimate and worst forms, is comparatively 

 so remote that there is a tendency to forget it, or at least to transfer its 

 consideration to another day and generation. The remoteness of an 

 evil, however, does not carry with it remoteness in applying the rem- 

 edy. Let American statesmen of the present day be looking in the 

 direction we have indicated. A subject so vast and so momentous it 

 is the part of wisdom to regard before immediate threatenings compel 

 consideration. Assuredly, the question will more and more thrust 

 itself forward for solution. The black man is still the " irrepressible 

 conflict." Great difficulties, under any circumstances, must attend its 

 solution. Let it be solved while a peaceful adjustment is yet prac- 

 ticable, for there is a point beyond which the attempt to solve it 

 would involve the rupture of the republic. 



