ii6 Eugene Rollin Corson 



has fulfilled almost in every way the predictions then made, 

 and I trust that with a fuller treatment of the higher mortal- 

 it3' among the colored as compared with the whites, and the 

 causes which have produced it, we can see with greater dis- 

 tinctness the future of the race. 



In this present paper then I shall go over largely the 

 ground treated in my first paper. I shall introduce the re- 

 sults of our last census, so far as the mere enumeration goes, 

 — for the volumes on mortality and vital statistics are not 

 3'et out, — and finally elaborate certain pathological lines 

 which were then but faintly drawn. This, I hope, in con- 

 junction with the mortuary tables of our own city, will give 

 us a fairly clear idea of the vital equation of the race, and hy 

 vital equation I mean that quantum and power of vitalit}' 

 which maintains individual life, for it is upon individuation, 

 I believe, that racial strength and progress depend. And 

 with high individuation goes a comparatively low death rate, 

 especially in infancy and early childhood, and a high general 

 average of age. Though the birth rate may be comparatively 

 low, more infants born become mature and perfected individ- 

 uals ; there is more vitality for growth and development ; 

 racial traits and characteristics are stronger, with more 

 power to hold the race together as a race. There is no better 

 evidence of the great vitality of the Jewish race, for example, 

 than their power to preserve their racial traits all over the 

 world, and in spite of the many years of persecution and sep- 

 aration which they have had to endure. 



After the tenth census of 1880, attempts were made to pre- 

 dict the future of the colored race from a few figures and the 

 multiplication table. Gaps were filled in to suit each indi- 

 vidual case and figures marshalled to suit the thesis. It was 

 surprising how some allowed themselves to be run awa}- with 

 by these figures. 



Professor E. W. Gilliam contributed an article to the Popu- 

 lar Science Monthly io^ Feb. 1883, entitled "The African in 

 the United States " in which he drew for us a lurid picture of 

 the future of our country. Here are his figures : 



