Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/183

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cation, political power over the whites, nor does it demand general social equality; it simply means that the men who are natural leaders among the negroes, on account of high qualities of mind and soul, shall not be degraded by being excluded from all chance of preferment on account of their color, and that no better service can be done the negro race than a generous recognition of the worth of its best men. Applied to Africa, it means that any policy which would treat the native negro race as destined to permanent bondage in favor of the whites, that would destroy African social life and degrade its leaders, is taking the straight road away from the salvation of the African race, and from rendering it a truly useful member of the family of nations.