Chinese vs. Negroes as American Citizens: Mr. Scottron's Views on the Advantages of the Proposed Negro Colonization in South America

In Short

This public-domain essay addresses the national debates over American imperialism and domestic race relations at the turn of the twentieth century. Responding to proposals that the United States colonize African Americans in South America and rely on Asiatic labor for newly acquired Pacific territories, author S. R. Scottron argues that the American negro is already thoroughly assimilated and deeply devoted to Christian and republican institutions. He contrasts this complete cultural alignment with the enduring foreign attachments of older, non-assimilating civilizations, demonstrating that African Americans form a vital, reliable cornerstone of the nation.

The Story

The text begins as a published letter to the editor of the Brooklyn Eagle in September 1899, reacting to contemporary discussions on tropical colonization and labor acquisition following the Spanish-American War. Scottron observes that recent violence and lynching have revived public anxiety over the so-called negro problem, though he maintains that granting full constitutional rights had already solved the fundamental political question. He notes that while the nation focuses on new territories in the Pacific secured by Admiral Dewey, policymakers debate whether to incorporate Asiatic labor or pursue overseas colonization schemes. Setting up a direct comparison, Scottron examines arguments previously raised by the Boston Herald regarding Chinese versus negro populations. The Boston newspaper had contrasted the ancient, highly developed civilization of the Chinese with the perceived barbarism and physical differences of the African slave. Scottron counters this comparison by refuting the idea that ancient, fixed civilizations make better citizens for a republic built upon specific philosophical principles. He describes the mind of the American negro as a maiden, blank slate—unlike the minds of older populations shaped by centuries of Buddhism or Confucianism. Because the negro arrived with no foreign flags, alternative political philosophies, or loyalties outside of America, his entire framework of reference is distinctly native. Scottron highlights the unwavering patriotism of African Americans who proudly rally to national symbols, fight valiantly under the American flag, and reject foreign radicalism such as anarchism. Ultimately, the argument concludes that the negro possesses all the essential qualities that render a population readily assimilable into the body politic, proving more genuinely American at heart than any group shaped by entrenched foreign traditions.

How It Unfolds

The debate begins The author introduces contemporary newspaper discussions surrounding tropical colonization and the sudden acquisition of overseas territories. He positions his essay as a timely response to policymakers proposing the relocation of African Americans and the employment of Asiatic races.

The settled question Scottron asserts that the domestic status of African Americans was permanently settled when the Constitution granted them full rights of citizenship. He argues that the nation only needs time to adjust to these unalterable conditions rather than entertaining disruptive relocation schemes.

The comparative premise Drawing upon prior journalistic debates, the author contrasts prevailing prejudices against the physical and cultural background of the negro with the perceived merits of ancient Asiatic societies. He questions whether the nation should attempt to assimilate foreign groups whose core philosophies predate Western democratic ideals.

The maiden mind The text develops its central philosophical distinction by defining the American negro as possessing a blank, receptive mind unburdened by prior allegiances to foreign governments or religions. This unobstructed adaptation ensures that native ideals, Christian morality, and historical reverence become foundational to their identity.

The patriotic proof Scottron illustrates his argument by pointing to the visible loyalty of African Americans during military conflicts and civil life. He concludes that their steadfast devotion to the flag and total rejection of subversive ideologies cement their place as the true cornerstone of the republic.

The People

S. R. Scottron writes as the central intellectual voice and observer, seeking to dismantle racist assumptions about assimilation and defend the rightful place of African Americans in the republic. He faces widespread societal prejudice, political calls for forced colonization, and biased journalism that favors foreign laborers over native citizens. Through his precise argumentation, he emerges as a confident, clear-sighted civic leader who successfully reframes the national conversation.

Mr. Alleyne Ireland and Senator M. C. Butler represent the contemporary ruling class and policymakers who view overseas expansion through the lens of labor acquisition and geographic segregation. They propose displacement strategies and foreign labor dependencies, but their worldview is challenged and exposed as shortsighted by Scottron's analysis.

The anonymous editors of the Boston Herald embody the entrenched racial bias of the period, arguing that ancient non-Western civilizations are superior to populations emerging from slavery. They stand as the intellectual opposition whose flawed hierarchies are dismantled by the author's emphasis on true civic assimilation.

The American negro stands as the primary collective subject of the essay, wanting only the security of constitutional freedom and peaceful participation in national life. Blocked by social ostracism, closed workshops, and violent prejudice, this group nonetheless transforms these obstacles into a triumph of loyalty, emerging through every trial as thoroughly American, Christian, and patriotic.

In Its Own Voice

The difference between the Chinese and negroes is as that between old men, with fixed ideas, and children.

The author establishes his central psychological distinction regarding cultural adaptability and the capacity for new national impressions.

The American negro has never known anything save those things distinctly American.

Scottron emphasizes the complete absence of competing foreign allegiances within the historical experience of African Americans.

Maltreat the negro as you may, he is nevertheless American to the core and he will follow the flag wheresoever it leads...

The writer underscores an unshakeable patriotism that endures despite systemic injustice and social exclusion.

What It's Really About

This work explores the true meaning of assimilation and the psychological prerequisites for republican citizenship. It investigates whether historical antiquity in a civilization aids or hinders integration into a democratic society founded on specific moral traditions. Scottron interrogates the hypocrisy of preferring foreign laborers with entrenched non-Christian philosophies over native citizens whose entire existence is rooted in American soil. The text fundamentally challenges the dominant racial hierarchies of the late nineteenth century by redefining civilization not through ancient artifacts or foreign lineages, but through uncompromised loyalty, moral alignment with foundational principles, and active devotion to democratic institutions.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in American history, political philosophy, and the evolution of civil rights rhetoric will find this essay remarkably sharp and revealing. Reading it feels like uncovering a clear, rational voice cutting through the hysterical noise of a transitional imperial era, offering an articulate defense of human dignity and belonging. The prose is steady, deliberate, and remarkably modern in its dismantling of xenophobic double standards. Modern readers must navigate the period racial terminology and the paternalistic framing typical of turn-of-the-century discourse, yet these very elements provide an authentic window into how early Black intellectuals fought for recognition. What stays with you is Scottron's brilliant inversion of the period's prejudices, demonstrating that a population uncorrupted by foreign despotisms and entirely devoted to native ideals represents the truest guarantor of democratic survival.

Which specific aspect of late nineteenth-century American social history would you like to explore further?