Page:Rowland--In the shadow.djvu/92

 "Insult," cried Manning flushing angrily. "I see it just the other way."

"But does it not occur to you that such a decree is as good as admitting that a quarter of African blood is a stronger and more potent factor of the individual than three quarters of white? Don't you consider a white man a much more virile creature than a black? Upon my soul, the injustice dealt out for years upon years to the half- or three-quarter-caste is simply appalling. My remedy for an ink spot upon a light coat would be to wash it out as much as possible; not to pour ink over the whole garment. Why don't you wash out your mulatto race? Get it as white as you can by dilutions of white blood. Go ahead and legislate against blacks marrying whites if you like, but include with the whites all individuals having any white blood."

Leyden stopped speaking and there was a silence which lasted for several moments. Manning was shocked and angry and a trifle puzzled; Giles was calmly thoughtful. He turned to Leyden.

"Then how about the pure negro, Dr. Leyden?" he asked. "Suppose that he is kept black; in what does his salvation lie?"

"I believe," said Leyden slowly, "that the salvation of the pure negro is to be found in the two great civilizers of the world: religion and education."

Manning slightly raised his eyebrows; the expression did not escape the keen eyes of the naturalist.

"Do you disagree with me, Mr. Moultrie?" he asked, turning to Manning.

"I am afraid that I do. My own observations tend to make me doubt the existence of true religion among 82