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338
Hereditary Genius
hand results for which alone I propose to employ it; moreover, the
rough data I shall adduce, will go far to show the justice of this
expectation.
Let us, then, compare the negro race with the Anglo-Saxon, with
respect to those qualities alone which are capable of producing
judges, statesmen, commanders, men of literature and science, poets,
artists, and divines. If the negro race in America had been affected
by no social disabilities, a comparison of their achievements with
those of the whites in their several branches of intellectual effort,
having regard to the total number of their respective populations,
would give the necessary information. As matters stand, we must be
content with much rougher data.
First, the negro race has occasionally, but very rarely, produced
such men as Toussaint l'Ouverture, who are of our class F; that is to
say, its X, or its total classes above G, appear to correspond with our
F, showing a difference of not less than two grades between the
black and white races, and it may be more.
Secondly, the negro race is by no means wholly deficient in men
capable of becoming good factors, thriving merchants, and otherwise
considerably raised above the average of whites—that is to say, it
can not unfrequently supply men corresponding to our class C, or
even D. It will be recollected that C implies a selection of 1 in 16, or
somewhat more than the natural abilities possessed by average
foremen of common juries, and that D is as I in 64—a degree of
ability that is sure to make a man successful in life. In short, classes
E and F of the negro may roughly be considered as the equivalent of
our C and D—a result which again points to the conclusion, that the
average intellectual standard of the negro race is some two grades
below our own.
Thirdly, we may compare, but with much caution, the relative
position of negroes in their native country with
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