 Cope 's views on human races would today be considered racist , but his beliefs were used by scientists of the time as an excuse for imperialism . He believed that if , " a race was not white then it was inherently more ape @-@ like " . He was not opposed to blacks because of the color of their skin but their " degrading vices " , believing that the " inferior Negro should go back to Africa . " He did not blame blacks for their perceived " poor virtue " , but wrote , " A vulture will always eat carrion when surrounded on all hands by every kind of cleaner food . It is the nature of the bird . " Cope was against the modern view of women 's rights , believing in the husband 's role as protector ; he was opposed to women 's suffrage , as he felt they would be unduly influenced by their husbands . 
